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 passage below, consider how
Zadie Smith 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 the following instructions:
__________________________________
Write an essay in which you explain how Zadie Smith builds an argument to persuade
her audience that public libraries are important and should remain open. In your essay, analyze how Smith 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 Smith’s claims, but rather explain how Smith builds an argument to persuade her audience.

6. Job #1—Read the passage Read the passage thoroughly
Look for several things:
Author’s purpose or argument
Author’s use of appeals to logic, emotion, and credibility
Author’s use of other rhetorical devices (such as tone, analogies, description)
Author’s treatment of the opposing side
Use about 10 minutes of your time to read and analyze the passage

7. Job # 2—Plan & Structure Your Response
Introduction-5 minutes
Body Paragraphs #1-#3-25 minutes
Conclusion-5 minutes
Proofread-5 minutes

8. 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

9. 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 “The North West London Blues,” Zadie Smith argues that public libraries are an important piece of society and should not be closed. Smith supports her claim by providing personal experiences, appealing to the audience’s emotions through strong diction, and defining the various purposes and functions of public libraries. Smith constructs her argument in order to convey her growing concern for the future of our public libraries and to call her readers to support their local libraries.
This statement reveals the start of your analysis of the passage.

10. 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)

11. 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.

12. Sample Body Paragraph--Chronological
1Smith begins her article with a 2question, asking her audience to think about the “problem” that a library presents. She goes on to answer this question by stating what many people have come to believe about public libraries: they are obsolete. 3Smith acknowledges the opposition’s view 2that, thanks to the internet, physical copies of books are unnecessary. She refutes this view by 3arguing against the perception that libraries serve only one function; Smith says libraries offer a “plurality of individual spaces,” sharing her belief that a library is much more than a catalog of books. 2Smith next offers an anecdote, telling the reader that she struggles “to find a seat at the packed university library.” 3Here, Smith uses her own experiences to prove that libraries are, in fact, popular and useful and thus deserve to remain open. 2She next offers an emotional appeal through strong diction, claiming that one local library is being “mutilated” primarily because the council members want to take advantage of a “sweet real estate deal.” 3Smith’s rather harsh portrayal of the council members choice to close a library for monetary gain highlights her belief that money and not popular public opinion is at the root of the push to close libraries. (1)Topic Sentence (2) Presentation of Method/Evidence (3) Analysis

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--Topical
1Smith appeals to her audience’s emotions throughout the article. 2She first addresses members of the local library council who see “the opportunity for a sweet real estate deal,” deciding to “mutilate” one library because of possible financial gain. 3Here, she is hoping to connect to her readers’ disdain for elected officials who ignore their constituents’ preferences and instead act in their own self interest. 2Smith later acknowledges that the argument to keep libraries open is not “especially ideological or ethical [or] logical” but emotional. Smith argues that people who protest the closing of a library do so because they “love that library.” 3Smith wants the reader to think of their own local public library and the time spent there, whether as a child, or a student, or an adult, and reflect on the importance of such a space “in which you do not have to buy anything in order to stay.” (1)Topic Sentence (2)Presentation of Method/Evidence (3)Analysis

15. 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.

16. Sample Conclusion
1Smith employs several strategies, including anecdotes, emotional appeals, and a redefining of libraries in “The North West London Blues.” 2Her use of such strategies forms a compelling argument that may convince her readers to take action to preserve public libraries. (1) Restated Methods (2) Restated Purpose

17. 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.

18. 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.

19. Wrap Up
Questions?
Concerns?
Needs?