<p>I had written this essay under 25 minutes in a real SAT essay paper. This is from the Bluebook's second edition.</p>
<p>Prompt:
Many people believe that our government should do more to solve our problems. After all, how can one individual create more jobs or make roads safer or improve the schools or help to provide any of the other benefits that we have come to enjoy? And yet expect that the government- rather than individuals- should always come up with solutions to society's ills may have made us less self-reliant, undermining our independence and self-sufficiency. </p>
<p>Assignment: Should people take more responsibility for solving problems that affect their communities or the nation in general?</p>
<p>ESSAY STARTS: </p>
<p>Men make history, future and present. Throughout history, people, not governments, have made history by giving speeches, leading campaigns and making wars. Had these historical figures waited for their governments to make reforms, nothing would have happened. Today, people have to imitate those figures to achieve change and fix what they dont like about their societies. Figures like John Locke, John Brown and Martin Luther King Jr. have proven how the life of one man can impact those of others.</p>
<p>In the dawn of the French Revolution, ideas of freedom and rights given by God were prevalent. Such liberal ideas were spread by a group of philosophers who sought change in their societies. John Locke is perhaps the most famous of that group. Locke Believed that men were given the natural rights of liberty, life and property. He also believed that God gave these rights and that, therefore, they cannot be taken away by anybody. His ideas were called for by the French people. He did not wait for the government to make the changes. Instead, he acted on his own to make change. Today, many believe that he had changed the face of France for good.</p>
<p>Another example that proves my main thesis is John Brown and his life of dedication towards slaves. Brown was an abolitionist who had given his life for the rights of the minorities. In 1859, Brown led wars and killed five planters, men who owned large amounts of slaves. He led campaigns and fought vehemently until he was captured and executed. Brown is today regarded as a hero that has given the life of his to those of others. He did not wait for his government to abolish slavery; he helped doing so himself.</p>
<p>From a great figure to another, Martin Luther King and his contributions towards the freedom of slaves are not to be neglected. King had a profound impact on the lives of Americans by leading campaigns, holding boycott and giving speeches. He had dreams that he did not wait for the government to make reality; instead, he fought for them himself until he was assassinated. His life is truly an epitome of how people should make changes in their societies. </p>
<p>All in all, nobody had ever contributed to the life we live today but we, the people, for we ought to take matters into our own hands and impact what surrounds us. Never believe that a few caring people cannot change the world. For, thats indeed all who ever have- Margaret Mead.</p>
<p>ESSAY ENDS.</p>
<p>Please grade and provide comments.</p>