SAT Writing The Essay Prompt

The Essay Prompt

• The Prompt
• The SAT essay prompt always takes the same form: an excerpt followed by a question asking your opinion on the main idea of the excerpt.
• Why the Prompt is Horrible
• You have no opportunity to prepare before the test. You don’t know what the essay prompt will ask.
• You are given the prompt under timed conditions, in a stressful testing environment.
• The prompt will ask you a fairly philosophical question that you may not have thought about before.
• The SAT essay is a first draft. And we all remember what Ernest Hemingway said about first drafts.
• Why the Prompt is Awesome
• The prompt explains the excerpt for you. There is no danger that you will misunderstand the excerpt (and therefore write an off-topic essay) if you pay attention to the question that follows it.
• The prompt asks the same question in two ways, which is good for different learning styles.
• The essay question is the first section of the SAT, which means you will be answering it when you are still fresh and well-rested (and when all your pencils are still sharp).
• Readers know this is your first draft. They’re not expecting you to win a prize for philosophy. They’re looking for good writing.
• There is no wrong answer and no penalty for guessing.
• Three Ways to Answer the Prompt
• The prompt will give you an excerpt and ask you for your opinion on it. Do you agree with what the excerpt says?
• If you agree, your answer is “Yes.”
• If you disagree, your answer is “No.”
• If you’re somewhere in the middle, your answer is “Scarecrow” (not really, but we’ll get to this).
• Yes
• If you agree with the statement in the prompt, organize your essay around that agreement.
• Choose relevant, concreteexamples to support your point.
• Acknowledge opposing viewpoints, if they’re relevant, and point out flaws in their reasoning if you get the opportunity.
• No
• If you disagree with the statement in the prompt, state it clearly in your first paragraph.
• Explain whyyou disagree, using concrete examples.
• If there is any part of the prompt with which you agree, concede it, but be clear about how far your agreement goes.
• Scarecrow
• “Of course, some people do go both ways!”
• This answer is also called a qualifiedresponse. In it, you examine both sides of the issue and come to a compromise. You will need at least two examples.
• This approach is rhetorically ambitious, but more difficult to pull off. Be sure you have clear examples and a good compromise point.
• Tips for Acing the Prompt
• Read the prompt carefully. Make sure the question you’re answering is the question you were asked.
• Pay close attention to the language used in the excerpt. You may want to quote it or make reference to it, whether your answer is yes, no, or scarecrow.
• Circle or underline parts of the prompt that strike you as especially important.
• Organize your essay around your examples.
• Call back to the prompt in your introduction and conclusion.
• Recommended supplementary material to view SAT questions featured in lesson answer guides: The Official SAT Study Guide by the College Board.