Changes

"Brevity is the soul of wit."  That famous description of good comedy is true indeed.  Brevity, or economy of expression, is most likely to hold the attention of the audience and bring it to laughter.  When a joke takes too long to tell, or is explained with too much repetition, or is diluted with too much narrative, then it loses its humorous edge.  We'll be discussing humor more later in this course.

"Brevity is the soul of wit."  That famous description of good comedy is true indeed.  Brevity, or economy of expression, is most likely to hold the attention of the audience and bring it to laughter.  When a joke takes too long to tell, or is explained with too much repetition, or is diluted with too much narrative, then it loses its humorous edge.  We'll be discussing humor more later in this course.

Good writing is also concise.  Sharp, clear sentences hold the reader's attention better and are easier to proofread for mistakes.  More words does not mean greater quality.  Usually the opposite is true.  One person remarked, "I'd prefer to write you a short letter, but I don't have the time to edit this long letter into a clearer and more concise version."  The best written works result from reducing many ideas and sentences into only the best of them.

Good writing is also concise.  Sharp, clear sentences hold the reader's attention better and are easier to proofread for mistakes.  More words do not mean greater quality.  Usually the opposite is true.  One person remarked, "I'd prefer to write you a short letter, but I don't have the time to edit this long letter into a clearer and more concise version."  The best written works result from distilling and reducing many ideas and sentences into only the very best.

What is considered one of the greatest works in American History, the Gettysburg Address, is only 246 words long.  Its short length made it possible to carve all of it into the side of the inner wall of a monument in Washington, D.C., the Lincoln Memorial.

What is considered one of the greatest works in American History, the Gettysburg Address, is only 246 words long.  Its short length made it possible to carve all of it into the side of the inner wall of a monument in Washington, D.C., the Lincoln Memorial.

Good writers are in big demand: everyone wants them.  Colleges want them; employers want them; churches want them; Hollywood (movies) want them; comedians want them; and even your family and friends will want to you to write or say something for them.

Good writers are in big demand: everyone wants them.  Colleges want them; employers want them; churches want them; Hollywood (movies) want them; comedians want them; and even your family and friends will want to you to write or say something for them.

Our focus on this course will be on how colleges test for good writers: through the SAT I verbal exams.  It has two tests -- "critical reading" and "writing" -- that test your writing-related skills.  The more you can develop your writing abilities, the better you will do on these exams and the more opportunity you will have for college scholarships.

Our focus on this course will be on how colleges test for good writers: through the SAT I verbal exams.  Two of its sections -- "critical reading" and "writing" -- that test your writing-related skills.  The more you can develop your writing abilities, the better you will do on these exams and the more opportunity you will have for college scholarships.

=== When to Take the SAT I ===

=== When to Take the SAT I ===

The two verbal SAT I exams are called "critical reading" and "writing".  They are what colleges look at most in determining admissions and scholarships.  This class will help you master the skills that these exams teach.

The two verbal SAT I exam sections are called "critical reading" and "writing".  They are what many colleges look at most in determining admissions and scholarships.  This class will help you master the skills that these exams teach.

The exams are offered by the "College Board," and cost only $45.  The exams are offered at local high schools in early March, early May and early June.  Then, in the fall, the exams are offered in early October, November and December.  Registration deadlines are a month before the test dates, and all the information and process for registration are available online.<ref>http://sat.collegeboard.com/register/sat-dates</ref>

The exams are offered by the "College Board," and cost only $45 for all three sections (including math).  The exams are offered at local high schools in early March, early May and early June.  Then, in the fall, the exams are offered in early October, November and December.  Registration deadlines are a month before the test dates, but the sooner you sign up the more likely you will obtain your preferred location for testing.  All the information and process for registration are available online.<ref>http://sat.collegeboard.com/register/sat-dates</ref>

Students are juniors in high school should take the SAT I once or twice in the spring (March, May or June), and then again once or twice in the early fall (October and November).  Many students should consider taking the SAT I earlier in their junior year, such as December, so that there is time to improve and retake the test well before applications are required by colleges.

Students who are juniors in high school should take the SAT I once or twice in the spring (March, May or June), and then again once or twice in the early fall (October and November).  But they should begin preparing long beforehand.  Many students should consider taking the SAT I earlier, such as December of their junior year, so that there is time to improve and retake the test well before applications are required by colleges.

Many students -- particularly homeschool students -- make the mistake of not taking the SAT until it delays consideration of their application by colleges, which hurts their opportunity to be admitted and earn scholarships.  If a college starts considering application in November, then they need to see your SAT scores at the same time.  That means you have to take them by October at the latest.  But you'll want to take the SATs several times, so you need to take it once or twice the prior spring to ensure you have maximized your overall score.  Procrastination -- putting off registration and the taking of the test -- will end up costing you a great deal of money and opportunity.  It's not just how a student does on the SAT that matters, but how much initiative he showed in taking the test early enough to help him.

Many students -- particularly homeschooled students -- make the mistake of postponing taking the SAT I until it delays consideration of their application by colleges, which hurts their opportunity to be admitted and earn scholarships.  If a college starts considering application in November of a student's senior year, then the college needs to see the student's SAT scores at the same time.  That means the student should take the SAT I by October at the latest.   

 

But you'll want to take the SATs several times, so you need to take it once or twice the prior spring to ensure you have maximized your overall score.  Procrastination -- putting off registration and the taking of the test -- will end up costing you a great deal of money and opportunity.  It's not just how a student does on the SAT that matters, but how much initiative he showed in taking the test early enough to help him.

 

=== Scholarships ===

=== Scholarships ===