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At the suggestion of an excellent student, and friend, I recently bought the “SAT Writing Workbook” and its companion guide for math, from Kaplan. In Practice Test A on p. 187, it gives this writing prompt: Consider carefully the following statement(s) and the assignment below it.”The greatest griefs are those we cause ourselves.” –Sophocles
Assignment: What do you think of the view that the worst sorrows are those for which we are responsible? In an essay, support your position by discussing an example (or examples) from literature, science and technology, the arts, current events, or your own experience or observation. *********************************************** Many of my online students are preparing for the SAT, and this is how one of those young scholars tackled the above question. Notice how in his essay he sets the scene, uses vivid details (“orange juice and guava juice”), and only at the END ties his story to the prompt, the idea of “I caused this problem myself.” The “traditional essay” gives the thesis, or main point, right at the top, but you do not have to. In this case, the author wraps up his essay by tying in the prompt at the end. Enjoy a story that relates to everyone who was once a kid or who knows a kid (and that covers us all). ***** Many years ago, when I was about five, my cousins, grandparents and immediate family went to a restaurant in Taipei to celebrate New Year’s. Everyone was delighted and joyful about the successful New Year that was approaching. My cousins and I set many new goals that we wished to reach before next year, and we agreed to compete against one another to see who could successfully reach their goal without making any mistakes.
During the dinner, when everyone happily drank coke, sprite, guava juice, and orange juice, my father and I decided to go to each table to give thanks and give hopes and wishes to the other members of our big family. I could not drink any alcoholic beverages of course, so I drank a mix of guava and orange juice. I gave a few speeches–the best I could as a five year old–of good luck to everyone, and that made me feel more satisfied with myself. I learned the true meaning of family during that dinner and the importance of having a family. After finishing my speeches of good will, I went back to my table and finished my dinner. My two closest cousins and my sister invited me to join their game of “you are it” while I was eating. I accepted their invitation and told them to meet me in the hallway outside of the dining room.
After five minutes, I went outside and played with them. I had so much fun playing with them that I had forgotten to go to the bathroom. I did not realize that I was in such a hurry that I peed in my pants. The pee had soaked into my underwear and pants, but luckily the pee did not reach the floor, which was marble. I was relieved that I did not wet the beautifully polished marble. My mother came up to me and said, “Why did you not go to the bathroom before you played with the others? Don’t I always tell you should go to the bathroom whenever you drink lots of drinks?” My cheeks turned red hot with embarrassment when she finished her scolding. I was humiliated that I had peed in my britches and I wished I could go away to change into some new clothes. My mother had suspected that I might pee in my pants, so she had wisely brought along another set of clothes. After that experience of shame, I have learned always to go to the bathroom before doing any activity or going to another location. At the time I was humiliated, and I know I had caused this grief myself by going too heavy on the fruit juice without going to the bathroom. Now, many years after this hilarious experience, my cousins, my sister and I met together last Sunday and recalled this incident. We laughed, and people at other tables even laughed too when they overheard my childhood story. Sophocles was right: sometimes we do cause our greatest griefs ourselves. ************ Do YOU want to improve your English skills? Find out how you can, by clicking here. |