Silverfalcon
05-01-2006, 04:06 AM
I have a question. I'm preparing for SAT and in Writing section, essay part is my weakest spot. I would like to have someone to read over my essays and I wonder if you guys can read them and grade them. Here is brief information about grading wise.
First of all, SAT is graded by holistic approach, meaning that the essay is looked as "whole" instead of piece by piece. Essays are to be written in 25 minutes so they're not "perfect." The scores range from 1 to 6. This is the criteria for each score from official book by Collegeboard.
Score of 1
An essay in this category is fundamentally lacking, demonstrating very little or no mastery, and is severly flawed by ONE OR MORE of the following weaknesses:
*develops no viable point of view on the issue, or provides little or no evidence to support its position.
*is disorganized or unfocused, resulting in a disjointed or incoherent essay
*displays fundamental errors in vocabulary
*demonstrates severe flaws in sentence structure
*contains pervasive errors in grammar, usage, or mechanics that persistently interfere with meaning
Score of 2
An essay in this category is seriously limited, demonstrating little mastery, and is flawed by ONE OR MORE of the following weaknesses:
*develops a point of view on the issue that is vague or seriously limited, demonstrating weak critical thinking, providng inappropriate or insufficient examples, reasons, or other evidence to support its position
*is poorly organized and/or focused, or demonstrates serious problems with coherence or progression of ideas
*displays very little facility in the use of language, using very limited vocabulary or incorrect word choice
*demonstrates frequent problems in sentence structure
*contains errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics is so serious that meaning is somewhat obscured
Score of 3
An essay in this category is inadequate, but deomnstrates developing mastery, and is marked by ONE OR MORE of the following weaknesses:
*develops a point of view on the issue, demonstrating some critical thinking, may do so inconsistently or use inadequate examples, reasons, or other evidence to support its position.
*is limited in its organization or focus, or may demonstrate some lapses in coherence or progression of ideas
*displays developing facility in the use of language, but sometimes uses weak vocabulary or inappropriate word choice
*lacks variety or demonstrates problems in sentence structure
*contains an accumulation of errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics.
Score of 4
An essay in this category is competent, demonstrating adequate mastery, although it wil have lapses in quality. A typical essay
*develops a point of view on the issue and demonstrates competent critical thinking, using adequate examples, reasons, and other evidence to support its position.
*is generally organized and focused, demonstrating some coherence and progression of ideas
*exhibits adequate but inconsistent facility in the use of language, using generally appropriate vocabulary
*demonstrates some variety in sentence structure
*has some errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics
Score of 5
An essay in this category is effective, demonstrating reasonably consisten mastery, although it may have occasional errors or lapses in quality. A typical essay
*effectively develops a point of view on the issue and demonstrates strong critical thinking, generally using appropriate examples, reasons, and other evidence to support its position.
*is well organized and focused, demonstrating coherence and progression of ideas
*exhibits facility in the use of language, using appropriate vocabulary
*demonstrates variety in sentence structure
*is generally free of most errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics
Score of 6
An essay in this category is outstanding, demonstrating clear and consistent mastery, although it may have few minor errors. A typical essay
*effectively and insightfully develops a point of view on the issue and demonstrates outstanding critical thinking, using clearly appropriate examples, reasons, and other evidence to support its position.
*is well organized and clearly focused, demonstrating clear coherence and smooth progression of ideas
*exhibits skillful use of language, using a varied, accurate, and apt vocabulary
*demonstrates meaningful variety in sentence structure
*is free of most errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics
English is my second language so it's very tough to score well on essays without some professionals reading my essays. I think people in here are very highly educated for literature for sure so I was wondering if my essays can be read and scored and maybe give tips on where I should improve.
Please post here if you can do it. You do not need to do every essay I post. I'll post whenever I write one and because it's only 25 minute-essay, it won't be long either.
First of all, SAT is graded by holistic approach, meaning that the essay is looked as "whole" instead of piece by piece. Essays are to be written in 25 minutes so they're not "perfect." The scores range from 1 to 6. This is the criteria for each score from official book by Collegeboard.
Score of 1
An essay in this category is fundamentally lacking, demonstrating very little or no mastery, and is severly flawed by ONE OR MORE of the following weaknesses:
*develops no viable point of view on the issue, or provides little or no evidence to support its position.
*is disorganized or unfocused, resulting in a disjointed or incoherent essay
*displays fundamental errors in vocabulary
*demonstrates severe flaws in sentence structure
*contains pervasive errors in grammar, usage, or mechanics that persistently interfere with meaning
Score of 2
An essay in this category is seriously limited, demonstrating little mastery, and is flawed by ONE OR MORE of the following weaknesses:
*develops a point of view on the issue that is vague or seriously limited, demonstrating weak critical thinking, providng inappropriate or insufficient examples, reasons, or other evidence to support its position
*is poorly organized and/or focused, or demonstrates serious problems with coherence or progression of ideas
*displays very little facility in the use of language, using very limited vocabulary or incorrect word choice
*demonstrates frequent problems in sentence structure
*contains errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics is so serious that meaning is somewhat obscured
Score of 3
An essay in this category is inadequate, but deomnstrates developing mastery, and is marked by ONE OR MORE of the following weaknesses:
*develops a point of view on the issue, demonstrating some critical thinking, may do so inconsistently or use inadequate examples, reasons, or other evidence to support its position.
*is limited in its organization or focus, or may demonstrate some lapses in coherence or progression of ideas
*displays developing facility in the use of language, but sometimes uses weak vocabulary or inappropriate word choice
*lacks variety or demonstrates problems in sentence structure
*contains an accumulation of errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics.
Score of 4
An essay in this category is competent, demonstrating adequate mastery, although it wil have lapses in quality. A typical essay
*develops a point of view on the issue and demonstrates competent critical thinking, using adequate examples, reasons, and other evidence to support its position.
*is generally organized and focused, demonstrating some coherence and progression of ideas
*exhibits adequate but inconsistent facility in the use of language, using generally appropriate vocabulary
*demonstrates some variety in sentence structure
*has some errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics
Score of 5
An essay in this category is effective, demonstrating reasonably consisten mastery, although it may have occasional errors or lapses in quality. A typical essay
*effectively develops a point of view on the issue and demonstrates strong critical thinking, generally using appropriate examples, reasons, and other evidence to support its position.
*is well organized and focused, demonstrating coherence and progression of ideas
*exhibits facility in the use of language, using appropriate vocabulary
*demonstrates variety in sentence structure
*is generally free of most errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics
Score of 6
An essay in this category is outstanding, demonstrating clear and consistent mastery, although it may have few minor errors. A typical essay
*effectively and insightfully develops a point of view on the issue and demonstrates outstanding critical thinking, using clearly appropriate examples, reasons, and other evidence to support its position.
*is well organized and clearly focused, demonstrating clear coherence and smooth progression of ideas
*exhibits skillful use of language, using a varied, accurate, and apt vocabulary
*demonstrates meaningful variety in sentence structure
*is free of most errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics
English is my second language so it's very tough to score well on essays without some professionals reading my essays. I think people in here are very highly educated for literature for sure so I was wondering if my essays can be read and scored and maybe give tips on where I should improve.
Please post here if you can do it. You do not need to do every essay I post. I'll post whenever I write one and because it's only 25 minute-essay, it won't be long either.