<p>Yesterday a number of threads appeared with posted examples of essays written for the March, May and June SATs. I've tried to collect and compile as many of these essays as possible. The essays are grouped by score from 12 to 2. This will serve as a resource for those taking the SAT in the fall. It will also enable us to compare and contrast the essays and thus evaluate the work of the readers and draw some conclusions about what works and what doesn't. Everyone is invited to post their essay and make comments. Let's do it!</p>
<p>For the record here are the characteristics of a Level 6 essay as defined by the official College Board rubric:
1. Effectively and insightfully develops a point of view on the issue...
2. Is well organized and clearly focused, demonstrating clear coherence..
3. Exhibits skillful use of language, using varied, accurate, and apt vocabulary.
4. Demonstrates meaningful variety of sentence structure.
5. Is free of most errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics.</p>
<p>TEST: JUNE
QUESTION: Do memories hinder or help people in their efforts to learn from the past and succeed in the present?
ETS SCORE: 12
AUTHOR: Ildjing</p>
<p>Often, to remember is to suffer. Memories remind us of our past mistakes, both caused by our own imperfections and by the imperfections of the human community as a whole. It is tempting, then, to say that these bitter recollections only harm us, drowning our self-esteem and our dreams for the future. However, it is necessary to never forget, lest we repeat our errors. The novels "Crime and Punishment" and "Brave New World," and my personal experience uphold the veracity of this claim.</p>
<p>Raskolnikov, the unlikely hero of Dostoyevsky's finest novel, commits a gruesome murder in his twisted sense of righteousness and good. In the aftermath of this travesty, Raskolnikov tries his hardest to forget this wrongdoing, hiding out in his room, and suffocating in his guilt. It soon proves impossible. Raskolnikov, as expected, grows into a state of deathly anxiety and paranoia, continuing to harm those who love him. In the last chapters of the novel, however, he finally realizes the importance of coming to terms with the past and learning from his "mistakes." He then confesses. And though his confession put him into the jails of Siberia, he was able to continue in stride with the knowledge that he could now succeed. The epilogue ends the novel on a positive note, illustrating how Raskolnikov learned from his memories, and was able to leave Siberia with the promise of success.</p>
<p>"Brave New World" is a portrayal of the dystopia that is created from ignorance of the past. The 'victims' of this "world" cause harm to one another, because of their cynicism of the past - they claim "history is bunk" - they cannot remember how it feels to be hurt or what the effects of pain are. To further their mindlessness, or as these drones claim, to be "happy," the citizens of this dystopia take "soma," a drug that allows them to forget their pains. So, not only does the ignorance propagate harm, but it also depletes necessary human emotion. For, as it is seen by the drones of "Brave New World" pain is necessary for inner growth and true success and happiness.</p>
<p>Of course, my experiences through life have shown me the importance of memory. Not only do I remember beautiful events - Halley's Comet, my sister's birth - but I also have the satisfaction of knowning I've grown as a human and succeeded. For instance, as a child I was callous and gossipy, but now I have learned from my wrongdoings and am more happy as a result.</p>
<p>"Crime and Punishment," "Brave New World," and life's experiences are necessary to the growth and success of humankind.</p>
<p>Official College Board Rubric characteristics of a 6:</p>
<ol>
<li>Effectively and insightfully develops a point of view on the issue..</li>
<li>Is well organized adn clearly focused, demonstrating clear coherence and smooth progression of ideas.</li>
<li>Exhibits skillful use of language, using a varied, accurate, and apt vocabulary.</li>
<li>Demonstrates meaningful variety in sentence structure.</li>
<li>Is free of most errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics.</li>
</ol>
<p>JUNE SAT
QUESTION: Do memories hinder or help people in their effort to learn from the past and succeed in the present?
ETS SCORE: 12
AUTHOR: SUNNYBOY</p>
<p>I will never forget Coach McClamrock's words: "Men we deserved to lose. We made too many mental mistakes. We had a great game plan but we didn't follow it. And most important of all, they wanted to win more than we did."</p>
<p>Coach McClamrock's words hurt because I knew they were true. Although we had a great football team we deserved to lost the championship game. I was just a sophomore and I vowed that next season would be different. The bitter memory of our defeat would inspire us to rededicate ourselves and win the championship. </p>
<p>The weeks turned to months and the new football season arrived. I was the quarterback and co-captain of our team. We were unified in our resolve to avenge our defeat and win state. We were indefatigable and indomitable.</p>
<p>At first, everything went perfectly. We were invincible as victory followed victory. Everyone predicted we would easily win the championship. But success can lead to complacency. We were becoming too overconfident. Our team was forgetting the lessons and memories of the past. Even though we had the best coaches, even though we had the most talent, and even though we had the most fervent fans, I knew something was wrong. I had to do something. So I did.</p>
<p>I called a players only meeting hours before the championship game. The room was dark and for once everyone was silent. No one knew it, but I saved a DVD of our loss just one year ago. Without saying a word, I turned on the TV monitor. The whole team's attention was riveted to the screen as we relived our worst nightmare. </p>
<p>Seeing the DVD galvanized the entire team. As I hoped, the memory of our defeat fired up the entire team. Later that night, we stormed onto the field and played the game of our lives. I learned a very valuable lesson. Memories can help people overcome the past and succeed in the present.</p>
<p>Here are the official characteristics of a 6 essay:</p>
<ol>
<li>Effectively and insightfully develops a point of view on the issue and demonstrates outstanding critical thinking using clearly appropriate examples, reasons, and other evidence to support its position.</li>
<li>Is well organized and clearly focused, demonstrating clear coherence and smooth progression of ideas.</li>
<li>Exhibits skillful use of language, using a varied, accurate and apt vocabulary.</li>
<li>Demonstrates meaningful variety in sentence structure.</li>
<li>Is free of most errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics</li>
</ol>
<p>Here are the official characteristics of a 5 essay:</p>
<ol>
<li>Effectively develops a point of view on the issue and demonstrates strong critical thinking, generally using appropriate examples, reasons, and other evidence to support its position.</li>
<li>Is well organized and focused, demonstrating coherence and progression of ideas.</li>
<li>Exhibits facility in the use of language, using appropriate vocabulary.</li>
<li>Demonstrates variety in sentence structure.</li>
<li>Is generally free of most errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics.</li>
</ol>
<p>JUNE SAT
QUESTION: Do memories hinder or help people in their efforts to learn from the past and succeed in the present?
ETS SCORE: 11
AUTHOR: THE BIG J</p>
<p>"You can do it, you're almost there," exclaimed Rob from the top of Cube Point.</p>
<p>Three weeks earlier, as part of a backpacking and wilderness exploration trip, a group of fifteen strangers met in Montana to start preparing. We were preparing for backpacking where we would carry a weeks worth of clothing and a weeks worth of food and a weeks full of blister bandages. We were preparing to meet new people from all around the country. We were preparing to push ourselves to mental and physical fatigue and in the process more closely find and know ourselves.</p>
<p>The last expedition was rock climbing Cube Point. It would be the zenith of the trip, and only our tenacity and indefatigable nature could get us to the top.</p>
<p>We started at a quarter to five, rowing across a placid, narrow lake to the foot of a grand mountain. Without pausing, we started to trek up the mountain, switchback after switchback, we slowly ascended the mountain. Everytime we felt we were cresting the mountain, another switchback appeared. </p>
<p>We finally paused where the packed dirt hit rock. Rob told us to eat an energy bar and switch shoes. He reviewed one last time climbing technique: he would lead, climbing around thirty feet, pause adn secure the second climber, who would climb the same thirty feet, and reciprocate for the third climber. The beginning of the ascension was easy enough, each of us alternating between trversing the steep rock and belaying, from above, subsequent climbers, rocking back and forth in a metronome like fashion, putting more and more rope up to take in slack ....</p>
<p>The last run, however, was the hardest and after falling repeatedly I considered giving up. On the pragmatic side, I felt like I could not make it. But idealistically, I would let everyone else down if I didn't make it to the top. Through the eight mile a-day hikes, through sleeping in bear country, and through the hardest two weeks of my life, I hadn't failed yet. Rob implored me to continue. So I did.</p>
<p>The memories of previous successes were what allowed me to overcome the excruciating pain and to push to the peak. As a result, I finished the climb and learned that memories can help a person learn from the past and succeed in the present.</p>
<p>Characteristics of a Level 6 essay:
1. Effectively and insightfully develops a point of view on the issue and demonstrates outstanding critical thinking, using clearly appropriate examples, reasons, and other evidence to support its position.
2. Is well organized and clearly focused, demonstrating clear coherence and smooth progression of ideas.
3. Exhibits skillful use of language, using a varied, accurate and apt vocabulary.
4. Demonstrates a meaningful variety in sentence structure.
5. Is free of most errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics</p>
<p>Characteristics of a Level 5 essay:
1. Effectively develops a point of view on the issue and demonstrates strong critical thinking, generally using appropriate examples, reasons, and other evidence to support its position.
2. Is well organized and focused, demonstrating coherence and progression of ideas.
3. Exhibits facility in the use of language, using appropriate vocabulary.
4. Demonstrates variety in sentence structure
5. Is generally free of most errors in grammar,usage, and mechanics.</p>
<p>MARCH SAT
QUESTION: Is creativity needed more than ever in today's world?
ETS SCORE: 11
AUTHOR: STAMBLIARK41</p>
<p>Increased creativity is mankind's greatest indication of advancement. Greater technologies bring greater obstacles and pleasures to everyone. In an ever-changing society, sometimes what is done in the past may become archaic, unuseful. In the context of military strategies, business operations, and family togetherness, creativity is more essential than ever.</p>
<p>Each age of war brings astronomical development of military technologies and strategies. Threats from an outsider's technology - as shown in World War I, World War II, and the Cold War - helped the world to amazing and essential innovations. These isolated instances brought aircraft out of the fields and onto the front, nuclear destruction, and a phenomenal arms race (where concerns put unprecedented research into reconnaissance). Each of these instances caused our leaders to be creative, even more creative than previous generations. Each of these three major conflicts aforementioned were won not with superior manpower but with creativity. Another important aspect that must be recognized is a change of tactics. When armies switched to guerrilla warfare, they were regarded as weak, afraid, inferior. But such tactics worked, and creativity was the catalyst of demise for less innovative armies. In a world of nuclear technology, the brilliance of the mind has become more important than the brawn of the sword.</p>
<p>While military situations are a situation of life and death, the same can be said for business. Corporate gians like Wal Mart are pushing the envelope to unseen and obscene levels. Increased competition means more time is spent in the think tank. When a company is on edge with another major superpower, the one with the new great idea surges to the lead. Such competition breeds success, and creativity breeds creativity. More creativity means greater bonuses. On a more personal level, well within the iron rungs of the corporate ladder, lower individuals are filled with incentives and aspiration to help bring them to the top. The same can be said of small businesses; in many cases they have to be more creative than larger companies because their livelihood depends on it. Unable to compete with the incredible demands they are subjected to by corporate giants, small businesses have to find their own niches through exceptional customer service, rebates, and discount programs. Creativity breeds success in business, and as major corporations grow and feed on themselves, creativity all around is a keystone to success.</p>
<p>Family is important, and greater divorce rates are tearing teenagers apart. Video games are televisions, while pacifying, make the work of parents so much harder. To reach their children with the growing epidemic of drugs and other problems, parents are forced to be more creative.</p>
<p>Creativity is a must, and one cannot survive without it.</p>
<p>Each age of war brings astronomical</p>
<p>Official characteristics of a 5 essay:
1. Effectively develops a point of view on the issue and demonstrates strong critical thinking, generally using appropriate examples, reasons, and other evidence to support its position.
2. Is well organized and focused, demonstrating coherence and progression of ideas.
3. Exhibits facility in the use of language, using appropriate vocabulary.
4. Demonstrates variety in sentence structure.
5. Is generally free of most errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics.</p>
<p>MARCH SAT
QUESTION: Is the opinion of the majority - in government or in any other circumstance - a poor guide?
ETS SCORE: 10
AUTHOR: DmctNY8</p>
<p>The majority opinion, the foundation of American democracy, is a vital resource in shaping policy. The majority tells us, in great detail, the standard way of thinking for a people. However, is the majority always equivalent to the best? Are there times when the majority can be wrong? Yes, however without consent from the majority chaos can result. Therefore, when viewing the opinion of a majority, we must strike a balance between with is right and what is popular.</p>
<p>Take the aforementioned Christopher Columbus, and the majorities opinion of him. The majority views this man as a kind of century-old superhero. Yet, many in the majority are not aware of the absolute genocide committed by Columbus. The native population of Hispanola is estimated to have been approximately 16,000 men, women, and children. Tragically, within just a few years of Columbus' landing, almost all of these people had perished. Would the majority view Columbus as a hero if it knew of the reality? Likely not, and conversely, the masses view does not change who Columbus was. This is an example of a case where the majority remains a poor guide.</p>
<p>Later in American history, the view of the many played a vital role and the, a groups refusal to follow it cost thousands of lives. The Civil War was a battle of a minority, against a majority in which the majority clearly prevailed. The South, despite the North's half-hearted acceptance of slavery, decided to secede from the Union because the North held a majority of the power. The South pointed to a northern majority electing Lincoln, despite his absence from Southern ballots. By the South denying this majority they, in essence, fought a needless war because the strong willed Northern army defeated the South, returned it to its minority status, and spent thousands of lives. This war shows how at times the will of the majority is a crucial guide.</p>
<p>What can we learn from this study of the majority in American history? We learn that the majority should be respected but always challenged in its beliefs.</p>
<p>Here are the offical characteristics of a Level 5 essay:
1. Effectively develops a point of view on the issue and demonstrates strong critical thinking, generally using appropriate examples, reasons, and other evidence to support its position.
2. Is well organized and focused, demonstrating coherence and progression of ideas.
3. Exhibits facility in the use of language, using appropriate vocabulary.
4. Demonstrates variety in sentence structure
5. Is generally free of most errors in grammar, usage and mechanics</p>
<p>Here are the characteristics of a Level 4 Essay:
1. Develops a point of view on the issue and demonstrates competent critical thinking, using adequate examples, reasons, and other evidence to support its position.
2. Is generally organized and focused, demonstrating some coherence and progression of ideas.
3. Exhibits adequate but inconsistent facility in the use of language,using generally appropriate vocabulary.
4. Demonstrates some variety in sentence structure.
5. Has some errors in grammar, usage and mechanics</p>
<p>JUNE SAT
QUESTION: Do people put too much emphasis on learning practical skills?
ETS SCORE: 9
AUTHOR: Stambliark41</p>
<p>Society is growing more and more competitive, from colleges to job placement. In such an environment, pragmatic skills often take precedent over less tangible necessities. While intellectualism is lost at colleges yet is found in "The Awakening," practical skills certainly play an essential role in our daily lives.</p>
<p>Many students at top universities today approach not with a passion to learn, but a passion for monetary success. While it would certainly be reasonable for them to have such motivations, it nevertheless is not the same approach that exists several decades ago. Majoring in the classics, in literature, in history has been sidestepped for more practical majors such as business, law, and medicine. This shift in the nature of the world's most gifted individuals reflects a monumental change, for our roots are no longer tied to ethics and philosophy but monetary greed. So many reject the intellectualism of "lesser schools" to attend the brand name, whether it be the Ivy League or a similar institution. Why is it that we have stopped learning in favor of receiving?</p>
<p>Kate Chopin's "The Awakening" stresses the dangers of being the shallow student. The protagonist, Edna Pontellier, leads the practical life - she knits, she washes clothes, she cleans. But she is not happy. While living the hypothetical American dream to have a large house and wonderful family, she finds herself lost at sea. Edna has a passion for learning, for experiencing. It is in this context that her admirable nature is truly choreographed. While having all the practical skills of being a good mother and good wife, she is still unable to find peace with herself. The culminating climax when Edna drowns at sea conveys a fundamental message - being and having what society desires does not create happiness. It is our inability to fundamentally discover the intimacies and delicacies within us - not merely having practical skills - that allows us not only to grow but fill our insides.</p>
<p>While the message presented by both the dangers of college life and the efforts of Mrs. Pontellier, it would be inconceivable to make a claim that does not justify the value of practical skills. Many professors are often lost in their own world, light years from reality. And afterall, Edna's passions made her suicidal. However, to isolate these instances does not convey the complete message. The bottom line is that we need practical skills to survive, to function. We live in a "dog-eat-dog" world of capitalism and ferocity and hunger. Society demands action, not reflection. With this in mind, practicality is in fact necessary for we need it to sustain both our inner complexities and our lifestyles.</p>
<p>Through our practical actions, we have the ability to have true leisure time to discover our inner selves. But we must seek it. The practical is necessary, but we must delve past the practical to lead more than a good life - to lead a fulfilling life.</p>
<p>Official characteristics of a level 4 essay:
1. Develops a point of view on the issue and demonstrates competent critical thinking, using adequate examples, reasons, and other evidence to support its positions.
2. Is generally organized and focused, demonstrating some coherence and progression of ideas.
3. Exhibits adequate but inconsistent facility in the use of language , using generally appropriate vocabulary.
4. Demonstrates some variety in sentence structure.
5. Has some errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics.</p>
<p>MAY SAT
QUESTION: Do people depend on work - whether it is a job, schoolwork, or volunteer work - to determine what their daily activities and interactions with others should be?
ETS SCORE: 9
AUTHOR: CONFIDENTIAL</p>
<p>People depend on others to determine their daily activities and interactions with others. Work creates structure and organization in one's life and sets up an environment in which social interactions thrive. Personal experiences, as well as examples from history prove the validity of the previous statement.</p>
<p>Volunteering at the local hospital every Sunday provides me with social fulfillent. It also helps me structure and manage my time better. Every Sunday, I walk into the hospital with a sense of commitment knowing that my role as a volunteer is to assist others and brighten their day. I talk to the patients, assist them in any way possible, and hope to comfort them in their time of need. The feeling I receive from brightening one's day keeps me coming back for more and soon I become addicted to that warm feeling. I mentioned earlier that my time management skills also benefitted from this experience. Working three hours on the last day of the weekend forces me to make a commitement to finishing my homework as well. Nowadays, I am able to finish my work earlier because of my hospital commitment and as a result my grades have improved in school. This structure that I have created allows me to do more and enjoy more. I have now developed a "work hard, play hard" attitude. With all this being said, I believe that my volunteering work has helped me develop my work habits and given me social fulfillment, directly or indirectly.</p>
<p>When our founding fathers created the Constitution, they depended on their hard work ad dedication to building a democratic government in order to complete their lives. The Federalists, including James Madison and Alexander Hamilton. were determined to work for their goals of creating a strong central government, complete with a National Bank. Their job was to work for their beliefs along with the beliefs of others to build the Constitution. This belief kept them writing legislatureand bills for years and also made them stronger mentally. Their goals and desires brought them to compromise with the Anti-Federalists. With compromise, a desirable social quality...</p>
<p>In conclusion, we need work to keep us organized and we can benefit from it socially. As long as we control work, and not let it take full control of us, work is beneficial to not only us, but others as well. My volunteering helped me become more organized, while it benefitted the patients as well as the hospital. For the Constitution writers, work helped,...define the concept of Democracy.</p>
<p>Here are the official characteristics of a level 4 essay:
1. Develops a point of view on the issue and demonstrates competant critical thinking, using adequate examples, reasons, and other evidence to support its position.
2. Is generally organized and focused, demonstrating some coherence and progression of ideas.
3. Exhibits adequate but inconsistent facility in the use of language,using generally appropriate vocabulary.
4. Demonstrates some variety in sentence structure
5. Has some error in grammar, usage, and mechanics</p>
<p>JUNE SAT
QUESTION: Do memories hinder or help people in their effort to learn from the past and succeed in the present?
ETS SCORE: 9
AUTHOR: Tsmalizxc</p>
<p>Martin Luther King Jr. once declared, "Whether we succeed or fail, we will always remember the cause and learn from the past." Those veracious words are still precise and accurate in the 21st Century, decades after they were originally spoken. Memories play a vital role in our effort to learn from the past and succeed in the present. Perhaps the best examples of this fact are Virginia Woolf's novel, "Orlando," and our Founding Fathers adoption of the Constitution.</p>
<p>In "Orlando," a young girl named Orlando constantly conforms to the "rules" of those around her as she travels into each new age and each new setting. Eventually, such conformity oppresses Orlando as her proclivity to adopt the ways of society becomes over-bearing. When she reaches maturity in the 20th Century, Orlando rejects the views of society and finds her own desires, thus leading to a happiness she never had before she changed. The memories of her past conformity and the never-ending cycle of dejection that accompanied it helped Orlando realize that she can make herself happy.</p>
<p>When Ben Franklin, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and our Founding Fathers drew up our Constitution, they did so with memories of English rule and the Articles of Confederation blazing in their minds. These intelligent men knew that the failures of the Articles were so devastating - almost ineffable - that an immediate solution was needed. No one outside this close circle of men knew that a Constitution and a Bill of Rights was being written at the Constitutional Convention or that this unbelievably courageous effort would take our country into a new millenium. If the problem within the Articles of Confederation and the perpetual discrepancies of past British rule had never been addressed, we might not be as free or have as many liberties in the year 2005.</p>
<p>It would be fallacious to say memories hinder people in their effort to learn from the past and succeed in the present. We desperately need to remember all of our past failures and all of our present successes if we are to adapt and change in a beneficial way for our future. Man was created with an undeniable knack for memorization, and we see loss of memory as a disease.</p>
<p>Here are the official characteristics of a Level 4 essay
1. Develops a point of view on the issue and demonstrates competent critical thinking, using adequate examples, reasons, and other evidence to support its position.
2. Is generally organized and focused, demonstrating some coherence and progression on ideas.
3. Exhibits adequate but inconsistent facility in the use of language, using generally appropriate vocabulary.
4. Demonstrates some variety in sentence structure.
5. Has some errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics</p>
<p>JUNE SAT
QUESTION: Do people put too much emphasis upon learning practical skills?
ETS SCORE: 9
AUTHOR: VEHEMENT</p>
<p>What is the true definition of practical skills? Is it viewed the same way by everyone? Some people regard practical skills as essential tools that can bring them success. With this view firmly planted in their minds, they set out on a quest to acquire such treasures for the rest of their life span. However, the true problem lies in the number of such people. As time goes by, more and more people begin to take a more radical approach to life; learning only what they need, rejecting "useless" artforms and putting a value on everything that has value. Such a way of living is not only tiresome for them but it affects the society as a whole.</p>
<p>Today, money is revered as the key to open any door by almost everyone. There must be certain goods that need to be achieved in order to gain affluence. As humans are impatient, they tend to find shortcuts toward the treasure chest. Such values are by no means innovative. As early as the start of civilization such practices have been adopted by the ancient Chinese. Chinese families at that time viewed their daughters as properties thus it is only wise to trade such properties for a good price. Disregarding the happiness of their own children, they forced their daughters to marry any man that has a fortune. This practice is not only practical but inhumane.</p>
<p>Another example can be found in SAT preparation books. Many people bought books by Princeton Review and Kaplan in order to achieve their desired scores on the SAT. What the books teach are the practical ways to improve test taking without resorting to reading countless numbers of books or memorizing the dictionary. This defeats the purpose of the test which resulted in various number of changes by College Board that ultimately affected other people in a negative way.</p>
<p>It is fortunate that (NOTE: VEHEMENT CONFIRMS THAT HIS ESSAY ENDED WITH THIS INCOMPLETE SENTENCE. YOU ARE NOT READING A MISPRINT!)</p>
<p>Here are the official characteristics of a level 4 essay:
1. Develops a point of view on the issue and demonstrates competant critical thinking, using adequate examples, reasons, and other evidence to support its position.
2. Is generally organized and focused, demonstrating some coherence and progression of ideas.
3. Exhibits adequate but inconsistent facility in the use of language,using generally appropriate vocabulary.
4. Demonstrates some variety in sentence structure
5. Has some error in grammar, usage, and mechanics</p>
<p>MARCH SAT
QUESTION: Is creativity needed more than ever in the world today?
ETS SCORE: 9
AUTHOR: Vehement</p>
<p>It is without a doubt that humans have emphasized the importance of creativity. But what is questioned today by many experts is whether if the desire to chase creativity has declined during the years. Perhaps the people who do believe that creativity has declined have failed to see that it is not the demand of innovation which has being curtailed but it is the failure of humans to synthesize anything authentic that led to a period with insipid tastes!</p>
<p>Picasso is the watershed of modern art. To the common eye, Picasso's works may seem uncomprehensible but it is a facr that he is revered as one of the best painters of all time by an overwhelming number of people. The people who do like him may be like the rest of us; failing to ultimately 'understand' his peices. However, what people adore is the fact that Picasso is creative. It is not a common sight to see human legs on top of eyeballs or figures distorted beyond recognition. If another Picasso arises among the dull minds of today, people will perhaps not welcome him as much as the first because afterall, the fresh idea behind the works are gone. What humans do need badly today is a new idea but these 5000 yars seemed to have drained all of the talents away.</p>
<p>Another example are the cellphones. Not only are cellphones smaller and performs better but their designs have changed to suit the taste of the consumers. Why are teenagers changing cellphones every few monthes? It is because that among all of the banal items surrounding us, cellphones are one of the few that have evolved. The hunger of homosapiens to experience a change is greater than ever and they are willing to pay for it but sadly the so called experts failed to produce any.</p>
<p>Thus through the two examples shown, it is not that humans have lost their interest in creativity. The shocking truth is that creativity seemed to have departed from the world. New ideas are less common day by day. Maybe it has to do with limited resources but maybe the final line is that humans have finally ran out of ideas.</p>
<p>Here are the characteristics of a level 6 essay:
1. Effectively and insightfully develops a point of view on the issue and demonstrates outstanding critical thinking, using clearly appropriate examples, reasons, and other evidence to support its position.
2. Is well organized and clearly focused, demonstrating clear coherence and smooth progression of ideas.
3. Exhibits skillful use of language, using a varied, accurate, and apt vocabulary.
4. Demonstrates meaningful variety in sentence structure.
5. Is free of most errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics.</p>
<p>MARCH SAT
QUESTION: Is the opinion of the majority - in government or in any other circumstances - a poor guide?
ETS SCORE: 12
AUTHOR: Eeepiyk</p>
<p>From my experience, I realize that much of the world is in fact not round. Trends and cultural zeitgeist are indeed controlled by the masses. In Psychology, these concepts are referred to as group polarization and group-think, in which gestalt ("whole") ideas can be swayed simply by the consensus of a plurality of the group. Through history, governments are formed which consent of the governed, upon which legislative body assemblies are constructed. Decisions are made through these groups in power.</p>
<p>That I attend school and conform does indicate a certain amount of majority influence. However, in my Theory of Knowledge class I have recently discovered the benefits of wondering. There exist great minds among us even now who choose not to conform to the majority. Academic scholars such as Zecharia Sitchin, who argues the reality of Biblical mythology, is one example of such dreamers. His ideas present an alternative vantage point towards generally assumed truth. In this manner, I admit that I love to dream and readily pursue the activity of seeking my own personal truths despite that which is believed by the majority.</p>
<p>As history has already demonstrated, true geniuses and brilliant minds do often emerge to reveal previously unknown concepts. However, as technology advances rapidly, it becomes increasingly more difficult to argue the general public or the government as misguided. </p>
<p>Why should we believe that which a government declares truth? NASA, in conjunction with the American government, have stated that man visited the moon. Is it really so preposterous to believe that such an event is not truth? In my opinion, one should reach out to corroborate with primary sources and actual evidence before relying on predispositions accepted by the majority. That a conspiracy might exist is not the issue, but rather searching through the Areas of Knowledge to ascertain truth.</p>
<p>In mathematics, and even in many of the other broad avenues of learning, outliers exist. Even if just one outlier is present, it is sufficent support that the rest of the data is false. Thus, although the majority may be the most probable, it does not necessarily constitute plausibility when reason is applied. The film, "The Assassination of Richard Nixon," demonstrates just how much an impact even a "grain of salt" can have, albeit the main character did not achieve his primary goal.</p>
<p>I seek veracity by attempting to think differently from the majority, and even if it is futile, like the "Absurd Man" in philosophy, the journey is still beautiful and filled with hope.</p>
<p>wow ! Thanks sunnyboy for posting ! Just wondering, are these essays thought of before the test or just made up during ?If these are made up in 25 min I can only imagine what kind of essays these people write for their college application.....I'm feeling sad now !!! sniff</p>
<p>Its within the 25 limit</p>
<p>Here are the official criteria for a level 6 essay:
1. Effectively and insightfully develops a point of view on the issue and demonstrates outstanding critical thinking, using clearly appropriate examples, reasons, and other evidence to support its position.
2. Is well organized and clearly focused, demonstrating clear coherence and smooth progression of ideas.
3. Exhibits skillful use of language, using a varied, accurate, and apt vocabulary.
4. Demonstrates meaningful variety in sentence structure.
5. Is free of most errors in grammar, usage and mechanics.</p>
<p>MARCH SAT
QUESTION: Is the opinion of the majority - in government or in any other circumstance - a poor guide?
ETS SCORE: 12
AUTHOR: Shoegal2</p>
<p>A democratic government is based off of majority rule or a system in which whatever policy gets the most votes wins. While this may be the best way to reflect the citizens' interests, it is a poor guide for government. Just because more people believe in a decision does not make it a good, virtuous decision. Something that guides is always supposed to be good and because, in many cases, majority rule can ultimately lead to bad decisions, it is a poor guide for government and other circumstances.</p>
<p>In America, majority rule has often been corrupt and a poor guide. A French nobleman, Alexis de Tocqueville, traveled around America during the 1800s. He published a book, Democracy In America, based off of his discoveries. De Tocqueville found many things in America to be laudable, but he wrote about one thing known as "tyranny of the majority." Under the system of majority rule, the rights of the minority can often be abused. De Tocqueville gathered this theoretical claim after observing certain elements of American society. He stated that what the majority wants is not always beneficial because it can, at times, hurt other people. Clearly, majority rule is a poor guide for government because a truly good guide for government would never allow one group of people to become the subject of abuse by another group.</p>
<p>Majority rule is a poor guide for government because what the majority wants is not always a good thing. Henry David Thoreau explicated this theory in his essay, "Civil Disobedience." Thoreau thought that one of the key problems in America was that it only listened to its majority and not the minority. Thoreau provided the Mexican-American War as an example of when the majority forced the government to make an unjust decision. He wrote, "Why does America not cherish its wise minority?" Thoreau was saying that majority rule is not a good guide on its own because a good guide would also provide for the rights of the majority.</p>
<p>Majority rule is not a good guide for government because it can often harm the minority. During World War II, many Americans felt threatened by Japanese-Americans because of the Japanese government's bombing of Pearl Harbor. Thus, many Japanese-Americans were sent to internment camps. In these camps, human beings were degraded and massive civil rights violations took place. While this policy was immoral, it was enacted because the majority of Americans felt it was necessary. A good guide for government would strive for equality, instead of a tyrannical system. For these reasons, majority rule is not a good guide for government.</p>
<p>Under majority rule, whatever the majority wants is the law. If the majority wants to kill another group, it would be allowed. Because a guide for government should always be good, majority rule, on its own, is a poor guide for government because it can often lead to a tyranny of the majority.</p>
<p>Here are the official criteria for a level 6 essay:
1. Effectively and insightfully develops a point of view on the issue and demonstrates outstanding critical thinking, using clearly appropriate examples, reasons, and other evidence ot support its position.
2. Is well organized and clearly focused, demonstrating clear coherence and smooth progression of ideas.
3. Exhibits skillful use of language, using a varied, accurate and apt vocabulary.
4. Demonstrates meaningful variety in sentence structure
5. Is free of most errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics</p>
<p>MARCH SAT
QUESTION: Is the opinion of the majority - in government or in any other circumstances - a poor guide?
ETS SCORE: 12
AUTHOR: BamBAM</p>
<p>"Mr. Williams, we don't need to rehearse the half time show anymore. It's good enough already," the majority of the high school marching band implored the band director. I, however, was ambivalent. Part of me wanted to practice. But at the same time I could understand the majority's rationale for not wanting to practice anymore. The band had already run through the show several times with tremendous ease. The once daunting task of putting together a show complete with colorful flags, dazzling instruments, and amazing acrobatics now seemed mundane. While part of me wanted to side with the majority, the other part wanted to practice even harder because we had the Pennsbury Marching Band competition coming up, the pinnacle of all marching band competitions in the region.</p>
<p>We had only a few more rehearsals left before Pennsbury, so I had to decide between giving in to the will of the majority, or following the other part of me that wanted to keep rehearsing. During the last period of the day, my science teacher was lecturing about photosynthesis while my mind was on the marching band. Right as the bell rang I made my decision. I realized that the majority opinion would not lead the band to excellence. Only through hard work and tenacity would we excel at the Pennsbury competition. Even though I knew that my fellow marching band members would view me with contempt, even though I knew I would be unpopular, even though I had doubted myself, I had to tell Mr. Williams that most of the marching band was wrong, that we needed to practice more to achieve excellence for the upcoming competition. So I did.</p>
<p>Mr. Williams agreed with me. At the next rehearsal cold eyes stared at me with contempt. To them, I had taken away valuable free time and replaced ith with monotonous rehearsal. In the few rehearsals we had left, we worked arduously. Our hard work paid off. We did great at the competition, earning a superior rating - the highest. As we received our award, I learned a valuable lesson that the opinion of the majority is a poor guide. Sometimes it takes the voice of a lone individual to convince a group to do the best they can.</p>
<p>JUNE SAT
QUESTION: Do memories hinder or help people in their efforts to learn from the past and succeed in the present?
ETS SCORE: 12
AUTHOR: Shoegal2</p>
<p>When formulating policies for the present or the future, it is wise to look to the past. The history behind certain issues can serve as a guide of how to act, how not to act, or what to think. These specific memories can help people to succeed in the present by serving as such as guide. It would be irresponsible and careless to repress the past and not consider it when acting in the present.</p>
<p>Throughout history, looking to past events and attitudes has allowed many to
be successful in the present. At the beginning of the Cold War, the United States was in conflict with Russia. The emerging question was what should be the policy toward the Soviet Union. George Kennan, a diplomat who resided in Moscow, provided the answer. After thoroughly examining Russia's past, he proposed a new type of foreign policy: containment. Kennan stated, after observing influential figures throughout the history of Russia such as Ivan or Lenin, that the Soviets value aggression. The best option the US had was to contain this agression and not let it spread throughout the world. In 1989, the Soviet Union dissolved as a result of Kennan's theory on Russia. Clearly, Kennan's use of the history of Russia allowed for a successful policy in modern times. From this, it can be inferred that memories help people to prosper in the present.</p>
<p>Looking to the past can help people to later succeed, but it can also help show many how not to act. During World War II, the US faced a big enemy; this enemy was Japan. Japan was a lingering threat and the US needed to figure out how to get rid of this threat quickly. To achieve this goal, the United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. These bombs had not been tested and the tol they took on these cities was devastating. From this time in history, the world learned that it's best to avoid using such bombs. In the 1970s, the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT) limited the number of nuclear bombs a nation could have. It was obvious that the creators of SALT were looking back at World War II when they decided to reduce arms. A retrospective look back at certain memories teaches people how not to act in the present. </p>
<p>Referring back to history always provides people with a guide of how to act in the present. Before World War II, Hitler and other aggressive figures were beginning to attack neighboring countries. The rest of the world did not know how to handle these leaders so they appeased them by giving into their demands. A horrible war was the direct result of such appeasement. From this, the leaders of the world realized they could not turn their back on the world and allow for such belligerent rulers to lead again. The United Nations and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization were created when world leaders looked back at the causes of World War II. This referring back to history has proven to be beneficial in the present.</p>
<p>As proven throughout history, memories help people in their effort to succeed in the present. By looking at past events, one can decide in what way and based on what axiom he or she will act.</p>
<p>This was one of the worst essays I had written on an SAT prompt but my general style is still there... all you have to do is sell your argument--it doesn't need to be too complex.</p>
<p>Also, as you can see, I did not finish my essay. It was also 1.5 pages.</p>
<p>JUNE SAT
QUESTION: Do memories hinder or help people in their efforts to learn from the past and succeed in the present?
ETS SCORE: 11
AUTHOR: bioniCS</p>
<p>An old saying goes, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me." Although it is a blatant platitude, this quote holds a lot of truth. We, as a society, have always managed to learn from our mistakes and hence, have prevented them from happening again. Memories are vital on our journey to progress; they teach us not only what we have done well, but also what we have not done well. By looking to the novel Frankenstein, and the current Bush doctrine, we will see that memories always have, and always will aid us on our journey to success.</p>
<p>In Mary Shelley's novel, Frankenstein, the main character, M. Frankenstein, devotes his life to finding the secret to life. Unfortunately, it is during this time that Frankenstein makes an egregious error. In addition to locking himself away from his family and severing all contact with the outside world, Frankenstein creates a monster capable of killing humans. In his later days, however, Frankenstein learns from his mistake. When the first monster comes to ask Frankenstein for a monster-mate, Frankenstein declines. He realized that combining the first monster, who had already killed Frankenstein's nephew, with another female monster could spell disaster for the human race. Undoubtedly, Frankenstein's conscious analysis of his memories made the world better.</p>
<p>As far as the political sphere is concerned, the current Bush doctrine is predicated upon memories, the trials and tribulations of past administrations. President Bush, through a controversial set of plans, has set out on a mission to spread freedom, democracy, and human rights. He has learned from Carter's actions concerning the Iran hostage crisis, from the lack of cooperation from Iraq during the Clinton era, and has realized that despots love to play mind games. By creating the Bush doctrine as a hardline opponent to those who defy people power, President Bush has played a large role in finding democracy in Iraq, Afghanistan, and in the effects of those democracies on surrounding nations such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Learning from memories has aided President Bush in making the world a freer, safer place.</p>
<p>As it has been continuously stated, we have constantly learned from the past and aplpied that learning to the future. Whether it is avoiding the creation of an entire race of monsters or spre</p>
<p>JUNE SAT
QUESTION: Do memories hinder or help people in their effort to learn from the past and succeed in the present?
ETS SCORE: 12
AUTHOR: Addicted</p>
<p>One's memories are both valuable and harmful. A person may be able to learn from the past, but they could also be restrained by it. Despite this possibility of restraint, memories play a vital role in one's success because of the valuable lessons learned from them.</p>
<p>My cousin Dawn would quickly attest to the importance of learning from the past. For 5 years, she was involved in the use of heroine, cocaine, and other hardcore drugs. It wasn't until she was close to death that she realized her mistakes. She has described to me memories of her time as a drug addict. explaining that she went "fix to fix." She also describes her experiences to various audieces, as she has become a public speaker involved in the fight against drugs. For her, memories of the past are saving her life and keeping her from retreating to a life of drug addiction. She made mistakes, and now, she lives her life avoiding a repeat of them. Her vivid memories of that life have allowed her to move past it and begin a path to success.</p>
<p>Like a person, a country can also learn from its mistakes. In the past, the United States has reacted negatively to non-white ethnic groups. It has passed immigration laws against them, forced hard labor on them, and has failed to protect them as it does its own citizens. Take, for example, African Americans, who weren't liberated from slavery until the issue caused a war that separated the country. In reaction to this suppression, history shows a consistent reaction - protest and violence. To ignore the past, to repress it, would be the most foolish thing we could do. Examining our past allows us to see the error of our ways and avoid such action in the present and future. In recognizing our horrible treatment of these people, along with their violent reactions, the country has developed a system of equality and justice, creating a flourishing society.</p>
<p>Finally, in A Doll's House, Nora's memories of how Torvald treated her in the past liberates her. In their marriage, she was repressed by her husband, who insisted that she was meant to stay in the house, to take care of the kids, and to be a trophy wife. She could not do what she wanted, think what she wanted, or express herself as an individual. If she were to relinquish the memories of this repression, to forget the past, Torvald's treatment of her would continue forever. Instead, her memories allow her to stand up for herself and leave Torvald. In leaving him, she removes the oppressive forces enforced by society and finally has the opportunity to thrive and succeed in life.</p>
<p>Clearly, our memories play a vital role in our actions, both present and future. Our ability to learn from them, and change our lives because of them, makes them a vital element in achieving success in life. As a wise man once said, "Those who do not remember the past are doomed to repeat it."</p>
<p>JUNE SAT
QUESTION: Does worrying too much about other people's opinions prevent us from seeing things clearly?
ETS SCORE: 12
AUTHOR: DieselBoy</p>
<p>As our society grows in complexity and our aspirations, as humans seeking progression, become more intricate, we can not help but seek and value other people's opinions. In fact, worrying too much about other people's opinions can, indeed, prevent us from seeing things clearly. Historical recounts as well as every day situations lived by many testify to this account. </p>
<p>Indeed, the effect of other people's thoughts can obscure one's perspective. One such example is Louis XIV's reign preceding the uneventful and historically significant French Revolution. To please the aristocratic nobles that he cherished so dearly, Louis XIV allowed them to live off the royal treasury and exempted them from paying any form of taxation. Of course, this was to the detriment of the French people. Here, Louis XIV's desire to please his noblemen obscured his vision of his role as a statesman and the opinions of the aristocratic class prevented him from foreshadowing the disastrous events that would follow.</p>
<p>A second, and perhaps slightly more telling example, would be how young teenagers aspiring to great academic success cope their situation. Often times, when the admission process comes along in the Fall, teenagers are preoccupied by trying to impress college admissions officers. Many young students accomplish great feats in their lives; like my father says: "These kids have accomplished more in seventeen years than many families do in a generation." However, when these highly driven and successful teenagers are unfortunately denied admission to their top colleges, they feel like failures. Because the students think too much about the opinion of College admission officers their true accomplishments are obscured. This underscores how opinions can obscure our view.</p>
<p>Indeed, historical and current events testify to the notion that "worrying too much about other people's opinions prevents us from seeing things clearly." Sometimes we should take a step back and adopt a broader perspective.</p>