1. Miss Amorin Language Arts SAT
SAT Prep *ESSAY
Miss Amorin
Language Arts SAT

2. The SAT Essay Info. The essay is optional but recommended.
Different universities have different requirements.
Students have 50 minutes to complete the essay.
Students are expected to write a 4-5 paragraph essay.
The “type” of essay students are expected to write is a RHETORICAL ANALYSIS essay.
A rhetorical analysis is an essay that requires students to read a text and write a logical, well-constructed analysis of the author’s argument.

3. ESSAY Requirements: It’s About the Real World-
The SAT Essay is a lot like a typical college writing assignment in which you’re asked to analyze a text. Take the SAT with Essay and show colleges that you’re ready to come to campus and write.
The essay does NOT require students to:
Give your opinion about a text.
Memorize examples from history or literature.
Write about a previous experience that relates to the text.

4. What is expected from students when writing the rhetorical analysis essay?
Students are expected to write a strong essay that demonstrates college and career readiness.
They are expected to produce a clear, written analysis using evidence drawn from the source provided (text).
Again, essay is NOT opinion based. It’s NOT about explaining whether or not you agree/disagree with the author’s claims.
It SHOULD explain how the author builds an argument to persuade his or her audience.

5. SAT Essay Strategies*
1.) Quickly read the writing prompt (end) to understand main topic before reading.
READ the passage.
Annotate in essay
Underline important evidence
Write reflection notes
2.) Re-read essay prompt.
3.) Pre-Write (plan)
4. ) Write essay
5. ) Revise & Edit.

6. Essay Passages
When reading the passage (text) provided for the essay, consider the following:
Evidence, such as facts or examples, to support claims.
Reasoning to develop ideas and to connect claims and evidence.
Stylistic or persuasive elements, such as word choice or appeals to emotion, to add power to the ideas expressed.
Note: Circle information and annotate as you a reading the passage.

7. Things to look for when reading the writing prompt passage--
TECHNIQUE*
Use of:
Rhetorical questions
Comparisons
“Quotes”
Statistics
Metaphors/ similes
Specific type of ‘language’ used
Ethos, pathos, lagos

8. The Essay Prompt: Format
The essay prompt (question) shown below, or a nearly identical one, is used every time the new SAT is given.
Write an essay in which you explain how [the author] builds an argument to persuade [his/her] audience that [author’s claim]. In your essay, analyze how [the author] uses one or more of the features listed above (or features of your own choice) to strengthen the logic and persuasiveness of [his/her] argument. Be sure that your analysis focuses on the most relevant features of the passage. Your essay should not explain whether you agree with [the author’s] claims, but rather explain how the author builds an argument to persuade [his/her] audience.

9. Essay Writing Prompt Model*
After reading the passage, the essay prompt will be at the end.
It is usually written in the prompt style below (example):
John F. Kennedy- Sept. 12, 1962, Rice Stadium, Houston, TX.
Write an essay in which you explain how (President Kennedy) builds an argument to expand and move forward (with the United States’ space program). In your essay, analyze how (Kennedy) uses one or more of the features listed above (or features of your own choice) to strengthen the logic and persuasiveness of his argument. Be sure that your analysis focuses on the most relevant aspects of the passage.
Your essay should not explain whether you agree with Kennedy’s claims, but rather explain how the author builds an argument to persuade his audience.
Pgs SAT Coursework book

10. Essay Prompt Topic
You can count on seeing the same prompt no matter when you take the new SAT with Essay, but the passage will be different every time.
All PASSAGES have these things in common:
Written for a broad audience
Argue a point
Express subtle views on complex subjects
Use logical reasoning and evidence to support claims
Examine ideas, debates, or trends in the arts and sciences, or civic, cultural, or political life
Always taken from published works
All the information you need to write your essay will be included in the passage or in notes about it.

11. Who Should Take the SAT with Essay?
You don’t have to take the SAT with essay, but if you do, you’ll be able to apply to schools that require it. Find out which schools require or recommend the SAT Essay. If you don’t register for the SAT with Essay at first, you can add it later.
SAT fee $$ waivers cover the cost of the SAT with essay.

12. 1-4 scale in three different categories :
SCORING*
TWO graders will read and SCORE the essay on a
1-4 scale in three different categories :
- Reading (1-4)
- Analysis (1-4)
- Writing (1-4)
Highest score a student can receive
on the essay = 12 x2 = 24
A “good” average score = 9/10 (one scorer) or 18/20 (two scorer)
See pgs for
essay rubric in
SAT Coursework book.

13. SCORES- What the SAT Essay Measures
The SAT Essay shows how well you understand the passage and use it as the basis for a well-written, thought-out discussion. The two people who score your essay will each award between 1 and 4 points in each of these three categories:
Reading: A successful essay shows that you understood the passage, including the interplay of central ideas and important details. It also shows an effective use of textual evidence.
Analysis: A successful essay shows your understanding of how the author builds an argument by:
Examining the author’s use of evidence, reasoning, and other stylistic and persuasive techniques
Supporting and developing claims with well-chosen evidence from the passage
Writing: A successful essay is focused, organized, and precise, with an appropriate style and tone that varies sentence structure and follows the conventions of standard written English.
Take a look at the SAT Essay rubric, or guidelines, scorers use to evaluate every essay.

14. Sending Scores
If you take the SAT with Essay, your essay scores will always be reported along with your other scores from that test day. Even though Score Choice™ allows you to choose which day’s scores you send to colleges, you can never send only some scores from a certain test day. For instance, you can’t choose to send Math scores but not SAT Essay scores.
Reminder: Check the Score Choice policies of every college you’re applying to because some schools require you to send scores from every time you’ve taken the SAT. If this sounds intimidating, keep in mind that many colleges consider your best.

15. SAT ESSAY*
Good Luck!
Focus, read well, and write even better!