<p>Hi, this is my first attempt at writing a SAT essay, so I'd really really appreciate any constructive criticism and advice given! & it'd be great if you could rate my essay as well, thanks a lot!</p>
<p>"Technology promises to make our lives easier, freeing up time for leisure pursuits. But the rapid pace of technological innovation and the split second processing capabilities of computers that can work virtually nonstop have made all of us feel rushed. We have adopted the relentless pace of the very machines that were supposed to simplify our lives, with the result that, whether at work or play, people do not feel like their lives have changed for the better."</p>
<p>Prompt: Do changes that make our lives easier not necessarily make them better?</p>
<hr>
<p>Although technological changes do make our lives easier, they do not necessarily make them better. While it is true that we can go about performing daily chores much quicker and easier with the help of technological advancements, they do not guarantee more satisfactory lives for all of us. A quick look at several examples in our daily lives demonstrates this clearly.</p>
<p>Facebook, an exceptionally popular social networking site, promises to make connecting with our friends, sharing photos and videos simpler and easier. With just a click of the mouse, one can see all the activities that his or her friends have been doing in the past few days. However, this has also created a problem - people do not see a need to talk to each other face to face anymore. Why bother meeting up with someone when you can simply chat to the person on facebook, or leave a message on his wall? Hence, we cannot say for certain that Facebook has made our lives better, as we are now lacking effective communication skills and have formed "weak relationship ties" with Facebook friends.</p>
<p>Another example is the creation of nuclear energy as an alternative source of energy. While such energy has definitely been useful in providing factories with electricity, there have also been numerous cases where the production of nuclear energy has led to explosions and leakages. The 1986 Chernobyl disaster has left many people homeless, as they were forced to leave their homes due to the spread of radioactivitiy and harmful nuclear radiation. Many also suffered from respiratory diseases and even cancer due to the such radiation. Therefore, technological changes do not necessarily make our lives better, and may even pose as a potential source of harm to us if not managed properly.</p>
<p>The introduction of cell phones also illustrate the fact that not all technological changes make our lives better. While it is indisputable that cellphones have made communication easier and faster, they do not actually provide us with more free time. It is not uncommon to see high-profile workers and businessmen carrying cellphones wherever they go, spending hours calling and text-messaging their colleagues and bosses. Work is no longer limited to the workplace. Even at home, when one is having dinner, his or her cellphone may ring, and he or she would have no choice but to answer the call and attend to work first. This has led us to having barely any free time reserved for ourselves to pursue our interests and leisures.</p>
<p>Thus, as shown through many examples in our daily lives, technological changes do not necessarily make our lives better. Although it is true that such changes have often impacted our lives positively, what matters ultimately is how we choose to utilise these technologies in a way that benefits us.</p>
<hr>
<p>I took around 30 minutes to finish this ): Anyone has any tips on effective time management? Oh and another thing, I have really small handwriting, so all this only filled up 1.5 pages. Would you recommend that I write more or increase my handwriting size to make it seem as if I wrote 2 pages?</p>