SAT Mc Graw Hill 2011

CHAPTER 13 / ESSAY WRITING PRACTICE 477

Practice Essay 13

Time—25 minutes

Directions for Writing the Essay

Plan and write an essay that answers the question below. Do NOT write on another topic. An essay on

another topic will receive a score of 0.

Two readers will grade your essay based on how well you develop your point of view, organize and ex-

plain your ideas, use specific and relevant examples to support your thesis, and use clear and effective

language. How well you write is much more important than how much you write, but to cover the topic

adequately you should plan to write several paragraphs.

Your essay must be written only on the lines provided on your answer sheet. You will have enough space

if you write on every line, avoid wide margins, and keep your handwriting to a reasonable size. Your essay

will be read by people who are not familiar with your handwriting, so write legibly.

You may use this sheet for notes and outlining, but these will not be graded as part of your essay.

Consider carefully the issue discussed in the following passage, then write an essay that answers the ques-

tion posed in the assignment.

We tend to think that rewarding people for doing good things is always better than

punishing them for doing bad things. We often fail, however, to realize that rewards can

be oppressive, too. Giving someone a prize for doing something he or she would do anyway

often makes that person feel manipulated. What’s worse, competition for prizes, which

invariably occurs when rewards are doled out systematically, often breeds resentment

and division rather than cooperation.

Assignment: Are reward systems, like grades, prizes, and work bonuses, effective means of

controlling human behavior?Write an essay in which you answer this question and

discuss your point of view on this issue. Support your position logically with examples

from literature, the arts, history, politics, science and technology, current events, or your

experience or observation.

Note:Write your practice essay on two pages of standard lined paper.