New Tests, New Essays: A How-to for Writing the Updated ACT and SAT Essays

As you know by now, things are changing in standardized test land. Along with major content changes to the SAT come revisions to both the SAT and the ACT essays. The information in this post is intended to give you the broad strokes on the essay updates.

ACT:
The revamped ACT essay will consist of a prompt and three perspectives. Your task will be to analyze the perspectives, state your own, and relate your perspective to those given. You will have 40 minutes to complete this task.

This is kind of like a synthesis essay. If you have ever done a synthesis essay or DBQ (document-based question,) then this may sound somewhat familiar. I say “kind of” because it’s really more like synthesis essay lite. While you do need to speak to each perspective given, you don’t need to go into great depth in your analysis. Given just 40 minutes to write it, you won’t be able to produce an AP level response.

This is not an AP essay. It’s actually a good thing that you won’t be able to produce an AP level product, as that’s not what the ACT is looking for. Rather, you should focus on being direct and clear. To borrow from The Elements of Style: “Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts.” Not only is this good advice for writing in general, but it also speaks to the fact that the graders of your essay will have a very limited amount of time in which to read, so it’s vital that you are concise, direct, and clear.

Take a side. It’s easy to kind of half-agree with the perspectives that you are given, but due to your and the readers’ time constraints, you’re better off taking one side, writing a clear thesis, and backing it up with evidence.

Don’t speak in generalities. There is a difference between reasons and evidence. If I say I hate winter because it stinks, I’m not really building a compelling argument. But if I say I hate winter because the average energy bill rises by 40% during the winter months and 25% of people experience depression during this time of year, now I might convince you. Always give evidence in your essay rather than vague reasons or hypothetical situations.

You don’t need a hook. We all want to sound good and witty when we write, but there’s simply no time or space to be “cutesy” on this essay. Your intro only needs to be a few sentences. Get to the point and don’t make the reader have to search for your thesis.

In short: Write a cohesive essay in which you synthesize three different perspectives on a topic. Be clear and concise. Take a definite side on the issue and back it up with evidence. Sample prompts and responses can be found here: http://www.actstudent.org/writing/sample/

SAT:
The revamped SAT essay will ask you to read a passage and write about how the speaker builds his argument to persuade the reader. Practice test essays have included speeches and writings by Martin Luther King, Jr., Jimmy Carter, and others. You will be allotted 50 minutes to complete this essay.

You need to know some English class stuff. You definitely need to possess some outside knowledge of how to analyze a piece of writing in order to succeed at this task. You should be familiar with rhetorical strategies, appeals to emotion, and persuasive elements. You should also be able to integrate quotes from the text into your response, and demonstrate advanced reading comprehension skills. If this sounds challenging, look at sample responses and ask your teachers and tutors for help. You can find more information and sample prompts and responses here: https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/inside-the-test/essay

Think like the author. Because you will be tackling rhetorical strategies, you will need to think like the writer as you read. Ask yourself questions like “why did the author choose this word” or “why did the author structure the sentence this way?” Remember, writers usually do things for a reason, and for talented writers or orators, every part of the piece is carefully calculated.

Study some terms. You may want to brush up on (or introduce yourself to) some literary terminology. You will be expected to point out “writerly tactics,” so studying ideas like pathos, ethos, logos, diction and other stylistic elements can be very beneficial. You can find many resources online. Here is a good starting point: http://dictionary.reference.com/slideshows/literary-terms#metaphor

Execution crosses over from the ACT. The style tips listed above for the ACT essay, such as keeping it concise, omitting needless words, and not being “cutesy” also apply to the SAT essay. Again, readers have a limited amount of time in which to consider and score your response, so clarity and sense of purpose are paramount.

In short: write a well-thought out, cohesive essay in which you analyze another’s writing. Utilize literary terms and speak to why the author does what he does in building a compelling argument.

Written by Phil Lane