<p>^^UChicago does not, and possibly Cornell as well (nothing official, just going off what I’ve read in the past).</p>
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<p>TOTALLY disagree. I can’t think of any course that has an in-class writing assignment where time is an issue. Any respectable English requires papers be written out of class. Maybe on a free-response econ exam or something? But even with that kind of thing, you typically get plenty of time…</p>
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<p>No, in a debate/speech you will actually know what you’re talking about, and the things you say you will be held accountable to. A debate encourages logical analysis - it becomes quite obvious to a judge if you are BSing and pulling things out of thin air.</p>
<p>In this timed essay, you make up facts left and right and follow a formula to maximizing your points. You prepare stock essay outlines beforehand, knowing that the essay topics are quite predictable in a broad sense, and are prepared to regurgitate them.</p>
<p>I think you are mistaking “BS” for “thinking on your feet” - they are not the same thing.</p>
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<p>Depends on who the judges are. If the judges are voters, then they may not be able to tell if a candidate for public office is BSing and pulling things out of thin air during a debate with his/her opponent.</p>
<p>Chicago - I looked at the requirements and it said SAT reasoning test and so I assumed they want all three sections. However, looking at the profile, it does look like only 2 sections and they also mention ACT does not require writing.</p>
<p>TEST SCORES
UChicago requires an ACT or SAT Reasoning score. Official SAT Reasoning or ACT scores should be sent to the University of Chicago from the testing agency, even if your scores appear on your transcript. UChicago’s SAT code is 1832; the ACT code is 1152. We do not require any SAT Subject Tests. While we would of course like to receive your scores before the appropriate deadline, for the Early Action deadline, we will accept November SAT scores and October ACT scores and for the Regular Decision deadline, we will accept January SAT scores and February ACT scores. If you choose to submit ACT scores, we do not require the optional essay component.</p>
<p><a href=“https://collegeadmissions.uchicago.edu/apply/classprofile.shtml[/url]”>https://collegeadmissions.uchicago.edu/apply/classprofile.shtml</a></p>
<p>It does look like Cornell does not consider writing either.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.dpb.cornell.edu/documents/1000001.pdf[/url]”>http://www.dpb.cornell.edu/documents/1000001.pdf</a></p>
<p>I kind of wish colleges would look at writing, because I did well on mine, except the essay. :(</p>
<p>I think writing is worth considering, but the essay is stupid. As many people have already said, people who do well on the essay are people who know how the system works, instead of actually writing decently. All of my friends and I got 8’s on our essays, and our writing abilities are very varied, from awesome to decent (me) to pretty terrible. And we all got 8’s.</p>
<p>The schools my Ds applied to didn’t consider writing. One specifically said they didn’t because they didn’t have the historical data yet to see how the score correlates with performance. I personally think it’s not a good way to judge writing, but do think the grammar portion is very important.</p>
<p>I’ve heard many colleges (thankfully) don’t pay as much attention to the writing section. My son did well on CR and CM, but couldn’t crack that writing section, even after two attempts. He is a straight A English Honor student who writes well, but only when given plenty of time…and spell check on a computer. He says 20 minutes just wasn’t enough time, not for him. I realize many students can crank out a great essay in 20 minutes. But I think it may be unfair to others. Do they take off points for misspelled words? I think that may be unfair due to the advent of computers and spell-check.</p>
<p>I think the writing section is important. If the essay brings down your score thats understandable, but grammar is very important. Word on my computer doesnt catch all mistakes and if your writing an in-class essay, not matter how short, small grammar mistakes can make stupid you sound.
Or positive grammar can make you sound intelligent
Either way, when composing a persuasive work, it is important to sound like you know what you are talking about</p>
<p>wcgh13–nice. :)</p>
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<p>There are other ways to catch grammar mistakes, though. NO one should rely on their word processing program - if you have notoriously bad grammar, you can visit your university’s writing center for proofreading help. Honestly, although I took the SAT before the writing section came on board I used to teach it for Kaplan, and the grammar skills are pre-high school level stuff. They are things you should’ve learned in 8th grade, maybe 9th. Even if you score well on it, that’s no indication to me of whether you can write on a college level (and this is evidenced when I grade undergraduate papers at my Ivy League grad school - students who by definition probably scored at least a 650 on the writing exam).</p>
<p>Professors rarely give in-class essays. They may ask you to provide a short answer or paragraph explaining something, but it’s not going to be to evaluate you on your writing, it’s going to be to measure your understanding of something. In those cases, grammar is less important (although we need to be able to understand you when we grade the exam). Any papers of any substantial length you will likely get a few weeks to write, so that means you have time to proofread and get some friends or the writing center to help you.</p>
<p>[Studies:</a> SAT writing portion good predictor of grades - USATODAY.com](<a href=“http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2008-04-24-sat_N.htm]Studies:”>http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2008-04-24-sat_N.htm)</p>
<p><<The College Board, which administers the SAT, studied test scores from 150,000 freshmen entering 110 colleges in 2006 and then looked at their GPAs at the end of their freshmen year, says Wayne Camara, vice president of research.</p>
<p>“Our study suggests that the writing test is the best single predictor” of freshman grades, he says. >></p>
<p>Well, I read a study by the association of math teachers (can’t remember the group’s name) that said having taken calculus in hs is the best predictor of college success. Everyone’s selling something. You can design studies to prove any point. So far, we’re talking about what’s been said, not the details or hard data.</p>
<p>Yes, grammar and construction, reasoning and argument should come naturally. The issue isn’t the importance of writing and related skills- it’s this test. Overall, I think what the standardized tests show is a kid’s motivation to push him/herself to do well. That’s a nice skill to have at a tough college. But, a few points higher college gpa? Or, are we talking about point 00x? Anyone know what the real difference is?</p>
<p>CareerMom66: the essay has a 25 minute time limit, not 20.</p>