<p>sorry begoner....everyone has their own opinions and I respect yours.
i felt as thought the first post came off as you looking down upon my skills as though you are much holier and better. I misunderstood where you were coming from.<br>
while you are right...my essay wasn't very eloquent, it just gets the job done. I think that the SAT graders just look for arguments/analysis within the essays. I think that i write much more eloquently after a second read through and an edit.<br>
Again...sorry.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Just ace the multiple choice and you won't have to worry about writing a 12 essay.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Bullocks.</p>
<p>Targus: 78 MC (ONE question omitted/incorrect) + 9 E = 740
Me: 78 MC (one question omitted) + 7 E = 710</p>
<p>The essay is absolute bull****.
It is not a true measure of a person's writing ability, and no one should be embarrassed by a low essay score.
In turn, no one should criticize the overall writing ability of someone else based on poorly written nonsense pulled out of one's behind in a span of 25 minutes.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Just ace the multiple choice and you won't have to worry about writing a 12 essay.
[/quote]
This is my strategy. I'm happy with it. :)</p>
<p>Are you sure? The below post begs to differ...</p>
<p>770 with a 7 on the essay, another has 790 with an 8.</p>
<p>Depending on the curve, I can easily see a 9 giving you a perfect score on the writing section.</p>
<p>Yes, it usually does, if the curve isn't harsh. Poseur got a 790 with 80 MC and 9 essay, sometime in the fall, but I got 800 with the same in May.</p>
<p>
Bullocks.</p>
<p>Targus: 78 MC (ONE question omitted/incorrect) + 9 E = 740 Me: 78 MC (one question omitted) + 7 E = 710</p>
<p>The essay is absolute bull****. It is not a true measure of a person's writing ability, and no one should be embarrassed by a low essay score. In turn, no one should criticize the overall writing ability of someone else based on poorly written nonsense pulled out of one's behind in a span of 25 minutes.
</p>
<p>Anyone with any semblance of writing ability can turn out a nine as long as they have three examples. Its all you usually need.</p>
<p>@arnoc,
i know that. one grade gave a 4 ,the other gav a 5. = 9
but i think it deserves a 10 because my essay is 4+4=8
my writing is very generic so i think his essay is better than mine, hence he deserve more than a 4.</p>
<p>oh my god, like DUH,of course it's 1-6 each grader. sometimes 0</p>
<p>
[quote]
Anyone with any semblance of writing ability can turn out a nine as long as they have three examples. Its all you usually need.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I would have agreed with this before I got my June SAT score: I used ONE (horrible) example, wrote 2 paragraphs on it, and got an 8. It's all a mystery how they grade these things...</p>
<p>
[quote]
Anyone with any semblance of writing ability can turn out a nine as long as they have three examples. Its all you usually need.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Are your teachers telling you to use 3 examples? Maybe so, if 9 is your goal.</p>
<p>A student I know got 12's by using 2 examples but developing the points within them well so there was logic and flow to support the opening premise. In 25 minutes, that might work better for some students than handling 3 examples. </p>
<p>He chose one example from "outside" (a character from literature or episode from history) and one personal experience (which could also be a story about a relative, not just himself), and racked up points by exploring those two examples as evidence to defend his opening thesis paragraph. </p>
<p>He found it easier to contrast points between 2 than among 3, and always chose 2 examples that had some built-in contrast, although both defended the opening paragraph. He chose examples that he visualized as 2 ponts on a line or spectrum, each being more or less so of the same idea. </p>
<p>When he pointed up the differences/slight contrasts between the 2 examples, as he wrote about each, that took it to a higher level.</p>
<p>One sentence conclusion is fine; don't waste a paragraph on it. If the logic is in place, the conclusion will pretty much write itself. Just a sentence that wraps it up; no introducing new ideas right there.</p>
<p>He also took 2-3 minutes before writing to outline the entire essay in scratch-pencil, bullet proof form so could manage his time. That's where he checked that the opening thesis was worthwhile and the 2 examples gave him good logic points to discuss. He just wrote the word "conclusion" at the bottom to remember to do the final sentence. Then he began to write, with an eye on the clock.</p>
<p>He disagrees with the format of this entire section of the test. </p>
<p>Did he get an 800? NO. He didn't know the MC section counted so heavily, so lost points there.</p>
<p>He was also applied as a writing major to the college, so having a high score on his SAT essay was a point of pride. Don't ask about the Math score, tho.</p>
<p>
[quote]
It's all a mystery how they grade these things...
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Not so much. Look at the COllege Board site to read some essays they post. Find a prep book and see their writing/scoring rubric. (x points for vocabulary, X points for logic,... etc.).</p>
<p>And there;s nothing on that rubric that says "uses 3 examples." That's up to you how many, and I repeat: consider 2 well-developed ones, if 3 is driving you nuts or making you feel in a rush.</p>
<p>PS, I'm just a parent with 3 kids who had particular interest in this part of the SAT's. This isn't professional advice, just a parent speaking.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>You got an eight. I'm not seeing how this would make you disagree with my point.</p>
<p>
<p>A student I know got 12's by using 2 examples but developing the points within them well so there was logic and flow to support the opening premise. In 25 minutes, that might work better for some students than handling 3 examples.</p>
<p>He chose one example from "outside" (a character from literature or episode from history) and one personal experience (which could also be a story about a relative, not just himself), and racked up points by exploring those two examples as evidence to defend his opening thesis paragraph.</p>
<p>He found it easier to contrast points between 2 than among 3, and always chose 2 examples that had some built-in contrast, although both defended the opening paragraph. He chose examples that he visualized as 2 ponts on a line or spectrum, each being more or less so of the same idea.</p>
<p>When he pointed up the differences/slight contrasts between the 2 examples, as he wrote about each, that took it to a higher level.</p>
<p>One sentence conclusion is fine; don't waste a paragraph on it. If the logic is in place, the conclusion will pretty much write itself. Just a sentence that wraps it up; no introducing new ideas right there.</p>
<p>He also took 2-3 minutes before writing to outline the entire essay in scratch-pencil, bullet proof form so could manage his time. That's where he checked that the opening thesis was worthwhile and the 2 examples gave him good logic points to discuss. He just wrote the word "conclusion" at the bottom to remember to do the final sentence. Then he began to write, with an eye on the clock.</p>
<p>He disagrees with the format of this entire section of the test.</p>
<p>Did he get an 800? NO. He didn't know the MC section counted so heavily, so lost points there.</p>
<p>He was also applied as a writing major to the college, so having a high score on his SAT essay was a point of pride. Don't ask about the Math score, tho.
</p>
<p>What was the math score? ;)</p>
<p>Seriously, my point was solely that if you know how to do the MC of the writing section, you shouldn't have to worry about writing a 12 essay. My teachers never told me to use three examples; I didn't take any sort of prep class at all. Using three examples is just a guaranteed way to get a nine if you can write coherently. As I mentioned earlier, nine is all you typically need.</p>
<p>....um, there's not a huge difference between an 8 and a 9.</p>
<p>honestly i think its b.c ur essay is short.
your writing is beautiful & inspirational though
proof that sat cares about length more than quality</p>
<p>Yeah, I know.</p>
<p>Amid all this jabber about the 'perfect formulae' for a perfect score on the essay, you neglected to question whether your assumptions were mislead.</p>
<p>Why must there be a definate set of rules in the first place? Aren't these graded by people who are, after all, subject to personal bias? For illustration:</p>
<p>My essay (which i regret to disclose has been lost to the indomitable 'machine' or college board copyrights) used just ONE EXAMPLE and recieved a 12. The prompt was something along the lines of 'does today's society put too much emphasis on winning?'. My 'thesis' (i am sad to use such a misnomer for meaningless college board approved questions) was 'no, because society rewards those who persevere rather than use innate skill or luck'. </p>
<p>My one, continuous example? Albert Einstein. I gave specific examples of separate hardships during his life, then tied it all together with a nice pretty bow of symmetrical quotes from him. </p>
<p>Do not attempt to follow a 'formula' for the SAT essay; what they really care about is REASONING (suprise!). You need not even state how examples are directly related to your thesis. If your reasoning is at least implied, and has a consistent flow, eddying back to your thesis by the end of the one and three-quarters pages, you will be fine.</p>
<p>Sadly, I missed some MC. Final Score: Writing: 790 Math: 750 Reading: 800</p>
<p>I am fairly happy with this. And by the way, memorizing flash cards does help with CR! On the PSAT, I got a 2010. This is a very manageable test if you study.</p>
<p>i can't stand the OP's attitude. what's the use of posting your essay if you just want us to fawn over your horrid 9 essay and go something like, "oh i'm so sorry, you totally deserved a 24! cos you are 200% worth it." </p>
<p>if the OP knew better, he would respond to our comments constructively instead of being so arrogant and expecting everyone here in CC to agree with him.</p>