What NOT to Write
Did you notice what we did not say in our analysis? We did not simply write
about what the passage says. This is an easy mistake to make. After all, the
Evidence-Based Reading Test is all about what the passage says, but for the
Essay you need to switch gears to include how it says it.
Nor did we agree or disagree with Ms. Fizzlethwaite’s point. This is crucial,
so we will write it in bold: The SAT does not care if you agree or disagree. In
assessing your essay, the Evil Testing Serpent cares about your analytic abilities,
not your opinion. It wants to know if you can “close read” a text and explain
how it works. You could love the text, or you could hate it. The Serpent doesn’t
give a hoot.
(Also, you might notice that we did not curse. In general, the SAT does not
care for cursing, so keep a nearby piece of scrap paper for all of the swear words
that will arise during the planning and writing of the essay.)
tuis.
(Tuis.)
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