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Quote by: Gods_Mercenary  I agree that the essay requires too much training, but it also gives you awareness of how to formulate a decent argument when you don't have a month to do it. It's a very helpful skill, few of us will have to write long, edited and reviewed papers in our non-academic life, but almost all will have to argue for or against something in a few well, if not superbly written paragraphs. |
Yes, but a good essay does not necessarily require a month to write. A good two-page, five-paragraph essay can be written in two to three hours - time that could surely be spared for the purpose on even a busy person's schedule. Writing an essay in 25 minutes is illogical - it forces one to adapt a formula for pounding out a quick and often mediocre (not necessarily so because of a lack of ability, but rather because of the ridiculous circumstances it must be written under) essay. This deters the creativity which is needed in writing essays.
Perhaps the reason for only allowing 25 minutes for writing is to force students to keep the essays short to make it easier for the readers/graders of the essays... If this is the case, it is very sad indeed. To teach so many students to adapt a mechanical method of writing (that could affect their entire life's worth of writing) for the sake of a grader of one test would be awful indeed! I sure hope that this is not the case.
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Quote by: Hurt I agree with that. It demonstrates a basic literacy to say the least. (a good essay) |
Sure, it may show a person knows how to write (under very stressful conditions), but it does not demonstrate a student's true essay writing ability (which would be revealed given the right amount of time).
What it is does show is how long a student spent training for the essay, and how much money he/she spent on "official" SAT guides and courses.
Interestingly enough, the producers of the tests once claimed the tests were not coach-able, and are now selling "official" guides and etc. that promise to raise scores... Funny...