SAT.

After having to read my classmates' practice SAT writings in such a limited amount of time, it has helped me even more to determine that the entire SAT writing portion process is difficult and stressworthy. For one, everything is so based around time, which is really bad because when you are pressured to do something, your performance usually weakens. For instance, when I play basketball and have to shoot, if I rush my shot rather than taking the time to square up to the basket, I usually miss. In the essay, it's the same. It is really hard to think of good examples to use on the spot. It is also hard to write in your style of writing because you probably feel that your style is not what the judges want to read. And if you don't get to incorporate yourself it sucks because your essay becomes kind of generic. Someone could be a phenomenol and still do horribly because they might take a long time to write. I think that the national average would not be so low if we had as much time as we needed to write our essay because I don't think that a timed essay showcases a person's true writing skills.

Another difficult aspect of the SAT writing portion is the judging. From the way Mr. Watson, our English teacher, described it, it seems as if the judges are already uncomfortable when they get to the judging room. And three minutes per essay? I think that's ridiculous, and a horrible ratio of time. We spend 25 minutes on the essay and they take 3 minutes to read it? What if they get the wrong impression from the paper than intended? What if they skim to fast and miss the parts of the essay that make it great? I think it would make much more sense to just get more judges so that they have less essays to judge and more time to judge them.

Although I don't really like this system, I think that it's good that we are introduced to it so early in our high school careers. It helps us understand the whole process so that we may adapt to it (even though I hate it, I know it's not going to change) and know what to write and how to write it. It's a great advantage, but for $15,000 a year, I think we deserve it.

SAT Practice Essay

Here's a rough essay we wrote in class to practice for the writing portion of the SAT:

When we look at our nation, or more specifically, Hawaii today, we see dozens of cultures and customs being followed. For instance, the fashionistas, following Hollywood's latest trends, or the activists, following politics and their rights. We also see a loving mother, taking after her own mother as she cares for her child or a teacher, using techniques of his favorite teacher in order to give his students joy in learning. I believe that althouh newspapers, television, magazines, radio, movies, the internet, and other media does determine what is important to some people, it does not determine for all.

One reason that I believe media only influences some is because there are many types of people, and each of them have different matters happening in their lives. For example, last night was the Academy Awards. For an actor, the Academy Awards are a big thing. Many actors probably make it one of their life goals to win an Oscar. Since it is so important, the media advertises it so that normal people who don't star in movies think that it is extremely important to watch. Showtimes and predictions for the winners are found on all major newspapers, which sets the Academy Awards up to be a really important event that will affect us, an event that we determine to be important.

But the media is not our only source of influence. At the time of the Oscars showing last night, I happened to be at a surprise birthday dinner for my 75 year-old aunt. My cousin, the daughter of the birthday celebrant, had put together the entire thing. As she made a speech about her mother, she started to cry, showing how important her mother was to her. Yet this importance was not determined by the media. It was determined by the love and selflessness of a mother, proving that the media does not always determine what is important to people.

All in all, the media does not have an effect on our lives. Although we were at the party, we knew that the Academy Awards were on. But if we truly dig down to our morals and beliefs, we realize that what is truly determined important to us comes from our hearts, and from what we truly love.