Prompts are evil

Test Preparation SAT Preparation
1

<p>I don't know if this is just me, but I really hate prompts. They're often confining, trite, and sometimes difficult to answer. I credit the ACT for nicely choosing prompts that relate to high school, but CB's are too often ridiculous philosophical nonsense that I and my peers could care less about. Maybe it's just a side effect of being a technical person; maybe I'm disinclined to think philosophically because I'd rather write about technology. I'd much rather write my opinion on school dress codes than on "Is it necessary to make mistakes, even when doing so has negative consequences for other people?"</p>

<p>In any case, I don't understand the purpose of these abominations. The purpose of a test labeled "Writing" is, I should think, to test my proficiency in one area--writing. Not my ability to answer a statement, not my ability to formulate an opinion, not my ability to think philosophically. Granted, I believe that CB wanted a test of students' ability to formulate opinions and support them, but the purpose of a single prompt is still unclear. Certainly, some sort of prompt is necessary to guard against students who will undoubtedly prefabricate an essay, memorize it, and copy it into the answer book. But why only one choice? Why not a range? CB's graders are not incompetents, they are educated, intelligent people: they are fully capable of grading a variety of essay topics. Additionally, the SAT Writing essay is not intended to test a student's knowledge; it does not need a narrow set of topics like the AP essays do. Strangely, AP History test-takers are given a variety of possible topics while SAT-takers are not.</p>

<p>I simply do not understand the importance of constraining students taking a writing test to a single prompt. It's ludicrous.</p>

<p>Anyone else share my unbridled hatred for writing prompts?</p>

2

<p>Actually, no. </p>

<p>I rather like the prompts offered on the SAT. The prompt is designed in this way so that a variety of people from different backgrounds can answer to it in proficient ways. By limiting the prompt to a narrow scope, many people who are not as experienced may not be able to come up with good, solid arguments. </p>

<p>Maybe for you, writing about prompts that nicely relate to highschool is easier, for the majority of us out there, arguing about the things that happen in daily lives is much more related. I like to argue about philosophical topics because I often think about them. I mean really, arguing about dress codes is BORING to the extreme. </p>

<p>Also, writing does not just test how you can actually write, as in grammar, choice of words etc. It actually test your ability to fully understand a topic, stick to it and answer the topic in a precise and understandable way. This is why essays that are original, detailed, and stay on topic receive the highest marks. </p>

<p>Therefore, I think the prompt given on the SAT is great because it not only test your knowledge/critical thinking skills but also test your ability of making logical sentences while using college-level vocabulary.</p>