Please help me write excellent SAT essays. Here is the place for you to let out all your criticism. Thank you.


(Time given= 25 minutes)
rubric
Consider carefully the following statement. Then read the assignment below it and plan and write your essay as directed.

“It is as difficult to start things as it is to finish things.”

Assignment: Do you agree with this statement? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your position on this issue. Support your point of view with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.


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It’s often hard to get started on something. Sometimes fear of the unpredictable, fear of obstacles, or plain old procrastination requires an impulsive burst of energy in order to make one really begin. Finishing things is just as difficult, but at least somewhat more predictable.

Every day is as hard to start as to finish for many people. People are very busy doing many things, when they aren’t involved in the myriad distractions available online and via small electronic machines, which often results in having trouble going to sleep on time. Just as, if not more hard than, going to sleep is waking up in the morning... getting started on a new day.

Students tend to remember only the last days of school and how hard it was for them to leave. They forget the nervousness of the first day of school, how they tried to impress the teacher with their behavior and check to see which of their friends were still in their class.

Most people remember only the straggling endings that took their last bit of energy and devotion to the cause and forget the obstacles they started against. Nonetheless, new beginnings are just as hard, if not harder, then endings.

I never understood the requirement to write an essay in 25 minutes. In a real life situation, wouldn't you expect someone to take the time to think about their ideas, develop them, rewrite them, proofread them, etc? How does whatever you manage to scribble in 25 minutes really reflect on your true writing ability?

Journalism?

Jeanette, I agree, and Goldfish, good point, but please criticize the essays in this thread.

I don't know how long it took you to write that, but your posts on this board seem more fluent than that essay.

This is well written but it's not really an essay, it's more like a musing. It needs more structure. I'm also not so sure how logical or how much sense it makes if you read through it a couple of times.


How is finishing anything "predictable"? I think it's more likely that you won't finish a project than you will.


Again, how is it hard to finish a day?


I dunno, I think they only remember the middle part -- finals and papers and how boring classes were and they're very happy to be leaving.


Not a bad last two sentences, but it needs to be bulked up.

I'm finding it very hard to write these SAT essays. Every word I eke out is a struggle, and I can't figure out why.

You're trying too hard. What you've written here borders on poetry. Try going for straighforward, declarative sentences.

I agree. If there's a due date?It's just as hard to get up in the morning as it is to go to sleep at night (for those who need sleep at night to function.)Is this generalization too invalid to be used here?What would you suggest?

It’s often hard to get started on something. Sometimes fear of the unpredictable, fear of obstacles, or plain old procrastination requires an impulsive burst of energy in order to make one really begin. Finishing things is just as difficult, but at least somewhat more planned.Every day is as hard to start as to finish for many people.

People are very busy doing many things, when they aren’t involved in the myriad distractions available online and via small electronic machines, which often results in having trouble going to sleep on time. It's just as hard to plunge into a new day as it is to go to sleep on time at night.

Students tend to remember only the last days of school and how hard it was for them to leave. They forget the nervousness of the first day of school, how they tried to impress the teacher with their behavior and check to see which of their friends were still in their class.

Most people remember only the straggling endings that took their last bit of energy and devotion to the cause and forget the obstacles they started against. Nonetheless, new beginnings are just as hard, if not harder, then endings.
I'm trying, but it's just not happening.

Mondays and Wednesdays in particular, at least according to the Shulchan Aruch YD 179

I meant a voluntary project. I'm planning to do NaNoWriMo (starting in 2 days and 2 hours) and it'll be really easy for me to start but unless I work hard at it, it's all going to fall apart after a week.


Quit for tonight, sleep on it, and try again tomorrow.

I think you should present a counter-argument to your thesis, and have a clear introduction paragraph and conclusion paragraph. I don't know if I'd use "..." in a formal essay.

By the way I like your writing style. You show quite a bit of talent.

This is essentially voluntary.

I will.

When I was studying for the GRE I prepared essays for 98 out of 100 (or however many there were) essay questions and guess which 2 were on my test? The ones I hadn't prepared.

Thank you.

Oy.

Question: Traditionally the term "heroism" has been applied to those who have braved physical danger to defend a cause or protect others. But one of the most feared dangers people face is that of disapproval by their family, peers, or community. Sometimes acting courageously requires someone to speak out at the risk of such rejection. We should consider those who do so true heroes. Should heroes be defined as people who say what they think when we ourselves lack the courage to say it?


Essay: (written by hand under test conditions (except that class participation was required meanwhile so gave myself an extra few minutes.))

If "heroism" can be discussed as a trait, it's the trait of being able to face obstacles without assistance which would make them easier. These obstacles can come fromwithin or without. Is speaking out at the risk of rejection a heroic act?

Whether speaking out involves courage often depends what they're speaking out about. In modern days, saying anything that others are inhibited about, perhaps even disgusted by, is in my opinion a form of imitation courage. Even those who "speak out" form societies of their own- though alienated from some others, they are part of a group. Additionally, they are often aware that others are inhibited from discriminating against them because they want to appear "tolerant".

Heroism involves more than running the risk of rejection. It involves major personal sacrifice. Speaking out about almost anything is not fatal, physically or socially, in most of the modern world. Therefore, calling all those who speak out "hereoes" only cheapens the word.

True heroism is hard to find and even harder to identify. We cannot know people's inner decision-making processes. Speaking out, no matter what the fear of rejection, does not really qualify as "heroism". True hereoes can and may speak out, but not all who speak out are heroes.If you don't mind, please also estimate a number on this rubric?

On one foot:

There are some sayings that sound true until you actually examine their veracity. “It is as difficult to start things as it is to finish things" qualifies as one of them.

Personality structures vary just as physical appearance does. Some people are more outgoing, while others prefer to spend more time alone. Some find mathematics difficult, while others dislike studying history. Similarly, there are those who get stuck in a state of inertia, but once they conquer it they can complete the task at hand without much trouble. Others, however, have no problem getting started but have trouble seeing projects through until they are finished.

We are all individuals with our unique challenges. However this also means we each have valuable skills to contribute. I happen to not do so well in gym class, but a friend who is more athletic can help me. On the other hand, I can help her with her biology project. As a child I babysit once said, "You need lots of different color crayons to make a rainbow." Our differences, our individual strengths and weaknesses, enrich us and make our world a more vibrant place.

Starting things is the major hurdle for some, while finishing the job is the most difficult part for others. It all depends on who you are.

Oh, and I tried to discuss my thesis and have a clearer introduction and conclusion in this one.


Thank you. How would you grade this essay? (I'm terrible at figuring out essay quality.)

Oh I honestly don't know. My suspicion is that my essay was too short. If I actually spent 25 minutes on it there'd be lots more examples and fluff but that's the gist.

I see, this inspired you.