Planning for a 'Googly'
-Is there a sure
shot method?
A professor from
MIT made 3 students write the SAT essay in which they gave
incorrect facts, wrote fanciful long words and based their essay on
length rather than quality. These students actually got near
prefect scores.
Didn't prove anything except that the
impression you make is the marks you get.
Go back to board exams and the teachers warning- "Write so as to impress your examiners"! What did you retain of that warning- a good beginning, neatness, paragraphs, and a certain format?
This applies to the SAT essay also.
Let's face
it- there is no formula for success in a SAT essay.
But there is a formula for a basic layout and a way on how to write
it well.
• 
Having
a pen or ball in hand is almost similar when you at the end you
have to score. The first step is to understand the Prompt. On every
SAT Essay, an issue will be presented in either a short paragraph
or quotation. Your job is to develop an essay on your point of
view about the issue, using to your best, the assignment given as
your guidelines for developing the structure.
Having
a pen or ball in hand is almost similar when you at the end you
have to score. The first step is to understand the Prompt. On every
SAT Essay, an issue will be presented in either a short paragraph
or quotation. Your job is to develop an essay on your point of
view about the issue, using to your best, the assignment given as
your guidelines for developing the structure.• An introductory paragraph, two to three paragraphs that have examples to prove your point and a concluding paragraph should make up the layout of your essay. Once your layout is clear, you can go ahead and plan on what to put in it.
• Regardless of the topic, a 5 paragraph essay usually works, or even 4 paragraphs, if the earlier seems too ambitious and you don't care really about a score of "6". This is a standard pattern and it is affectionately believed that it is followed because most evaluators are English teachers and they appreciate this layout.
• First paragraph- put in a strongly worded sentence right in the beginning, stating what your essay will be about. Hook the attention of the examiners with your opening sentence. Always believe in the'blink effect' (instant appreciation) which is where your hook line will help you score. A well matched quote would do remarkably well here.
•
Your first
paragraph has to have a short summary/ thesis of what your entire
essay will be about. This prepares your readers for what your point
of view will be and helps them understand the rest of the essay. It
also can be a reflection of your creativity or originality in
dealing with a topic.• Now while the first sentence has introduced the topic the job of the second and third sentences should be to enlarge on the topic provided and state clearly the main idea of the paper. This is where you are adding body to your essay or depth to your bowling. Have at the minimum, 4-5 sentences for each paragraph.
• The second paragraph should have/begin with the first example and be related to your main idea. The body of the second paragraph should develop the example - basically stating facts to enhance your points. In a clear and concise way, it has to link up the first paragraph while giving an example to substantiate your point of view. A literary or historical example is most likely to read better than a personal example here.
• On a lighter note- literary examples are just quotes from famous books by famous authors on the topic in question. On an issue like satire one of the most famous examples would be Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels. While a historical example on an issue like courage, may well be of Nelson Mandela's life where stories of faith and courage concerning the plight of equality are examples for all of mankind.
• The third paragraph should be similar to the second one. It should contain the second example, if possible a historical one and have a reference to the main idea. Like the second paragraph, the body of the third paragraph should develop the example with clarity. The same as should be done in the fourth paragraph which can now have that personal example you are dying to quote. But just as you can't bowl a fast ball in the middle of a spin over, you can't have any paragraphs which are disconnected with the layout.
