ahhhh college board!!!

<p>that question with what techniques the african guy used... i knew it was broad generalizations but picked scholarly analysis because it always likes to bring out the good in minorities in its minority essays! was that on purpose or what?!?!</p>

<p>i don't understand what you mean</p>

<p>... I don't either.</p>

<p>this was on the october SAT.</p>

<p>there was a passage written by a black guy (half african-american and half from Togo I think) and he used alot of "we" and "us" in the passage but also some analysis. A question asked what techniques he primarily used and I thought because the SAT likes to make put minorities in good light the answer would be "scholarly analysis." Unfortunately, the answer was "broad generalizations," an answer I thought had negative connotations and would not be correct by college board.</p>

<p>That's why I think it was personal anecdotes</p>

<p>lol i put personal anecdotes too...any chance of it still being right?</p>

<p>Is the answer broad generalization for sure?</p>

<p>Going by the belief that CB NEVER has negative connotations is a false belief. This is how I thought for many times. What you should avoid are EXTREMES (like vile contemept or something.) They are not being extreme w/ broad generalizations. It most supports the passage because almost every sentence had a WE in it and he is generalizing that all african americans share his same beliefs etc. even though it may seem disparaging to the author it fits the best.</p>

<p>The author makes use of which of the following: </p>

<p>Personal anecdotes</p>

<p>He did use those in the beginning of the passage, which is a fact. Broad generalizations can be argued... usage of "we" doesn't connotate a "broad generalization" and I really don't think the college board would have an author who "generalizes" the beliefs of african americans. Just doesn't seem right</p>

<p>didnt he quote a few scholars?</p>

<p>Broad generalizations is the answer. He uses them MORE than personal anecdotes. The WE is making a generalization wether you like it or not. Dictionary.com definition of generalization
a proposition asserting something to be true either of all members of a certain class or of an indefinite part of that class.
Which perfectly fits the "we" part and it is broadened. Almost every sentence started with a we after the first paragraph. EVERY paragraph started with a we after that.</p>

<p>anyone remember the question with the "broad generalizations" answer choice?</p>

<p>"broad generalizations" is not necessarily a negative thing. it doesn't put the minority author in a negative light.</p>

<p>if it said something about "stereotypes" or "umbrella classifications" then I would be more hesitant of that answer choice</p>

<p>The thing that pushed me to "personal anecdotes" is the rarity of them in passages. I mean, I haven't read all that many passages with that manner of quotes. It seemed to me like they were testing whether the test-taker knew what an "anecdote" was.</p>

<p>Definitely didn't seem like a scholarly analysis; those tend to avoid using first person pronouns, have references to authoritative sources (I don't recall many, if any), and generally avoid mentioning personal experiences.</p>

<p>"Broad generalizations"...It did keep using "we", but at the same time, it talked about many diverse emotions and thoughts. However, that is pretty flimsy evidence against it.</p>

<p>prescitedentity, that's basically what i was thinking when i answered "personal anecdotes"...do you remember the question????</p>

<p>Basically, choose the best answer.</p>

<p>Forgot to say that asserting that "we should...", "some of us...", or anything along those lines negates generalization for anything related to that point, doesn't it?</p>

<p>I mean, given the following (off-the-cuff writing):</p>

<p>"Some of us were disenchanted by our experience. We were held apart; we didn't feel the same way. To us, even the notion of doing such a thing was repulsive."</p>

<p>IIRC, some of the second half or so, with sentences using "we", were to this effect. It's not a generalization; the "we"s following "some of us" refer back to "some of us", instead of a broader group.</p>

<p>But, it's been a week, and my memory is swiss-cheesed like Dr. Sam Beckett. If only I was that smart, though...</p>

<p>ARGH. Hated that question.</p>

<p>I don't think usage of we justifies a "broad generalization" -- What is he generalizing? If you say he's generalizing the views of blacks, that's biased. Personal anecdotes makes most sense as he DOES indeed use them and it tests whether or not you know what an anecdote is.</p>

<p>so the question was "choose a literary technique the author uses"?</p>

<p>i also put personal anecdotes since he talks about his grandmother and stuff.
but hearing the different arguments, broad generalizations sounds right too.</p>

<p>i hope the PSAT tomorrow isn't as confusing as this SAT test!</p>

<p>Read the definition under dictionary.com. I will show you. a proposition asserting something to be true either of all members of a certain class or of an indefinite part of that class. Thats the defintiion> he called every sentence with a "we" which PERFECTLY fits that definition. believe in your false hope if you may. And also THE ONLY time he talked about personal anecdotes was at the starting. It said which did he use hte MOST. And he DEFINETLY did use broad generalizations way more than anecdotes. Remember he said PERSONAL anecdotes. And the ONLY personal anecdotes that showed up were at the start. That does not make up the majority of the essay.</p>