SAT Essay Grade Request

<p>I just took my third practice test, once again wanted a score from a fellow test taker. Thanks for helping me out!</p>

<p>Prompt: A colleague of the great scientist James Watson remarked that Watson was always “lounging around, arguing about problems instead of doing experiments.” He concluded that “There is more than one way of doing good science.” It was Watson’s form of idleness, the scientist went on to say, that allowed him to solve “the greatest of all biological problems: the discovery of the structure of DNA.” It is a point worth remembering in a society overly concerned with efficiency.</p>

<p>Assignment: Do people accomplish more when they are allowed to do things in their own way? 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>It is a truth of nature that when people are allowed to do things their own way, they accomplish more. This is true because each individual is unique, and therefore has his or her own ideas, methods, and goals. If all methods were standardized, some great discoveries would never have been made. Instances during which this has been seen can be observed throughout history and literature. </p>

<p>Arguably the cleverest man ever, Albert Einstein prided himself on his unconventional methods of learning. He seemed to grasp new ideas most proficiently when all his questions about the topic had been answered. Indeed, many of Einstein's closest friends and family members recall him being the most inquisitive child they had ever come across, and, in large portion, attribute his success to his questions. Sometimes, in order to answer questions, he required more than one aide, and he looked to groups for support at this stage.</p>

<p>For the creation of the atomic bomb, in a mission code-named "The Manhattan Project", Einstein and a select group of the top scientists in the world were elected by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to work on it. After they emerged victorious in conquering the complex science required to pull off such a feat, the scientists were interviewed by many media stations. While some details differed from one report to the next, one was present in every single report: Einstein was the mastermind of the project. When interviewed about this statement, Einstein said, "I couldn't have done it without my group; that's just how I work best." This shows that Einstein, by asking questions and working alongside teammates, was able to achieve the highest rank in science, possible save the world by creating the bomb that ended World War II, and even win the Nobel Prize.</p>

<p>On the other hand, there are some instances in which an individual has been most successful by walking the path of independence. Harry Potter, from the series of books made by J.K. Rowling, is one such character. In "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows", Potter refuses to take the aid of his friends and all those who support him in defeating his adversary, Lord Voldemort. In doing so, he sets himself up for a duel against Voldemort in the conclusion of the book, and is able to single-handedly defeat him. This shows how one is able to overcome even the most heinous antagonist in a manner other than Einstein's: independence. </p>

<p>Thus, Einstein and Potter were able to reach the highest levels of success, and in manners seemingly opposite.</p>

<p>On the other hand, there are some instances in which an individual has been most successful by walking the path of independence.</p>

<p>Your use of the phrase “on the other hand” implies that you’re about to discuss someone who has NOT “done things in his own way.”</p>

<p>This isn’t a huge problem but it’s a distraction.</p>

<p>The paper itself is a four. Had the quality of the first Einstein paragraph been present throughout the essay, it might have been a five.</p>

<p>Thank you!
So I guess I’m hovering around a 8-9</p>