Hey guys any tips of the critical reading section? The vocab is okay for me, but the double long and long passages mess me up.
@amewu98 Feel free to join 
@musicforlife234 I find doing questions that refer to a certain word within a certain line as you read the text pretty helpful because they are relatively quicker to do, so you save time, and can help you understand the text as you go. Playing devil’s advocate is really helpful, too. Although I’m sure you’ve heard of that already and I’m sorry if I’m just repeating stuff, but it really is a helpful tool. I don’t understand what the “double long and long passages” are sooooo
Can anyone give me input on this essay? Thanks(:
Prompt: Is listening more important than speaking when you are trying to persuade others?
In order to persuade others, one needs to voice her opinions. In other words, while listening to others will allow one to choose her words more effectively, it is of paramount importance for one to speak more than she listens. The evidence to support this statement is pervasive in life and in literature.
Take note of Indian freedom fighter Gandhi, who was politically active in the mid 1900s. For generations prior to Gandhi’s involvement in Indian politics, the British monarchy had forcefully subjugated India into colonial status. The Indian people consistently listened to the British authority’s reasons explaining why this situation was ideal and, as a result, they unhappily stayed tied to the British empire. Gandhi, on the other hand, was able to sow the foundations for Indian independence by voicing his opinions explaining why India should be independent. Gandhi’s decision to speak more than he listened led to the independence of India.
Another example, provided by Orson Card’s “Ender’s Game”, is child genius Ender, who lives in a futuristic military world. Due to his intelligence, Ender is chosen by the world’s best military leaders to destroy the alien bugger race in the name of protect humanity. Ender does not agree that the buggers are a threat, however, he believes that he should listen to what the commanders have to say in order to avoid antagonizing them and making the situation worse. Ender works for years to decimate the bugger population. Only after Ender kills the last bugger does he find concrete proof that the buggers had never been a threat to humanity. Ender’s inability to speak up and voice his opinions leads to the extinction of an entire race.
Clearly, the above examples show that voicing personal opinions is a more effective persuasion technique than listening. Ender’s decision to listen to the other side rather than to speak leads to hundreds of millions of deaths. On the other hand, Gandhi’s ability to effectively voice his reasoning leads to the liberation of his country. Using one’s voice is imperative to building a strong future.
Avoid using “one” because it requires “her/his” , “he/she”. You can just use “People” and “their”, this wil minimize grammar mistakes.
You did good job in the introduction despite some grammar mistakes related the the use of “one”.You need to be more careful. Your thesis is clear and concise.
Your first example is good but you need to expand it more by stating how Gandhi voiced his opinion (Speeches, Strikes, Protests…). Also, India’s independence was in 1947 so logically Gandhi’s struggle was before the mid 1900s. But, don’t worry SAT graders would not notice this mistake.
Your second example is also great.But, I think you need just one more sentence to link your example to the thesis.
A little problem with the conclusion is the use of “the above example…” which is somehow lazy and primitive. You can state for example “through a thoughtful analysis of…” or “A careful outlook of…”
In my opinion, your essay is fine. I think it’s a 10 or a 9.
@optimisticlad check out the 15 rules - check every sentence for those before you move on:
www. jcatalfano.com/uploads/2/0/2/0/20204407/satessentialgrammar.pdf
I reviewed something more concise than those before the test day, but I cannot find it for some reason 
And for everyone else - ironically I do best on long passages and worst on the sentence completion questions. So if you need any help, just ask.
p.s I’ll be checking your essays
@ swimmygirl123. I quite agree with Dawn. Your essay is strong but for the pronoun related mistakes. And yeah, you should have described how Gandhi voiced out his opinion.
That being said, I’d give your essay a solid 10.
Guys I have a silly request but can someone please explain these lines to me:
The pressure to keep on building on the National Mall will not go away. But the recent evolution brings a human scale and an appealing American idealism to spaces where self-conscious and overbearing grandeur have held sway for too long.
The last sentence! Thank you
Hello guys, My name is Yassine, and I really want to join your study group. I just stumbled upon your thread and it is reallyall about what I was looking for , for a while. I will really appreciate it , if you guys proofread this essay that I worked on and chastise the mistakes I have done. I am not a native speaker of the language, but I try my best. Thank you. By the wayn I took the SAT and I got a total of 1990 , I had 800 Maths , 490 CR , and a 600 Writing ( 8 on the essay ).
This is the prompt: Are we free to make our own decisions or are we limited in the choices we can make ?
RESPONSE:
Freedom is restrained because there is nothing called an absolute free decisions' making. Through literary books, public protocols; and religious evidences it has been proven that freedom and decisions'making are limited.
As demonstrated in his most well known book, “The Alchemist”, Paulo Coehlo breaks the enigma of life based on a story of a little shepherd boy. Cohelo brought the theory of destiny as the one reason we choose to do things. From his own perspective he perceives the choice making is always planned before hand. The results we end up with are all founded on destiny. He also claims that the road of getting what one is going to get is a personal choice, but what is waiting at the end of the road is definitely meant to be that way. In his book he highlights the fact that nothing is made by our free well, it is all a process of deliberate thoughts. The decisions we make throughout life are all predetermined by destiny, that’s why through his work Coehlo strongly believes in the power of destiny in influencing our decision making throughout life.
Besides, no one chooses the place where he/ she comes from. Whether we liked it yes or no., as humans we belong to a society; whether it is westernized, occidental, open minded or conservative. Based on this society’s norms we try to fit right into it. Based on the culture we try to make our decisions to live in ease with the same group of people. It is all pre determined by the power of ethnics and background. Our habits are always influenced by the ones of our ancestors. That’s why there is nothing called a freedom of choice, but there is always going to be a framed decision making by the norms of the society, culture, or country of origin.
Finally, we should all bare in mind , the fact that in the age of slavery, for decades people of color did not have a slight chance of making a personal decision with their fully will which proves the point that at a certain age desions were dictated by rulers, which take us to the same case of a lot of countries who are over rulled by dictators and a tyrannical governmental regime, in which people are supressed and do not have a choice to do things by their free will. For those who believe in a religion whether it is christianty , islam , Judism… They will definitely agree with the fact that since the beginning of humanity Adam did not have the free will to eat the apple but the Devil whispered in his ear, and convinced him to sin. From that, we can definitely agree on the facts that decisions are pre made , pre shaped by a superior power.
Pauolo Cohelo’s book, the slavery age , tyrannical governments, and society norms, clearly demonstrate that Freedom of choice is indeed unvalid. Through life the decisions we take or make are all deliberately thought about, and extremely analyzed before hands.
@theultimatedream: (Are you tunisien):
- Your introduction is somehow shallow and sound like a broad generalization. You need more than just repeating the prompt. Your thesis must be eloquent and straightforward.
- In your first example, you need more than just summarizing the plot. You have to prove what is really an obstacle to our freedom of choices. Also, you must link the example strongly to your thesis. In my opinion, analyzing ,expanding the idea and demonstrating why it’s related to the thesis is all that matter. Summarizing the plot should be no more than 1-2 sentences.
3.The third paragraph is just an amount of broad generalizations. It’s unfocused. You should keep in mind that each paragraph is reserved to ONE clear examples.
PS: Avoid as much as possible controversial issues such as politics and especially metaphysical beliefs as well as religion. I have no problem with any religious faith but SAT graders may be biased.
Most valuable example are: - Historical.
- Litterature.
- Current events (avoid as much as possible controversy)
- Personal experience.
- Your conclusion is fine. Overall, your essay is an upper 7 or 8
For you guys: you can look to my essay in the previous comments.
@BethanyD:
I read that part in article in The Economist, I guess. I am not sure.
I think this last paragraph is realted to the whole passage about National Mall in Washington D.C.
Alright, so I have a question regarding math in a practice in the BB. It’s in test four, section 6, question 18.
The question:
If five cards are placed in a row so that a certain card is never at either end, how many different arrangements are possible?
Can you guys give me a solution that uses permutation?
1st solution:
There are 3 ways to place the UNIQUE card.
There are 4! = 24 ways to place the other 4 cards
So we have 34!=324 = 72 ways.
2nd solution:
Let’s name the cards A,B,C,D,E:
Let’s say A is the card that shouldn’t be at either end.
For the first seat we have 4 options(B,C,D,E)
For the 5th seat, only 3 options remained
Since we already put 2 cards, 3 cards remained for the 2nd seat, 2 remained for the third seat and 1 for the forth seat.
So we have:
1st seat - 2nd seat - 3rd seat- 4th seat- 5th seat
4options3 options2 options1 option3 options
=43213=72 ways
Hope this helped a bit.
@Dawn001 Thanks, really appreciate the explanation
@OptimisticLad :You’re welcome.
@Optimisticlad I believe the easiest way is using counting principles
_ x _ x _ x_ x_
we have 4 choices only for the first blank, and 3 for the last.
4 x _ x _ x _ x 3
Count from 4 to 1 in the missing balnks.
4 x 3 x 2 x 1 x 3 = 72
hi guys,
me and @BethanyD tried to start something like this but it just failed. xD
i’d like to join this and keep you guys updated with my progress and we can all help each other out
my strengths would be writing (but not essay) and maybe i’m not that horrible at math either…
however, I’m still waiting for my 3 books that’ll lead me to a perfect score (Erica Meltzer Grammar & Reading and PwntheSAT Math). Unfortunately, they’re coming in 10 or more days (amazon smh)
It’d be great if you guys would let me join. I hope this will keep me motivated to study!
@BethanyD I printed all 46 pages of the document you posted for grammar so I can guarantee myself an 800 on writing constantly.
do you recommend anything else? (other than essay ofc)
@OptimisticLad Yes: The first card only has 3 options (the middle 3), the second has 4 options, the third has 3, and so forth. The answer is: 34321.
@Dawn001 : Yes I am Tunisian, thank you so much for the detailed feedback. Would you please give me a way to have more a elaborate introduction? What do you advise me to do , on this prompt for instance
Thank you in advance
@theultimatedream: Awsome! My instinct is dazzling!
Any way, you’re welcome! I am Anouar and I am also Tunisian.
This essay is really a shock. No one would expect it. Clearly, students who took March 2011 SAT, cannot be happy with this tough prompt. Hopefully, I have some shattered ideas about some photo.
I ask you all guys to critique my essay and give me your opinions. Also, I strongly recommend you all to answer this prompt.
SAT March 2011 Essay:
Prompt 2
Think carefully about the issue presented in the following excerpt and the assignment below.
Photographs are very much a part of our daily lives. They show us faraway places, things to buy, important people and happenings, and sometimes just the ordinary. These pictures seem like frozen moments of real life. Cameras do copy what is in front of the lens, and so, in that sense, photographs show us what is real. They are at the same time, however, creations of the artist’s intentions and unconscious mind.
Adapted from Leslie Sills, In Real Life: Six Women Photographers
Assignment:
Are photographs straightforward representations of real life, or are they artistic creations reflecting the photographer’s point of view? 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.
Essay:
Photographing is the art of electing invaluable moments. Moments that reveals all about our existence by saving collective memory. At this context, I see photographs as effective tools to reflect people’s real life: their dreams, their concerns and their ambitions.
One of the most sensational and raw photos is one of a 12-year-old Black Brazilian kid who is playing violin in his composition teacher’s funeral. This picture depicts a state of grief and despair manifested in heavy tears. The kid couldn’t believe that the teacher, who helped him escape poverty and violence, passed away. In fact, this photo portrays a child reality. It’s a dazzling account of loyalty, affection and strong moral attachment. Through the lens of a camera, we get to know people’s real life sufferance and despair. Diego’s bloody tears transmit to us a strange feeling of melancholy hard to describe through any other kind of art. Clearly, Diego’s photograph is part of our daily existence in a world riddled by violence, social strife and injustice. This kind of photographs shapes our self consciousness and awareness about modern world wounds.
Similarly, post WWII period offered to the world some historical and personal photographs that marked a way of perception during decades. A photo of a 6-year-old boy living in orphanage in Austria rejoices and hugs a pair of shoes given to him by the American Red Cross following the liberation of Vienna in 1946. This photo summarizes the deception of a whole generation in Europe. It illustrates, clearly, how much wounds European youth held. Through the lens of camera, we came to understand that the hope in Europe lay in the hands of the new generation. Dramatic yet optimistic, the photo conveys a reformed sense of security, an eager to build rather than to destroy and a faith in the bright future. Without doubt, it’s photo that contains real life image in the days of post WWII.
Finally, some other photos give people a crystal-clear view of differences and tolerance. In the midst of 2011, the photo of Christians protecting Muslims during prayer shows us what is real about Egyptian people. Fraternity is the mark of social stability and harmony following 2011 Arab Spring Upraising. Ultimately, this photo from the heart of Cairo, Tahrir Square, conveys a fact about life in post-revolution Egypt.
Trough a thoughtful analysis of historical captures and current events photos, it’s a valid point to assert that photographs are straightforward, clear and expressionist. They are totally real moments captured with no bias.