Year after year, thousands of students go through the process of completing their SAT exams. This is a stressful time for even the most prepared student. Most teenagers feel relieved upon completion; however, this was not the case after this month’s exam. Many students and parents are outraged by one of the essay questions that appeared on this year’s exam. The Essay topic in question is:
“Reality television programs, which feature real people engaged in real activities rather than professional actors performing scripted scenes, are increasingly popular. These shows depict ordinary people competing in everything from singing and dancing to losing weight, or just living their everyday lives. Most people believe that the reality these shows portray is authentic, but they are being misled. How authentic can these shows be when producers design challenges for the participants and then editors alter filmed scenes?”
“Do people benefit from forms of entertainment that show so-called reality, or are such forms of entertainment harmful?”
The main source of controversy is the belief that students who watch these programs, such as Jersey Shore and American Idol, have an advantage. Other critics are arguing that the SAT has been dumbed down and that reality TV has no place in an exam that determines a student’s academic future. College Board is standing behind this question saying that it was “engaging and thought provoking”. They also explain that the purpose of the question was to have students formulate an argument and support their position, not to use examples from these shows.
It is not uncommon for a student to receive an essay topic they know very little about. To successfully complete an SAT essay students need to learn how to take one side of an issue, develop an argument and defend their position. It is not essential that they know every fact and detail on the subject matter. At Options Solutions we teach students how to do just that. We use examples from past SAT exams to familiarize students with the wording of these questions. We then teach them how to structure a strong argument and to back-up their position with evidence.
Long-term consistent prep is the key to successfully completing an SAT essay. Students should complete several practice essays before attempting the real SAT. We will be offering prep classes up until the June exam. Contact us now to reserve your space.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/sat-question-on-reality-tv-stirs-controversy/2011/03/15/ABjNyCY_blog.html
