<p>Some CCer's have been sending me their SAT essays to grade, and I've noticed that while many writers are using rich examples to support their arguments (e.g. Austen, Frida Kahlo, Hemingway, etc.), they're not digging deep into what those examples signify. These writers are focusing on the obvious surface elements of their supporting texts rather than analyzing the very undertow of culture and society that makes their examples meaningful.</p>
<p>For instance, say you wanted to write an SAT essay affirming the importance of criticism for personal development, and you've settled on using Pride and Prejudice to back up your point. The mistaken approach would be to simply summarize the major plot elements of the book, telling the reader that Mr. Darcy is prideful and Elizabeth is prejudiced, that he proposes to Elizabeth while telling her she's unworthy of him, and that he eventually grows into a less prideful person when Elizabeth criticizes and rejects him. The problem with this is that it doesn't take into account the vast social context surrounding these characters. It feels more like the opening paragraph of a Wikipedia summary rather than an actual analysis of a book.</p>
<p>Instead, I recommend writing about the context surrounding the book's characters and showing how that relates to your prompt. For instance, in their patriarchal society, Darcy wears the mantle of both male privilege and extreme financial privilege. He occupies such a lofty social position that to criticize him to his face is unthinkable for most people. And yet he finds the one person who has enough personal inner force to break through the misogynistic social barriers in her world by rejecting and criticizing him. Furthermore, Elizabeth's family is even falling into financial ruin when she does this, and there is a lot of pressure on all of the daughters to get married. So her rejecting Darcy is the modern-day equivalent of a poor peasant rejecting a handsome billionaire because his personality is disagreeable. This is an incredible slap to Darcy's face, one that showcases Elizabeth's bravery and one that transforms Darcy into a much better man by the end of the book. What's more, it also enables Elizabeth to form an egalitarian relationship with him.</p>
<p>Indeed, I recommend writing about the significance of context for most examples you might use on the SAT. Except to briefly orient your reader in your topic, avoid summary like the plague and refuse to dwell for more than a single sentence or two on surface plot or widely known factual elements. Even if you were to use, for instance, Facebook somehow for the same essay, merely summarizing what Facebook does and pointing out the fact that peer criticism occurs on it makes for a weak argument. But the context around Facebook, what makes it important to today's youth, what has made it grow in tandem with new digital infrastructure and technologies, how online bullying might negate/offer an exception to the notion of "helpful criticism," etc. etc. etc.--this direction is more fruitful.</p>
<p>The same applies when you use personal examples. You want to dig beyond their mere external circumstances and talk about the undertow of society. How did your family and culture mould your own perception of the very life experience you're using as an example? How did the company and criticisms of your peers alter your valuation of said experience?</p>
<p>In short, I hope you find powerful ways to tap into context to inform your academic arguments.</p>