I’m taking the SAT this Saturday and I was wondering if you guys could give me some tips or pointers on my essay. I wrote the 4th essay from the official CollegeBoard book. Also, please tell me what you think my score would be!
In the article “Let There Be Dark,” Paul Bogard eloquently argues that natural darkness should be preserved. Bogard builds his argument by using facts and statistics, explanation of evidence, and rhetorical questions.
Bogard uses facts and statistics throughout his article to support his claim that natural darkness should be preserved. He claims that very few children will be able to look at a sky dark enough to see the Milky Way galaxy. He also states that, “In the United States and Western Europe, the amount of light in the sky increases an average of about 6% per year”. These facts and statistics are persuasive argument building techniques because there is data and research that backs up the author’s claim. Bogard presents specific data about natural darkness to back up his statements that it should be preserved. By presenting information and facts, rather than just opinion and spin, Bogard empowers the reader to connect the dots on his/her own, which in turn gives the reader ownership over the argument and makes it more persuasive since the reader is coming to the same conclusions on his/her own, rather than entirely relying on Bogard to tell him/her what to think.
Along with facts and statistics, Bogard explains his evidence to support his claim that natural darkness should be preserved. After clearly laying out the data by stating the statistic of the average amount of light increase per year in the United States and Western Europe, he goes on to explain the statistic: the United States used to be a dark country at night, but now it is covered with light. By providing data to back up his claim, Bogard enables the readers to follow along with his points. It’s more persuasive because rather than just being told that the world is using a lot of artificial light and having to take it on faith, the reader is forced to reenact the thinking processes that led to the argument, engaging with the topic on a deeper level.
Bogard not only uses facts and statistics and explanation of his evidence, he also uses rhetorical devices to support his claim that natural darkness should be preserved. Bogard states, “Who knows that this vision of the night sky might inspire in each of us, in our children or grandchildren?” His use of rhetorical questions get the readers to step into the author’s world. By reading and thinking about the author’s question, the reader engages with the topic on a deeper level than if the reader were just given a statement of what the author thinks. In the previous quote, the rhetorical question draws the reader into thinking about their future and their children’s future and so on, which then puts the reader into a thoughtful and insightful mood.
By employing the rhetorical techniques of presenting facts, explaining evidence, and rhetorical questions, Bogard convinces the reader of his claim that natural darkness should be preserved.