{"id":35415,"date":"2025-03-25T07:32:21","date_gmt":"2025-03-25T07:32:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mp.moonpreneur.com\/math-corner\/?p=35415"},"modified":"2026-03-30T13:32:04","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T13:32:04","slug":"sat-essay","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mp.moonpreneur.com\/math-corner\/sat-essay\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is the SAT Essay? Everything You Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"35415\" class=\"elementor elementor-35415\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-section-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-347f545 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"347f545\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2566f03\" data-id=\"2566f03\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5a4a70f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5a4a70f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #003366;\"><b>My Experience with the SAT Essay \u2013 Do You Really Need It?<\/b><\/span><\/h4><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When I first heard about the SAT Essay, my first thought was: <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do I really have to write this?<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> A long, timed essay after hours of answering math and reading questions? No, thank you.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But then I started digging deeper. Some colleges still considered it, and it seemed like an extra way to showcase my skills. So, I decided to give it a shot. If you&#8217;re in the same boat\u2014unsure whether to take the SAT Essay or skip it\u2014this guide will help you figure it out.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let&#8217;s break it down in a simple, no-fluff way\u2014what it is, how it works, and most importantly, how to ace it if you decide to take it.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-da588fd elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"da588fd\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3be3abb\" data-id=\"3be3abb\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-af19b01 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"af19b01\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<h2><b>What Is the SAT Essay?<\/b><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-269c87a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"269c87a\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-902c785\" data-id=\"902c785\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7f9478b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7f9478b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The SAT Essay is optional, but here\u2019s how it works:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You get <\/span><b>50 minutes<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to analyze a passage and write an essay.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The passage (usually 650-750 words) is <\/span><b>an argument<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014your job is to explain how the author builds their case.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No personal opinions. No creative writing. Just <\/span><b>analysis<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of the author\u2019s techniques.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sounds straightforward, right? But trust me, it&#8217;s trickier than it looks.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-8e86a60 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"8e86a60\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-9ad06ec\" data-id=\"9ad06ec\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f0e61e4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f0e61e4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3><b>Is the SAT Essay Even Worth Taking?<\/b><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-a577d21 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a577d21\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-adc10fc\" data-id=\"adc10fc\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5374834 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5374834\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So, here\u2019s the big question: <\/span><b>Should you take it?<\/b><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Well, as of 2021, the College Board discontinued the SAT Essay for most test-takers, except for those taking it as part of SAT School Day. That means if you\u2019re taking the standard SAT on a weekend, the essay won\u2019t even be an option.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, some schools still consider it, and if you are applying to competitive universities, it might be worth adding to your application. My advice? Check your college\u2019s requirements before deciding.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Back when I was preparing for the SAT, I was so focused on improving my math and reading scores that I almost overlooked the SAT Essay. In my <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/mp.moonpreneur.com\/math-corner\/sat-prep-mock-test-4-math-mistakes\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SAT Prep Journey blog<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, I talked about the mistakes I made in my SAT Mock Test and how I improved. But one thing I wish I had considered earlier? Whether or not the SAT Essay was worth taking. Let\u2019s break it down so you don\u2019t have to second-guess your decision.<\/span><\/p><p><strong>Recommended Reading<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/mp.moonpreneur.com\/math-corner\/sat-passport-to-advanced-math\/\">SAT Passport to Advanced Math Guide<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-ce21b1e elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"ce21b1e\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-83a7b59\" data-id=\"83a7b59\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2e61622 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2e61622\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<h2><b>How the SAT Essay Is Scored<\/b><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-45e9805 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"45e9805\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2be325f\" data-id=\"2be325f\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f63aecc elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f63aecc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Alright, let\u2019s talk about scores. Unlike the main SAT, which is out of 1600, the SAT Essay is scored separately in three areas:<\/span><\/p><ol><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Reading<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (Did you understand the passage?)<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Analysis<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (Did you break down the argument effectively?)<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Writing<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (Did you write clearly and use strong grammar?)<\/span><\/li><\/ol><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Each category gets a <\/span><b>score from 2 to 8<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, so a perfect essay score would be <\/span><b>24 (8+8+8)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-044c55e elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"044c55e\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0eea666\" data-id=\"0eea666\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f0a228a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f0a228a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most high scorers land somewhere between <\/span><b>15-20<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. If you hit that range, you\u2019re in great shape.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-bd75e88 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"bd75e88\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-191925a\" data-id=\"191925a\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3bdc334 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3bdc334\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><strong><i>For more detailed information, refer this link : <\/i><\/strong><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/satsuite.collegeboard.org\/sat-school-day\/taking-the-test\/essay<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-5419bd5 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"5419bd5\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-d67e269\" data-id=\"d67e269\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6c01a0b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6c01a0b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<h2><b>How to Write a Strong SAT Essay<\/b><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-f2de9c2 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"f2de9c2\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-52e7b0b\" data-id=\"52e7b0b\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b7ad413 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b7ad413\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let\u2019s be real\u201450 minutes to read, analyze, and write is not a lot of time. But if you plan ahead, you can absolutely crush it. Expand these sections to know how I tackled it:<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-19b7197 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"19b7197\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-9957892\" data-id=\"9957892\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8b3b0c1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-accordion\" data-id=\"8b3b0c1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"accordion.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1451\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1451\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-angle-double-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-angle-double-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Step 1: Read the Passage with a Game Plan<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1451\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1451\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When I first attempted the SAT Essay, I made the classic mistake of just reading the passage like it was a story. Big mistake. This isn\u2019t casual reading\u2014you need to be on the lookout for how the author builds their argument.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What helped me? Marking up the passage as I read. I underlined key phrases, circled persuasive techniques, and jotted quick notes in the margins.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here\u2019s what you should look for:<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2714 <\/span><b>Evidence<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 Does the author use facts, statistics, or expert opinions?<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2714 <\/span><b>Reasoning<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 How do they connect their ideas logically?<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2714 <\/span><b>Persuasive Techniques<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 Emotional appeals, rhetorical questions, vivid language?<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1452\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1452\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-angle-double-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-angle-double-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Step 2: Plan Before You Write<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1452\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1452\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I used to think planning was a waste of time\u2014why not just start writing? Wrong again. A solid plan saves time and makes your essay stronger.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I always spent about 5-7 minutes outlining my essay like this:<\/span><\/p><p><b>Introduction:<\/b><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Briefly introduce the passage and its main argument.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mention <\/span><b>one or two<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> techniques the author uses (you\u2019ll expand on these later).<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><b>Body Paragraphs (2-3):<\/b><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Focus on <\/span><b>one persuasive technique per paragraph<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Provide <\/span><b>specific evidence<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from the passage.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Explain why the technique is effective.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><b>Conclusion:<\/b><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Quickly wrap up your analysis.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No need to restate everything\u2014just <\/span><b>reinforce your main points<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1453\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1453\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-angle-double-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-angle-double-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Step 3: Write Clearly and Stay on Topic<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1453\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1453\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once I started writing, I had to remind myself: this isn\u2019t an English class essay. Keep it clear, to the point, and well-organized.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some things that worked for me:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use strong topic sentences at the start of each paragraph.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Quote directly from the passage\u2014but don\u2019t overdo it.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Avoid summarizing the passage\u2014the graders already know what it says. Focus on analysis.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1454\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"4\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1454\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-angle-double-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-angle-double-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Step 4: Leave Time to Proofread<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1454\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"4\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1454\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I learned this the hard way. The first time I wrote an SAT Essay, I barely finished in time, and my last paragraph was a rushed mess.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So, on my next attempt, I saved 3-5 minutes at the end to proofread. I caught silly mistakes, reworded awkward sentences, and even fixed a weak argument. That small effort made a huge difference in my final score.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-f815bbf elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"f815bbf\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-646edc6\" data-id=\"646edc6\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-52524ea elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"52524ea\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3><b>Sample SAT Essay \u2013 What a High-Scoring Essay Looks Like<\/b><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2ef8306 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2ef8306\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c7f1b60\" data-id=\"c7f1b60\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-348d391 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"348d391\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before we dive into a high-scoring SAT Essay response, let\u2019s look at a real SAT Essay prompt. This question is from an official SAT practice test provided by the College Board.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-014b880 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"014b880\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3f1b1ed\" data-id=\"3f1b1ed\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1ee4155 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1ee4155\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As you read the passage below, consider how Adam B. Summers uses:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Evidence, such as facts or examples, to support claims.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reasoning to develop ideas and to connect claims and evidence.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stylistic or persuasive elements, such as word choice or appeals to emotion,<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to add power to the ideas expressed.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-67ec7c9 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"67ec7c9\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c624e41\" data-id=\"c624e41\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-284092c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"284092c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Adapted from Adam B. Summers, \u201cBag Ban Bad for Freedom and Environment.\u201d<\/b><b><br \/><\/b><b> \u00a92013 by Adam B. Summers. Originally published in the San Diego<\/b><b><br \/><\/b><b> Union-Tribune, June 13, 2013.<\/b><\/p><ol><li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Californians dodged yet another nanny-state regulation recently when the state<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Senate narrowly voted down a bill to ban plastic bags statewide, but the reprieve<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> might only be temporary. Not content to tell us how much our toilets can flush or<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> what type of light bulb to use to brighten our homes, some politicians and<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> environmentalists are now focused on deciding for us what kind of container we can<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> use to carry our groceries.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The bill . . . would have prohibited grocery stores and convenience stores with at least<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> $2 million in gross annual sales and 10,000 square feet of retail space from providing<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> single-use plastic or paper bags, although stores would have been allowed to sell<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> recycled paper bags for an unspecified amount. The bill fell just three votes short of<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> passage in the Senate . . . and Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Los Angeles, who sponsored the<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> measure, has indicated that he would like to bring it up again, so expect this fight to<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> be recycled rather than trashed.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> While public debate over plastic bag bans often devolves into emotional pleas to save<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> the planet or preserve marine life (and, believe me, I love sea turtles as much as the<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> next guy), a little reason and perspective is in order.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, plastic bags, sacks, and<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> wraps of all kinds (not just grocery bags) make up only about 1.6 percent of all<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> municipal solid waste materials. High-density polyethylene (HDPE) bags, which are<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> the most common kind of plastic grocery bags, make up just 0.3 percent of this total.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The claims that plastic bags are worse for the environment than paper bags or cotton<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> reusable bags are dubious at best. In fact, compared to paper bags, plastic grocery<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> bags produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions, require 70 percent less energy to make,<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> generate 80 percent less waste, and utilize less than 4 percent of the amount of water<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> needed to manufacture them. This makes sense because plastic bags are lighter and<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> take up less space than paper bags.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Reusable bags come with their own set of problems. They, too, have a larger carbon<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> footprint than plastic bags. Even more disconcerting are the findings of several<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> studies that plastic bag bans lead to increased health problems due to food<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> contamination from bacteria that remain in the reusable bags. A November 2012<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> statistical analysis by University of Pennsylvania law professor Jonathan Klick and<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> George Mason University law professor and economist Joshua D. Wright found that<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> San Francisco\u2019s plastic bag ban in 2007 resulted in a subsequent spike in hospital<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> emergency room visits due to E. coli, salmonella, and campylobacter-related<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> intestinal infectious diseases. The authors conclude that the ban even accounts for<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> several additional deaths in the city each year from such infections.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The description of plastic grocery bags as \u201csingle-use\u201d bags is another misnomer. The<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> vast majority of people use them more than once, whether for lining trash bins or<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> picking up after their dogs. (And still other bags are recycled.) Since banning plastic<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> bags also means preventing their additional uses as trash bags and pooper scoopers,<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> one unintended consequence of the plastic bag ban would likely be an increase in<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> plastic bag purchases for these other purposes. This is just what happened in Ireland<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in 2002 when a 15 Euro cent ($0.20) tax imposed on plastic shopping bags led to a<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 77 percent increase in the sale of plastic trash can liner bags.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> And then there are the economic costs. The plastic bag ban would threaten the<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> roughly 2,000 California jobs in the plastic bag manufacturing and recycling industry,<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> although, as noted in the Irish example above, they might be able to weather the<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> storm if they can successfully switch to producing other types of plastic bags. In<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> addition, taxpayers will have to pony up for the added bureaucracy, and the higher<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> regulatory costs foisted upon bag manufacturers and retailers will ultimately be borne<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by consumers in the form of price increases.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Notwithstanding the aforementioned reasons why plastic bags are not, in fact, evil<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> incarnate, environmentalists have every right to try to convince people to adopt<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> certain beliefs or lifestyles, but they do not have the right to use government force to<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> compel people to live the way they think best. In a free society, we are able to live our<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> lives as we please, so long as we do not infringe upon the rights of others. That<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> includes the right to make such fundamental decisions as \u201cPaper or plastic?\u201d<\/span><\/li><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-3f7fca8 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3f7fca8\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4d70a93\" data-id=\"4d70a93\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c0f4d42 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c0f4d42\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Write an essay in which you explain how Adam B. Summers builds an argument to persuade his audience that plastic shopping bags should not be banned. In your essay, analyze how Summers uses one or more of the features listed in the box above (or features of your own choice) to strengthen the logic and persuasiveness of his argument. Be sure that your analysis focuses on the most relevant features of the passage.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your essay should not explain whether you agree with Summers\u2019s claims, but rather explain how Summers builds an argument to persuade his audience.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-0beb0c6 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"0beb0c6\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-698218d\" data-id=\"698218d\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f03417e elementor-widget elementor-widget-toggle\" data-id=\"f03417e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"toggle.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-2511\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2511\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">SAMPLE ANSWER: <\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2511\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2511\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In his article \u201cBag Ban Bad for Freedom and Environment,\u201d Adam B. Summers argues against banning plastic bags, claiming that such bans are both environmentally and economically harmful. Through the use of statistical evidence, logical reasoning, and emotional appeals, Summers effectively persuades his audience that banning plastic bags is a misguided policy.<\/span><\/p><p><b>Use of Statistical Evidence<\/b><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Summers strengthens his argument by citing relevant statistics that challenge the common perception that plastic bags are a major environmental threat. He points out that \u201cplastic bags, sacks, and wraps of all kinds make up only about 1.6 percent of all municipal solid waste,\u201d and that HDPE grocery bags account for just 0.3 percent of that total. By using precise data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Summers establishes credibility and forces the reader to reconsider whether plastic bags are truly as harmful as commonly believed.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Furthermore, Summers compares the environmental impact of plastic bags to alternatives like paper and reusable bags, revealing that plastic bags require \u201c70 percent less energy to make\u201d and \u201cgenerate 80 percent less waste\u201d than paper bags. These facts directly contradict the assumption that paper or cloth bags are the better choice, making his argument more compelling.<\/span><\/p><p><b>Logical Reasoning and Cause-and-Effect Analysis<\/b><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In addition to presenting statistics, Summers employs logical reasoning to demonstrate the unintended consequences of banning plastic bags. He explains that many people reuse plastic bags as trash can liners or pet waste bags, and a ban would force consumers to buy new plastic bags instead. He supports this claim by referencing Ireland\u2019s plastic bag tax in 2002, which resulted in a 77 percent increase in plastic trash bag sales. This example effectively proves that banning grocery bags does not eliminate plastic waste\u2014it simply shifts consumption elsewhere.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Summers also highlights the health risks of reusable bags, citing a 2012 study that found San Francisco\u2019s plastic bag ban led to a spike in E. coli and salmonella infections due to bacteria accumulating in reusable bags. This cause-and-effect analysis not only questions the effectiveness of such bans but also presents a serious health concern that the audience might not have considered.<\/span><\/p><p><b>Appeal to Emotion and Personal Liberties<\/b><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Beyond facts and logic, Summers appeals to his audience\u2019s emotions by framing the issue as a threat to personal freedom. He describes the ban as another example of government overreach, likening it to restrictions on \u201chow much our toilets can flush\u201d and \u201cwhat type of light bulb\u201d we can use. This rhetorical strategy positions the reader against excessive government regulation, making them more receptive to his argument.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Summers further strengthens this emotional appeal by emphasizing job losses in the plastic bag industry. He warns that the ban would endanger \u201c2,000 California jobs\u201d in manufacturing and recycling, a point that resonates with readers who value economic stability. By focusing on personal impact, he shifts the debate from an abstract environmental issue to a real-world consequence that directly affects people\u2019s livelihoods.<\/span><\/p><p><b>Conclusion<\/b><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Summers\u2019 argument against plastic bag bans is highly persuasive due to his strategic use of statistical evidence, logical reasoning, and emotional appeals. He challenges misconceptions, highlights unintended consequences, and taps into the audience\u2019s concerns about government control and economic impact. Through these techniques, he effectively convinces readers that banning plastic bags may do more harm than good.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-84bfc3c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"84bfc3c\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b2f16e6\" data-id=\"b2f16e6\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-13987a3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"13987a3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3><b>Final Thoughts \u2013 Should You Take the SAT Essay?<\/b><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-d41b7cb elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"d41b7cb\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-af52b43\" data-id=\"af52b43\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d72b455 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d72b455\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If the SAT Essay is optional for your test date, you might be tempted to skip it. But if your target colleges still consider it, I would say: Take it.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With a little strategy and practice, it\u2019s an easy way to show off your analytical skills. Even if it\u2019s not required, a strong SAT Essay score could set you apart in competitive applications.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If I could figure it out, so can you. So, take a deep breath, grab a practice passage, and start analyzing. You\u2019ve got this! Best of Luck for your journey!!<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3aa03ab elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3aa03ab\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Still have some doubts left? Comment below and we will help you answer your queries.<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>My Experience with the SAT Essay \u2013 Do You Really Need It? When I first heard about the SAT Essay, my first thought was: Do I really have to write this? A long, timed essay after hours of answering math and reading questions? No, thank you. But then I started digging deeper. Some colleges still [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":840,"featured_media":35416,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false},"categories":[1034],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mp.moonpreneur.com\/math-corner\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35415"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mp.moonpreneur.com\/math-corner\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mp.moonpreneur.com\/math-corner\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mp.moonpreneur.com\/math-corner\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/840"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mp.moonpreneur.com\/math-corner\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35415"}],"version-history":[{"count":41,"href":"https:\/\/mp.moonpreneur.com\/math-corner\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35415\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":38297,"href":"https:\/\/mp.moonpreneur.com\/math-corner\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35415\/revisions\/38297"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mp.moonpreneur.com\/math-corner\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/35416"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mp.moonpreneur.com\/math-corner\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35415"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mp.moonpreneur.com\/math-corner\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=35415"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mp.moonpreneur.com\/math-corner\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=35415"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}