The First WELL of the Excellent Essay: Well-Structured
The Importance of Structure
- Just starting to write as soon as you read the essay prompt is a BAD STRATEGY! Unfortunately, this is how many students approach the test. Why do they do this? Because most students do not realize that THE TEST GRADERS ARE EVALUATING YOUR EFFORTS BASED IN LARGE PART ON THE ORGANIZATION OF YOUR IDEAS.
- Taking 2 minutes to OUTLINE YOUR ESSAY enables you to CREATE A ROADMAP for your essay.
- Writing your essay without first creating a general outline is like taking a car trip without first having any sense of the directions you’ll need to follow in order to arrive at your destination.
- Without a map travelers get lost. Without an outline, student essays ramble.
- Take the two minutes to create a map of your essay – it is time very well spent. (And NOT, contrary to popular misconception, time wasted.)
Success Secret for the Test: ESSAY GRADERS ARE LOOKING FOR SOLID STRUCTURE
QUESTIONS ESSAY GRADERS WILL ASK THEMSELVES:
- Is there a sensible progression of ideas?
- Does the student logically move from Point A to Point B?
- Does the essay have a Beginning, a Middle and an End?
KEY POINTS TO REMEMBER ABOUT OUTLINING:
- It creates Focus.
- It saves time. (Really, it does. When you know where you are going, it’s a lot easier to get there.)
- It provides an intelligent Road Map that prevents rambling.
Reminder: Those who outline tend to succeed in writing focused, well-structured essays. Those who do not, tend to ramble and run out of time.
What to do before you write your essay:
- Understand what the essay prompt is asking of you.
- THINK before you write. (Thinking is good – just writing is bad. Unfortunately, too many students do NOT think before they begin to write.)
- TAKE TWO MINUTES TO OUTLINE YOUR THOUGHTS because outlining provides focus, structure, purposefulness and clarity – all of which are elements students will be evaluated on by the Test Graders.
How to Create an Outline: The Four Paragraph SAT Essay of Excellence
NOTE: Being that this is a timed test, students WILL NOT HAVE TIME to elaborate upon every possible aspect the question touches upon. Test Makers know this. Test Graders know this. Students who score well know this, too. By coherently and intelligently responding to the essay prompt in four well-written paragraphs students will enable themselves to earn an excellent score on the Essay Writing Section of the SAT.
There are Four Main Sections a student wants to outline before they begin to write their essay.
- Paragraph 1 – The Main Idea (including a Thesis Statement)
- Paragraph 2 – Supporting Paragraph #1 (Point A)
- Paragraph 3 – Supporting Paragraph #2 (Point B)
- Paragraph 4 – The Concrete Conclusion (re-connecting to the Thesis)
Outline these four Big Points in two minutes BEFORE YOU BEGIN!!
NOTE: Yes, this is a formula – a formula for success on the SAT. With only 25 minutes to complete a well-written essay, strategy is a HUGE factor for success on this test.
Put yourself in the shoes of a Test Grader.
If a Test Grader sees that you can write four well-structured paragraphs that progress from Point to Point, including a Thesis Statement and a Conclusion, you are on you way to an excellent score. Remember, all you need to do is write four paragraphs – there is no time for a 33 page doctoral thesis on the essay prompt – so do NOT try to write one.
PITFALLS: Watch out!
- Avoid the temptation to skip the outline process.
- Avoid the temptation to abandon the outline after taking the time to create it.
Samples Outlining Activities:
Sample #1
DIRECTIONS: Please explain the following quote and whether or not you agree or disagree with the statement.
Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm. (Ralph Waldo Emerson)
Two-Minute General Outline:
Paragraph 1 – You must care about something in order to really create greatness.
Paragraph 2 – I agree, being negative will never result in producing amazing results.
Paragraph 3 – Examples exist everywhere proving this point.
Paragraph 4 – Without genuine passion, excellence is unattainable.
Sample #2
DIRECTIONS: Please explain the following quote and whether or not you agree or disagree with the statement.
The person who lies for you will lie against you. (Harry Truman)
Two-Minute General Outline:
Paragraph 1 – A liar is a liar.
Paragraph 2 – Betrayal will eventually happen.
Paragraph 3 – Honesty is a principle without exception.
Paragraph 4 – People who lie for you reveal their true character so beware.
Though these are only rough statements, one can see that these essays now have a clear sense of direction – and as a result they will be MUCH EASIER to write because a road map is now in place telling us where to go and what to accomplish.