<p>When they give you a quote, are you supposed to use the quote?</p>
<p>This applies for SAT writing. I didn't use it at all - I didn't even read it very closely.</p>
<p>What about for college admissions essays? Do you try and incorporate the quote into your essay or only the meaning/topic they prescribe?</p>
<p>SAT Writing -- no it's not expected at all, but you won't be marked down if you do.</p>
<p>College Essays -- up to you, but not a requirement. I prob. won't use it b/c of the strict word count, but you could go either way.</p>
<p>I got a 12 on the essay. I think the quote is indeed significant. If the question panics you, then read the quote quickly again. It will at the very least suggest what kind of tone on which the question is presented to you. for instance, the march essay prompt about majority influence....the quote stated how Columbus was snickered and jeered at when he thought the world was round... and then the question asked if majority rule is a <em>poor guide</em>. A reasonable point of view, in agreement (arguably) with the writers of the question, would therefore be to argue that it <em>is</em> a poor guide (after all, the question didn't ask if majority rule is an advantageous or beneficial guide...), and defend your essay with support similar to the columbus quote, in which you demonstrate how historical figures or events with new ideas have emerged which were also originally frowned upon by the majority at one time. If you "play the game", so to speak, you can extract quite a lot from the quote and the question, making your examples and entire essay very simple to write. When I saw that question in march, I read between the lines, and in my mind I could hear the test makers shouting "OF COURSE MAJORITY RULE IS A POOR GUIDE, YOU MEDIOCRE STUDENTS!!" From there, I mustered up some energy and passion and wrote like crazy defending that point of view. Coming up with a completely original POV is difficult in just a minute or two. So read the quote and question carefully, detect what they are <em>really</em> asking you, and go for it.</p>
<p>I haven't written my college essays yet, so I dunno about those...</p>
<p>I must disagree with you on that, eeepiyk. I didn't take the March SAT but I read the prompt somewhere (a friend's score report, maybe -- not too sure) and I automatically wanted to write in support of majority rule as an excellent guide. The way it was worded totally seemed as though they wanted students to write about why majority rule was bad. But then you have to think - if you can support the opposition - support the opposition! Give them something fresh to read (all though they obviously liked yours regardless). I don't think it was any secret the way it was worded and most students probably did write about why majority rule was a poor guide. </p>
<p>I'm getting off topic - but I don't think the side that is supported matters as much to essay graders as HOW it is supported. </p>
<p>But I like the idea of taking the tone from the quote. </p>
<p>Argh, but then again - isn't it more beneficial to put your own voice in? I think I have my own voice in writing - just very straight forward and to the point. I would kind of want that to shine through in an essay more than just flowing with the quote. Eh. I guess I'll just write and if the quote fits, it fits. If not, oh well. As long as I stay on topic....</p>
<p>Well, I think you're also right, since it would be more important ideally to have your original POV on the issue, but I think expanding on what they are looking for is easiest in 25 minutes. </p>
<p>For the majority rule question, I remember starting my essay off with something along the lines of "From my experience, I realize that the world is in fact not round. Trends and cultural zeitgeist are indeed controlled by the masses." I knew I was siding with the testmakers, but I infused a little twist of my own by using the same "world-is-round" concept and converting it to a metaphor that I could use to convey just how much majority is a poor guide.</p>