1. SAT Prep
The Essay
*Adapted from MISD and Atlas: College Readiness in Action

2. The Basics 50 minutes total. 4 available pages on which to write.
You will READ and ANALYZE a provided passage of text.
The prompt is the same on all exams; however, the passage will change from year to year.
You will write an ANALYTICAL essay, not an ARGUMENTATIVE one.

3. Scoring You will receive a score from 1-4 in the following areas:
Reading-The College Board wants to see evidence in your essay that you have read and understood the passage. The best way to do this is to quote from the passage. However, you must quote effectively!
Analysis-Analyze the elements of someone else’s argument looking primarily at the author’s use of persuasive elements of language, such as use of appeals, diction, and literary devices.
Writing-You must effectively convey your analysis to the reader. This is based on coherent organization, varied sentence structure, good word choice, and an academic tone.

4. Sample Essay Prompt As you read the next passage, consider how
Dana Gioia uses
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.

5. The Assignment After reading the passage, you will read:
__________________________________
Assignment: Write an essay in which you explain how Dana Gioia builds an argument
to persuade his audience that the decline of reading in America will have a negative effect on society. In your essay, analyze how Gioia uses one or more of the features listed in the box 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 features of the passage.
Your essay should not explain whether you agree with Gioia’s claims, but rather explain how Gioia builds an argument to persuade his audience.

6. Basic Things to Remember!
DO NOT write outside of the lines provided! This is all that will be scored. Nothing written in the margins will be seen by the scorer.
DO NOT skip lines.
Write neatly and legibly!
Be thorough in your essay and take your time to show a thoughtful response to the prompt.
Write AN ESSAY-introduction, several body paragraphs, and a conclusion. This also provides some structure so the reader can follow your argument more easily.
DO NOT write an essay in which you support or challenge the author’s belief.

7. Basic Things to Remember!
Be explicit-state your analysis as clearly as possible.
Refer to the passage! This ensures you convey to the scorer that you read and understood the passage.
Revise! You may be penalized for grammar and mechanical errors, especially if it makes the text difficult to read. The readers don’t mind when you cross out errors; they like to see that you are editing your work.

8. Essay Structure & Timing
Analyze the passage-10 minutes
Introduction-5 minutes
Body Paragraphs #1-#3-25 minutes
Conclusion-5 minutes
Proofread-5 minutes

9. Introduction-5 minutes
3-4 sentences; brief and straightforward.
Recommended Structure:
Sentence 1: include author’s full name, title of piece, a strong verb, and a statement of the main idea of the passage
Sentence 2: list three or four of the moves the author makes to develop and support his/her argument (use of appeals, diction, structure, figurative language are a few examples).
Sentence 3: connect the author’s use of strategies to his/her purpose with an “in order to” statement

10. This sentence outlines the organization of the essay and demonstrates understanding of the passage, related to the reading score.
Be sure to state the author’s name, article title and main idea of the passage
Sample Introduction
In “Why Literature Matters,” Dana Gioia argues that the decline of reading in America will have negative effects if left unchecked. Gioia supports his claim by providing several credible sources, appealing to the audience’s emotions through strong diction, and providing the consequences of illiteracy. Gioia constructs his argument in order to convey his growing concern for the future of our nation and offer a call to action to change our apathetic attitude toward literacy.
This statement reveals the start of your analysis of the passage.

11. Body Paragraphs—25 Minutes
There are two primary organizational structures you can follow when composing the body of your essay:
Chronologically (my preferred method as it allows you to talk about multiple strategies in a single paragraph)
Topically (you will only talk about one method per paragraph, which is good if you haven’t found much to analyze or you are worried about time)

12. Body Paragraphs—Chronological
Structure your body paragraphs based on the beginning (body ¶ 1), middle (body ¶ 2), and end (body ¶ 3) of the passage.
Walk your reader through the article, detailing how the author’s use of language and rhetorical methods conveys his or her argument.
Select the most significant strategies to discuss and offer textual evidence for support
Because this structure is more fluid and requires more depth of analysis, this is considered a more advanced style. If you are concerned about your time management, use the topical arrangement.

13. Body Paragraphs-Topical
Start with a Topic Sentence that indicates a particular insight you have about how the author presents his/her claim (such as a use of appeals to fear)
Write several supporting sentences that present and analyze the evidence from the passage and explain how it supports the topic sentence.
Include direct (quoted) and indirect (paraphrased) references to the text to reveal your understanding.
Concluding sentence-summarize the point of the paragraph.
Use transitions!

14. Sample Body Paragraph--Chronological
Gioia begins his article with a clear statement of the problem he has observed as well as several credible sources to support his statement. He offers a contrast, claiming that, although income, college attendance, and information access have all increased, “the interest young Americans showed in the arts—and especially literature—actually diminished.” This contrast highlights the sharp difference between the positive changes our country has witnessed along with this unfortunate negative. Gioia seems to find this fact surprising, as will many of his adult readers, so he offers some proof of this decline by citing the 2002 Survey of Public Participation in the Arts which found that the sharpest decline was in the number of adolescents who read literature. Gioia makes his feelings clear about this trend when he refers to it as a “worrisome finding.” He continues to express his concern through his diction when he states that teens are bypassing “the joys and challenges of literature” when they are at a stage of “crucial intellectual and emotional development.” Here, we see that Gioia believes that the reading, study, and enjoyment of literature are necessary for an adolescent’s growth and development, and he wonders what effects could result from this shift in interest. Topic Sentence Presentation of Method Evidence Analysis

15. Sample Body Paragraph--Topical
Gioia makes several references to well-known studies, surveys, and fellow authors to establish credibility with his reader and support his claims about the unfortunate downward trend in adolescent interest in literature. He first cites the 2002 Survey of Public Participation in the Arts to highlight that the most severe decline in “arts participation” is among younger adults. In considering the consequences of this decline, Gioia next cites author Daniel Pink who believes that certain 21st century skills—such as “‘the ability to…detect patterns and opportunities, to craft a satisfying narrative’”—come directly from a study of literature; thus, if this trend is not addressed, the 21st century workplace could see significant decreases in creativity and potential innovation. Gioia discusses further outcomes by turning to a study conducted by the National Conference of State Legislatures that found that the decline of reading has led to young people not understanding “‘the ideals of citizenship.’” By referencing these and other sources, Gioia offers statistical evidence for his claims regarding the problem and potential consequences of a lack of literary reading among youth; he also uses this evidence to marshal his reader toward his eventual call to action to fight against a continued decline. Topic Sentence Presentation of Method Evidence Analysis

16. Conclusion-5 minutes Should be clear and brief.
DO NOT add new arguments.
Simply, restate the methods you’ve already analyzed and offer a restatement of the author’s purpose.
A successful conclusion can be achieved in 1 to 2 sentences.

17. Sample Conclusion
Gioia employs several strategies, including citing trusted sources, using strong diction, and making a clear call to action. His use of such strategies form a compelling argument that may convince his readers to take action against what he views as a potential threat to our nation as a whole. Restated Methods Restated Purpose

18. Remember… You are writing about someone else’s writing.
You must display your ability to read and analyze the passage as well as write a thorough explanation of your understanding of the passage.
Grammar, spelling, and style all count.
This is NOT an argument; do not agree or disagree with the author’s message.
Take your time…manage your time.

19. Wrap Up
Questions?
Concerns?
Needs?