George Ehrenhaft Ed. D. - Barrons SAT Writing Workbook, 3rd Edition

Copyright 2012, 2009 by Barrons Educational Series, Inc.

Previous edition Copyright 2006 by Barrons Educational Series, Inc.,
under the title Writing Workbook for the New SAT.

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or distributed by
any means without the written permission of the copyright owner.

All inquiries should be addressed to:

Barrons Educational Series, Inc.

250 Wireless Boulevard

Hauppauge, New York 11788

www.barronseduc.com

e-ISBN: 978-1-4380-8388-9
First e-Book publication: August, 2012

Hello and welcome to the world of the SAT Writing Test. I sincerely hope that in these pages youll find just what you need to earn the highest possible score on the exam.

If youre unsure what the test is all about, read Part I. If you need to brush up on grammar, turn to Part V. To fine-tune your test-taking skills, go to Parts II and VI, where youll find practice exams just like those on the SAT. Part III will take you by the hand through the process of writing a winning essayand so on.

The books chapters follow the format of the SAT. First comes the essay section, then the three types of multiple-choice questions in the order they appear on the exam. In short, my book is a complete guide to the SAT Writing Test. The more time you have until the SAT, the better you can prepare yourself. But even if the test is tomorrow, the book can still give you a quick fix on what to expect when you open your exam booklet.

If the SAT is weeks or months away, let the book work for you. Use it regularly and often. Let it acquaint you with the format of the test and accustom you to writing a clear, coherent, and purposeful essay in less than half an hour. (The SAT gives you exactly twenty-five minutes.) Then read and evaluate actual essays composed by high school juniors and seniors on SAT topics. Review the concepts of English grammar, usage, and rhetoric on which youll be tested. Practice answering multiple-choice questions, using surefire tactics for getting them right. Take the practice tests at the back of the book, and watch your test scores soarI hope.

Ive done a mountain of work in writing this book for you. Now its time for you to start climbing. So, shake a leg and best of luck! Ill be rooting for you on the sidelines.

Contents

A Preview of the Test

How Colleges Use the Test

Format of Test Questions

How the Essay Is Scored

To Guess or Not to Guess on Short-Answer Questions

How to Find the Best Answers

The entire SAT lasts three hours and forty-five minutes, including one hour for the Writing Test.

The Writing Test is divided into three sections:

Section 1: An essay question (25 minutes)

Section 2: Multiple-choice questions (25 minutes)

Section 3: More multiple-choice questions (10 minutes)

The first twenty-five minutes of the SAT is devoted to Section 1 of the Writing Test. During that time you will be asked to write an essay in response to a given topic.

Section 2 of the Writing Test is given later in the exam. It consists of three types of multiple-choice questions that ask you to (1) correct poorly written sentences, (2) find grammar and usage errors in a set of sentences, and (3) revise an early draft of a given essay.

Section 3, lasting ten minutes, is administered toward the end of the SAT. It contains additional multiple-choice questions on correcting poorly written sentences.

Altogether then, the SAT Writing Test consists of an essay question and two sections of multiple-choice questions.

FORMAT OF THE SAT

NOTE: Every SAT also contains a tenth section that doesnt count in calculating your score. Its an experimental section included by the College Board to test potential questions in writing, math, or critical reading for use on future SAT exams. The experimental section is not identified.

**This e-Book will appear differently depending on which device or software you are using to view it. Please adjust accordingly.

PURPOSE OF THE WRITING TEST

Your score on the test adds an important dimension to your college admissions profile. It shows admission officials how well you write, especially how well you write under the pressure of time. This information suggests your potential for success in college courses that require writing. In particular, your essay provides evidence of

The depth of your thinking. You reveal the depth of your thinking by responding perceptively to the topic, or question. Your response also shows whether you can devise a thesis, or main idea, and develop it insightfully.

Your ability to organize ideas. You show your ability to organize ideas by arranging material according to a logical, sensible plan.

The way you express yourself. You reveal your ability to express yourself by accurately and succinctly conveying your thoughts to the reader.

Your mastery of standard written English. You demonstrate your use of standard written English by writing an essay relatively free of errors in grammar and usage.

The multiple-choice questions deal with everyday problems in grammar, usage, style, word choice, and other basic elements of writing. Instead of asking you about obscure matters of grammar, the questions will ask you to identify common sentence errors and to improve sentences and paragraphs.

Although most colleges use the results of the SAT Writing Test as a criterion for admission, some colleges also use scores to determine academic placement. A high score may entitle you to waive a freshman composition course. A score that suggests deficiencies may place you in a remedial writing program to be completed either before classes begin or during the first semester. To understand just how your score will affect you, consult the literature of the colleges to which you are applying. Or, heres another idea: bring up the use of SAT scores during your interview with a college admissions official.

HOW THE TEST IS SCORED

Your essay will be read by two experienced evaluators, most likely high school or college teachers trained to judge the overall quality and effectiveness of students essays. Neither reader will know the grade that the other reader has given your essay. Nor will they know your name or the name of your school. Each reader will assign your essay a grade on a scale of 1 (low) to 6 (high). Your essays subscore will be recorded as the sum of the two scores (2 to 12).