3.4 SAT Essay - Writing Well Key Ingredients - No Thesis, No Points

Writing Well: Key Ingredients of a Strong Essay

No Thesis, No Points: In all writing prompts, the College Board asks students to develop a “point of view.” The words really mean to develop an argument using a thesis statement that clearly reflects your position. Thus, the opening paragraph has one purpose: establish a clear position on the topic. As I suggested in the opening strategies, read the topic and prompt carefully. Let’s examine what a thesis or proper position is:

Fact/Non-Thesis: The Lakers wear purple and gold uniforms.

Argument/Thesis: The Lakers have had one of the most successful basketball teams since they use triangle defense.

The differences are simple. The first statement merely declares a fact. It’s not debatable; it’s the type of statement that either is or is not. Making generalizations in your first introductory paragraph sets the wrong foundation since the essay will seem purposeless- immediately! The second statement is a debatable issue. Not only does the author contend that the Lakers are “one of the most successful basketball teams” but the claim is given muscle since the author points to the particular detail of the “triangle defense” as a reason for why the team is so successful. With a claim such as this, it is not hard to imagine, if the author has structured his paper well, that the supporting paragraphs will chronicle the use of the “triangle defense” and how it is helped the Lakers to win. The author may use particular games whereby the defense worked in the Lakers’ favor. The point is simple here: you need to begin with a clear position. This move entails that you build the support for your position into the claim. Let’s take an example that is more closely aligned to an SAT writing prompt. Let’s say that you must evaluate Plato’s claim that “Nothing great comes easy.” Examine the difference between a non-thesis/position and thesis/position for this topic:

Fact/Non-thesis: Martin Luther King worked hard for equality.

Argument/Thesis: The success of social justice movements is the result of diligence and years of struggle since American movements such as women’s suffrage and civil rights would not have occurred without a fight.

If you simply speak in generalizations without making your position explicit, the SAT grader will have no choice but to give you a three, regardless of how well- written the essay may be. Again, the first statement declares a fact; whereas, the second claim suggests that diligence is a key ingredient for the success of social justice movements. More importantly, the second statement uses exact evidence, citing two key social justice movements in America that testify to years of hard work and struggle. The first assertion commits the writer to making generalizations and summary; whereas, the second assertion commits the writer to explain himself, providing evidence for his position. The first paragraph must contain a thesis, a clear position that depends upon evidence to measure its strength. The clearer the position and the stronger the support, the more likelihood you will score big. Developing a thesis is an easy task to practice. Find a book of quotations or look up quotes on the Internet and ask yourself whether or not you agree with the claim. Take a stand and think about a number of ways you could support your argument. In essence, you will be practicing thesis writing. We will need to explore what constitutes strong support and mediocre support in a later section. So again, a clear position is the only way to a big score. Once again, no thesis, no points!