This article discusses the writing portion of the SAT. It reveals that when grading our SATs, the proof readers do not look for errors in facts or even if the story is well written. Most of them just want to see how many points you can clearly convey into your message in your allotted time. I honestly think this is an unreliable way to judge us on our writing skills and techniques. Someone may possibly be a slow writer but have a great story to tell and know a great way to tell it.
This article also states that people who spend time trying to write true facts down or try to recall a memory, it often takes them longer to write and they do not see results in their SAT grade. But... people who make up stories or take an opposite stance to their own may find that it is easier and their ideas flow more.
"...exam readers love quotations," I feel exam readers may love quotations because it give more of a since of your writing capabilities. If you put a quote, you obviously have to explain your quote and I guess this is sort of the "flexing your muscles" of writing. It shows your writing capabilities and helps convey your message thoroughly.
Overall, I believe that our teachers should prepare us for both ways in writing. You will need to know how to write thoroughly and effectively deliver your message for the SAT, but at the same time be more clear, concise and detailed in order to prep you for college level writing. Honestly, I do not believe that their way of grading our SAT writing is effective at all. I think they should grade us upon our message, not how long or how many quotes are in our message. Critiquing us on our ability to convey a message is effective, but wouldn't it be more effective if we could input details and a true sense of who we are into our writing?
Yes, I do believe that our teachers should be teaching us both methods. Writing is a very important aspect in life. You need to know how to write something on the spot and sound professional. Yes, it does depend on the circumstances, but when you have to write an essay for a very important test, it helps to be able to sound sophisticated. Acquiring more detail from a story, I feel makes it more interesting. If you are telling a murder story, whether it is fact or fiction, without detail can be boring.
ReplyDeleteSometimes when you are taking a test, it is hard to think straight since most students have test anxiety, so when asked to write an essay, it helps to know more than they expect...it is all around less stressful.