<p>This is the first SAT essay I've written. I tried to follow the format outlined in "how to write a twelve essay in ten days", but I don't feel like it went very well. I'm guessing it's a 6/12 or maybe a 7/12? I know I really need to work on my length, and I feel that my introduction and conclusion are really weak. Anyway, I would greatly appreciate any feedback for how I can improve. </p>
<p>Assignment: Does progress reduce the number of problems in the world, or does solving old problems just lead to new ones?</p>
<pre><code>Progress reduces the number of problems in the world because progress resolves issues and eliminates conflict, rather than creating new problems. The notion that progress reduces the number of problems in the world is exemplified through the experiences of several characters in literature.
In Elizabeth Gaskell's North and South, the experiences of John Thornton demonstrate that progress resolves issues. John Thornton is a cotton manufacturer in the fictional industrial city of Milton in northern England. Mr. Thornton coordinates with Mr. Higgins, one of his employees, to convert an old warehouse into an employee meal house. Working with his lowly employee, a progressive act in the 19th century factory demographic, Mr. Thornton bridged the gap between the employer and the employee and improved the performance of his employees by providing food for them. Through progress, Mr. Thornton reduced the number of problems in Milton.
The idea that progress reduces the number of problems in the world is further supported in Charles Dickens's novel, Nicholas Nickleby. In the novel, seventeen year-old Nicholas Nickleby goes to work as a teacher at Dotheboys School for Boys in order to support his newly widowed mother and sister. Wackford Squeers, the schoolmaster, is a ruthlessly cruel man who not only abuses and starves his students, but also steals the money that their parents send to them. Nicholas, appalled by Mr. Squeers's actions, intervenes one day when Squeers is relentlessly beating a boy. As a result of Nicholas's intervention, Squeers is imprisoned for his abusive actions, and Dotheboys School receives a new master who is kind to the boys. Because Nicholas dared to stand up to Mr. Squeers, a progressive act for a young boy, the problems at Dotheboys School were eliminated.
As illustrated through the actions of John Thornton and Nicholas Nickleby, progress resolves issues and eliminates conflict. Therefore, through progress, the number of problems in the world is reduced.
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but don’t depend on the prompt for your entire introduction or try to paraphrase the prompt so that your intro looks unique.</p>