SAT
ESSAY WRITING
WHAT DO I WRITE ABOUT?

You have no choice of topic: you have to write on the
prompt given in a text box. For example, you may see
something like:
“Time has a doomsday book, on whose pages he is continually recording
illustrious names. But as often as a new name is written there, an old one
disappears. Only a few stand in illuminated characters never to be
effaced.”
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
LOOK AT THE ASSIGNMENT
Underneath the prompt is the assignment – a
statement that clarifies what you are supposed to do.
 For example, after the issue given in the prompt
above, you might see:

Assignment:
Are there some heroes who will be remembered forever? Or are all
heroes doomed to be forgotten one day? Plan your response, and
then write an essay to explain your views on this issue. Be sure to
support your position with specific points and examples. (You may use
personal examples or examples from your reading, observations, or,
knowledge of subjects such as history, literature, science.)
The examiners tell us in the Official Guide to the
SAT that there is “no formula for writing an
effective essay.”
 This is not a helpful statement. In 25 minutes
you do not have the luxury of experimenting with
different essay formats.

USE REAL EXAMPLES!
 Therefore,
let’s build some skills on which
you can depend!
 Select one suitable illustrative example
from your personal experience, or your
reading, or knowledge of current affairs,
history, science, etc., and use this as the
basis for a discussion of the topic.
 The example should be specific and
real rather than invented. It is best
to avoid religion or politics or other
controversial issues.
LET’S GO BACK TO THE PROMPT
“Time has a doomsday book, on whose pages he is continually recording
illustrious names. But as often as a new name is written there, an old one
disappears. Only a few stand in illuminated characters never to be
effaced.”
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Assignment:
Are there some heroes who will be remembered forever? Or are all
heroes doomed to be forgotten one day? Plan your response, and
then write an essay to explain your views on this issue. Be sure to
support your position with specific points and examples. (You may use
personal examples or examples from your reading, observations, or,
knowledge of subjects such as history, literature, science.)
BRAINSTORM WITH YOUR NEIGHBOR:
HOW COULD YOU DEVELOP THIS?
JOT DOWN SOME NOTES/A PLAN
WORD COUNT
 The
essay should be over 400 words in length.
Research has found that 90% of essays over 400
words in length receive the highest score of 12.
However, the word count is not the issue.
 There is no word limit but a limited space is
provided. The space you have to fill is
approximately one and a half sides of A4 paper
(longer but not as wide as letter size). The space
is sufficient to write a well developed essay. You
will have to write in pencil.
5 ESSENTIAL INGREDIENTS
OF A GREAT SAT ESSAY





Subject matter used to prove your essays: Literature and
history examples tend to help an essay score better. Examples
based on personal experiences tend to score lower.
Organization: One paragraph per example scores better than
paragraphs with multiple examples.
Explicitness: Tell readers what you are going to tell them in
your introduction and the first sentence of each paragraph. Use
the last sentence of each paragraph to remind them and the
conclusion to repeat your main point.
Following Directions: You need to answer the topic and
make it obvious that you are answering it. The easiest way to
do this is to paraphrase the prompt in your thesis and to
mention your main idea at the start of each body paragraph.
Essays that are off topic get a score of 0.
Command of Language: Sentence construction, grammar
and word choice
 Apply
all those grammar
rules you’re learning for
the writing section to your
writing in the essay. You’re
flat out told that they reward
varied sentence structure and
apt vocabulary, so be sure to
include them. (Starting
sentences with words like
although and despite is a great
way to start; understanding
the proper use of a semi-colon
is also priceless.)
HOW IS THE ESSAY SCORED?
Two graders give your SAT Essay a score on a
scale of 1 to 6. You can achieve a total score of 12
(6 from each grader) on the SAT Essay and a low
score of 2 (1 from each grader). SAT Essays that
are off topic are given a score of 0.
 Graders are asked to grade your essay
“holistically.” This means that they are
instructed to look at your essay as whole judging
the quality of your ideas, and how you prove
them to come up with your score.

COMPETENT OR EXCEPTIONAL?
 That’s
the key difference between essays
earning a score of 4 and essays earning a
6.
 The 4s are like average students: They do
the work the night before, turn it in, and
get back a passing grade that keeps their
parents off their back.
 The 6s are excellent students: They do
their homework days in advance, turn it
in early, and submit superior quality
work.
LET’S BRAINSTORM IDEAS
FOR DEVELOPMENT