Writing the SAT timed essay

Mrs. Guthrie
Santa Clara High School
FAQ
25 minutes (will feel faster!)
Scored out of 12 (2 scores of 6)
Hand writing should be as neat as possible!
◦ Print if it is easier to read!
◦ If you mess up, one line to mark it out is plenty!
◦ Spelling should be your best effort
◦ High level vocabulary is important
Organization and maturity of thought are
key!
Step 1: Read the prompt!
Suggestion:
◦ Read the assignment
◦ Read the quote
◦ Read the assignment again!

◦ Essays that only respond to the quote and not

to the assignment will not score well even if
they are brilliant!
◦ Let’s look at an example
Step 2: Brainstorm 3 ideas
Practice makes perfect!
◦ Pre-research!
◦ 3 mature examples usually lead to a double
digit score
History
Current Events (science, art, math, sports
if meaningful)
Literature
Life examples- only if excellent,
meaningful, and mature!
Step 3: Agree or Disagree
Based on Examples!
Thesis: Prompt + Agree or Disagree +
Why
Step 4: Intro
Two lead in sentences + thesis
or
CABE:
◦ Contradiction (Some believe, popular
sentiment dictates, etc)
◦ Assertion (However,)
◦ Because
◦ Thesis with specific examples.
Body Paragraphs
1example per body paragraph
Connect clearly with thesis
Give specific details

Therefore, Hence, Thus, Indeed

Conclusion
Don’t skip!
Don’t repeat!
End with final thoughts and emphasis on
critical thinking
Common Topics:
Leadership
Friendship
Honesty
Adversity
Success
Quality of Life
Literature
Lista minimum of 5 books you feel
comfortable writing about. (Classics,
Contemporary if sophisticated, Poetry,
Nonfiction)
Bullet Point
◦ Author (spelled correctly)
◦ Main Characters
◦ Setting
◦ Theme
◦ Gist of Plot
History
Lista minimum of 5 historical events that
you feel comfortable writing about
Bullet points:
◦ Key players
◦ Location
◦ Detail
◦ Detail
◦ Theme/ Lesson
Current Events:
List at least 5 current events you feel
comfortable writing about (Politics,
technology, art, humanitarian, natural
disasters, medicine, etc)
Bullet Points
◦ Detail
◦ Detail
◦ Detail
◦ Theme/Lesson
Life
Listat least 2 life lessons you feel
comfortable writing about (mature,
meaningful)
Detail
Detail
Detail
Theme/Lesson
Now we are ready to write!
Expectation: Over the next few months,
we will write 6 in-class, timed essays.
They will be graded on the SAT rubric
You will be able to re-write them to
increase your score (optional) .
Be sure to discuss SAT sign-ups with
Mrs. Greenway.
Goals for next SAT essay
Answer the Prompt!
Finish! (Study Pre-research and come as
clear-headed as possible)
Be historically accurate (Study Pre-
research and pay attention in all of your
classes)
Be specific with examples (no
hypotheticals)
 Watch out for tense changes
Thesis: Clear thesis with 3
examples!
 Make parallel and concise:
◦ Parallel:
◦ The assertion that success can lead to more problems,
can be seen in President Obama, celebrity status, and
my life.
◦ Success leads to less problems, which can be seen in
my mother, Macbeth, and World War II.
◦ Not Parallel:
◦ Success leads to more problems, which can be seen in
Obama, the time I went to a dance, and when the US
invaded Iraq.
Thesis: Make one sentence without I
Before
◦ I believe success leads to more problems.
This can be seen in Bless Me Ultima, Martin
Luther King, and my life.
Improved:
◦ Success leads to more problems, which can be
seen in Bless Me Ultima, Martin Luther King,
and my life.