<p>I just took the practice SAT on the college board and i know the automatic grading computer isn't the best. I just wanted a real life grade estimate. Thanks!</p>
<p>Prompt:
Nowadays nothing is private: our culture has become too confessional and self-expressive. People think that to hide ones thoughts or feelings is to pretend not to have those thoughts or feelings. They assume that honesty requires one to express every inclination and impulse.
Adapted from J. David Velleman, "The Genesis of Shame"</p>
<p>Assignment:
Should people make more of an effort to keep some things private? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.</p>
<p>Essay:
Modern day culture begs the expression of every one inclination and impulse from another person. In such an age, it is imperative that people make more of an effort to keep some things private. Without respect for privacy, and waxing inclination towards self expression, one becomes very hung up on social image. As this does not constitute ideal self respect, privacy become necessary even more. In fact, the importance of privacy can be seen in literature and political scenes.
Recently, Edward Snowden took over media headlines as the man behind the leakage of classified USA government information. The agency he unmasked was the National Security Agency (NSA), which records phone conversations of all residents of the USA. Although the controversy focused on Constitutional rights, it also led to a deeper question: were the people of the United States alright with having private information monitored by the government? This has led many to realize that mindless revealing of information to others may not be as wise as they once thought, and has sparked an era of privacy concern.
Another example of the importance of privacy can be seen in J.D. Salinger's "Catcher in the Rye". The main character in the novel, Holden Caulfield, portrays a very mysterious young man, who keeps mostly to himself. He is perhaps the opposite of the description given by Velleman in his "The Genesis of Shame", as he does not believe in expressing himself at all. From the reader's perspective, one can see that Holden despises almost every character he encounters, yet the character is left with a feeling of welcome as Holden does not allow his thoughts to reach his lips. Thus, he is able to keep a private image of the world around him, maintaining a positive image in society as well.
Perhaps the most important reason people must make more of an effort to keep some things private is to save themselves from the clutching claws of crime. Now, more than ever, men and women are putting sensitive information on the internet, allowing complete strangers into their property, and revealing themselves oblivious to potential listeners. This leads to crimes such as identity theft, robbery, and even homicide. An example of this can be seen in my personal life. My aunt, an avid magazine reader, subscribed to a "shady" magazine she had never heard of online, and in doing so input her address, credit card number, and other crucial information. By the next morning, her credit card had been maxed out, and she was on the phone with law enforcement, attempting to undo her mistake.
In modern culture, people simply do not value privacy enough, and steer themselves onto the self expressing bandwagon. A change must be brought about soon, as it is starting to have a negative effect on the lives of society as a whole; whether it be through an increase in criminal activity, or unnerving social behaviors. Privacy must be given importance where importance is due, as in the case of sensitive, personal information.</p>