Hi CC Community, I am preparing for the SAT and I hope that I could form a group of hard worker in order to help each other. We can critique each other essays, share tips and ideas. Let me see if anyone here is interested.
Hey I just finished an SAT prep class but I still have a lot of room for improvement! What is your worst section?
I am.
@musicforlife324 my main problems are the essay and the sentence completion questions. What about you and @Dawn001?
Mine is reading comprehension, and some math. My grammar section is pretty strong so I can help! What scores do you get on the essay? @BethanyD
I’d like to join, too, if there’s still room. My strengths lie only in math lol. My weaknesses are passage-based questions, identifying errors in W, and fixing sentences.
Can we make like a group me or something I feel like this would pretty useful if we can organize it!
Welcome to you all.
So this is our group:
Me.
@OptimisticLad.
@BethanyD
@musicforlife324
@starwalker13
For me Math is super easy. I don’t need even to study for it. If anyone here want help, I am ready.
@musicforlife234 @BethanyD : My worst section is critical reading. Sometimes I suffer also with improving paragraphs. I can help you with Math and you will help me with grammar.
Ok guys let’s focus on one part of the test. . Let’s make a plan. I suggest that we post regularly our essays and critique each others essays, as first step.
We will try all to help each other in this thread. If any of us have a question, he can post here
I suggest this prompt: Is an idealistic approach less valuable than a practical approach? Come on all of you guys start writing as soon as possible. I will start my self.
My strengths are the grammar MCQ section and the math mainly (though I still have some imperfections). I would be more than happy to help any of you stuck on questions. I can as well help with the passage-based questions.
@Dawn001 I do best in the improving paragraphs portion and would be glad to help.
@musicforlife234 On the June SAT, I scored an 8 on the essay. On the MCQ, I got 46/49. (all my mistakes where in the improving sentences section)
Has anyone scored above 8 in the essay here?
I’ll be working on the prompt dawn011 posted. How do you all want us to share the essays? I got advice to not share them publicly. Would PM do?
Alright so I don’t usually practice on essays, I finished mine with five minutes left so I don’t know if this is going to be a quality essay:
An idealistic outlook has both its pros and cons. However, in the long run, it is detrimental; thus, a practical one is more valuable.
An idealistic outlook fosters unity, motivation, and hope. This is evident in the founding fathers when they were drawing up the infrastructure by which the country would be ran upon. They were hellbent on the idea that the government would be immune to despotism. This desire caused them to thoroughly analyze blueprints for the government. However, it is due to this scrupulous attitude that there is an illusion about how infallible and efficient the government is. In reality, this is not the case. Many people now complain about how slow the government is. This is due to the Checks and Balances system, the brainchild of the founding fathers of the U.S. The founders were so caught up in their idealism that they did not think about the long term effects it would have. In this case, idealism backfired on itself.
A practical approach is more valuable than ideal one. This is obvious in my person experience. I am a sneakerhead, and enjoy many kinds of shoes from Asics to adidas. Of course many of these shoes are expensive. My ideal shoe would be one that is cheap, stylish, and comfortable. However, for the first and last criteria to be met, it would need to be an expensive shoe. In reality, I need no such shoes because I only need shoes to walk in, not to look stylish in. My initial, idealistic approach, one that looks for both style and comfort, without being expensive does not exist. I ended up wasting my time looking for shoes I hope to exist. If I took a practical approach and not have been picky, I would have saved a lot of time.
In the end, an idealistic approach is only harmful and is not preferable to a practical one. By having an idealistic outlook, one sets them self up for failure, while a practical one gets the job done more efficiently. This is obvious in the lethargic state of the U.S government, and how much time I would have saved if I did not try to look for a perfect shoe outside my means.
As I typed this up, I realized that I may have strayed for the topic. idk.
No problem it’s just an essay.
I finished my essay.
Essay:
Idealism is a philosophical concept that when applied to real life bring little benefit. Impossible to materialize, abstract ideas, utopian ideals and metaphysical approach are fruitless and far less valuable than practical plans .
The Ancient Greeks pursued an idealistic approach in order to create a utopian society. Though, their unprecedented plan failed and their community order collapsed. Pericles, a preeminent statesman, introduced several revolutionary reforms that aimed to spawn social justice, eradicate poverty and thus establish an ideal society. These reforms of 464 BC allowed Athenian citizens to vote and to establish a new legislation. Pericles was the first to introduce direct democracy which aimed to create a harmonious atmosphere in a near perfect society. But, the outbreak of Peloponnesian War and 464 BC Helot Revolt stifled the young ideal society. These conflicts arose because citizens demanded further equality which Aristocrats were reluctant to abide by. Although Pericles founded the pillars of a perfect society based on idealistic ideas inspired from Plato’s The Republic utopian city, this society collapsed rapidly due to conflicting perspectives. Had Pericles tried a practical plan to rule Athena, the city could be more stable and prosperous. Pericles’s idealistic approach is proven even destructive.
Similarly, Animal Farm by George Orwell demonstrates that great ideas are impossible to carry out. Improving the quality of life should rather be through practical plans not with ideals. In fact, Old Major, a wise and old pig who is highly respected by all animals, called for Animalism, introduced great ideas and conveyed idealistic plan aiming for social justice, prosperity and well-being. He called for a revolution to get rid of the abusive rule of humans. Old Major, an allegory of Karl Marx who defended the idea of perfect, just and prosperous society under the rule of Proletariat, was not aware of the fact that his ideas are idealistic and that he should deliver some empirical and practical plans to save the farm from the claws of humans. After deposing the human owner, Napoleon, a pig revolutionist leader, take over the power and started a policy of purges, imprisonment and propaganda to maintain his dictatorship. The ideas of Old Major were nothing but a veil covering Napoleon evillest intentions. Working class, mainly reflecting the character of Boxer, was betrayed because idealistic ideology didn’t serve them in real life and turned into a burden. Clearly, idealism wrought too much havoc to the farm and even more than human rule did. Because they thought they can apply Old Major’s idealistic ideas, animals fell in the abyss of oppressive and abusive regime. Had they tried a practical plan such as reconciliation with human, they could probably have a better existence.
Through a thoughtful analysis of Ancient Greek history and George Orwell’s Animal Farm, one can understand that idealism is subversive and even misleading. People should rather concentrate on practical approach.
Your essay is very thorough with a nice flow of ideas. I think the examples provided do answer the prompt, and you used nice vocabulary throughout the essay. I think it is a solid 6. However, you did have some grammatical mistakes.
@BethanyD How do you approach identifying errors in writing? I know the concepts but I sometimes get questions incorrectly because I just read through the questions and see if I can hear a mistake. Btw, I’ve gotten a 9 once.
Sorry, I just missed the prompt but I wrote an essay on something else:
Prompt:
Think carefully about the issue presented in the following excerpt and the assignment below.
No amount of wealth can help humanity move forward and make progress, even under the management of the most dedicated and socially conscious workers. Money leads only to selfishness and becomes an irresistible temptation to its owners to abuse it. The only thing that can lead people to praiseworthy ideas and noble deeds is to follow the example of those great individuals who put other factors before money.
Adapted from Albert Einstein in Alice Calaprice, The New Quotable Einstein
Assignment:
Does money lead to selfishness? 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.
Many people say that “money is the root of all evil”, but this is a very overstretched statement. Through organizations like ESPN’s “Make-a-wish” foundation and churches throughout our country, it is clear that those who are more fortunate only tend to give more. The only thing that can lead people to praiseworthy ideas and noble deeds is to follow the example of those great individuals who put other factors before money.
ESPN’s Make-a-wish-foundation helps those in need. They choose less fortunate kids that have physical disabilities and make their day by allowing them to spend a day with their favorite athlete. Recently, a boy named Connor was diagnosed with cancer and only had about 6 more months to live if the tumor did not go away. ESPN chose Connor and blessed him to spend a day with his favorite football team, Carolina Panthers. There he was able to experience a Panther’s practice and even meet Cam Newton, the quarterback of the Panthers. Newton, a professional football player who makes millions of dollars every year, took the further step and gave Connor and his family tickets to a Panther’s game with VIP access. Connor experienced a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity all thanks to a wealthy organization who was not hesitant to help those in need.
More locally, churches have also been playing a huge part in helping those in need. Living just outside of the nation’s capital, there is an abundant amount of homeless people in our area. Being able to identify this growing issue, churches stepped up and funded organizations like Samaritan’s Purse an Salvation Army in order to do the good in our world. Both Samaritan’s Purse and Salvation Army use the resources that more fortunate people have and give to the less fortunate. For example, every weekend my church partners with Salvation Army and makes a trip to the homeless shelter in DC to bless each and every one of the people in these shelters. We try to do everything we can to make sure that those who need help get help.
As you can see, there are many ways people are stepping up and playing a huge part in our society to help those in need. In fact, those that have even more money and are identified in the “upper class” tend to be even more generous. Through both ESPN’s Make-a-wish foundation and church organizations, their goal everyday is to make a difference in people’s lives and you should too.
@starwalker13
I think that your essay is a 3 out of 6. Out of 12 it may be a 7.
I will tell why:
SAT graders have only 2 min to look at your essay and give a mark and the most important part they look at is the thesis and the conclusion. YOU NEED to make your thesis as clear and concise as possible and avoid vague ideas. In other words, you have to paraphrase the prompt eloquently by using appropriate vocabulary.
You need also to link every example with the thesis and explain more why the example is relevant to your thesis instead of giving general informations.
Your first example is fine.
Your second paragraph seems literally out of context. It’s off topic.
You seriously need strong historical and literary examples in order to seem smart in the eyes of the SAT graders…
@OptimisticLad: Thank you! you can post an essay and I 'll be happy to critique yours.
@starwalker13 I would give this a 3-4 because I feel like your intro can be shortened a bit. The first paragraph is pretty good, but I feel like the second half of the second body paragraph should be replaced with something else, or you can explain on how you guys helped the homeless. All you said was bless, but that gives way to a lot of different meanings, such as giving them socks are giving them food. I also feel like you could have varied your usage a bit because you did use the word ‘bless’ twice.’
@Dawn001 I already posted my essay, its somewhere up there
@OptimisticLad: Sorry, I didn’t notice your essay
Actually, practicing the essay part is important. In fact, Sometimes if you get a straight 12 in the essay you can have a 800 writing score even with 3 wrong answers and 780 with 4 wrong answers.
In my opinion: Your introduction need to be expanded more. You just gave a generalization because everything has “its pros and cons”.You can explain what is idealism for example.
Your first example is fine and well organized (by the way The Founding Fathers need to be uppercase)
You did good because you linked your conclusion to the thesis and to your body paragraphs. But, I think that the 2nd paragraph (you used a personal example) is somehow shallow and doesn’t fit with the concept of idealism. This part will hurt your score.
Your essay is in 8-9 range.
@Dawn001 Alright, thanks.
Are any of you guys really good at critical reading?
I think we are going to struggle due to Time Zone difference. @OptimisticLad: Feel free to post your question about any section here and we will answer as soon as possible.
I’d like to join the study group. I think you guys are really doing something good with this.