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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 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 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.  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.

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" -- 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 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 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 assess.

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>

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 the process for registration are available online.<ref>http://sat.collegeboard.com/register/sat-dates</ref>

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.

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.  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 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. 

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 applications in November of a student's senior year, then the college needs to see the student's SAT scores at the same time.

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.

But you'll want to take the SATs several times, so you need to take it once or twice in your junior year 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.

You would be surprised how many homeschooled students hurt their chances at scholarships and college admissions simply by being late.  Think of it like taking a trip on an airplane ride:  the plane is not going to wait for you to arrive.  It will take off whether you get there in time or not.  And for college admissions and scholarships, there are no "reserved seats"!

You would be surprised how many homeschooled students hurt their chances at scholarships and college admissions simply by being late.  Think of this like taking a trip on an airplane ride:  the plane is not going to wait for you to arrive.  It will take off whether you get there in time or not.  And for college admissions and scholarships, there are no "reserved seats"!

=== Scholarships ===

=== Scholarships ===

College admissions, and scholarships, are based on the SAT I scores.  The following are some minimum scores for scholarships at certain schools (not including minority scholarships).  Notice how the higher the score, the larger the potential scholarship.  Also notice that some schools (like Seton Hall and Moravian) use all three SAT scores (which have a maximum score of 800 times 3, or 2400), while other schools (like Alfred State College and Arcadia) do not use the writing score so their maximum is a 1600 (800 times 2).

College admissions, and scholarships, are based on the SAT I scores.  The following are some minimum scores for scholarships at certain schools (not including minority scholarships).  Notice how the higher the score is, the larger the potential scholarship will be.  Also notice that some schools (like Seton Hall and Moravian) use all three SAT scores (which have a maximum score of 800 times 3, or 2400), while other schools (like Alfred State College and Arcadia) do not use the writing score so their maximum is a 1600 (800 times 2).

*Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ: 2010 SAT (full tuition scholarships)

*Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ: 2010 SAT (full tuition scholarships)

*Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA: $3,750 yearly if 1270 SAT or 29 ACT<ref>The "ACT" is a national exam for high school students that is an alternative to the SAT.</ref>

*Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA: $3,750 yearly if 1270 SAT or 29 ACT<ref>The "ACT" is a national exam for high school students that is an alternative to the SAT.</ref>

*Oklahoma State University: Up to $12,500 per year 30+ ACT/1330+ SAT

*Oklahoma State University: Up to $12,500 per year for SATs of 1330 or more

*Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO: $9,000 annual award 1150 SAT or 25 ACT

*Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO: $9,000 annual award 1150 SAT or 25 ACT

*Messiah College, Pennsylvania: Full tuition: 1300 SAT or 29 ACT

*Messiah College, Pennsylvania: Full tuition: 1300 SAT or 29 ACT

*William Patterson University, NJ: $3000 to $7000: SAT 1050 or higher

*William Patterson University, NJ: $3000 to $7000 for SAT 1050 or higher

*Gordon College, NY: $12,000 a year: SATs of 2100 or ACT of 31

*Gordon College, NY: $12,000 a year for SATs of 2100 or ACT of 31

*Marymount of Manhattan, NY: $6,000 per year SAT 1150 or higher

*Marymount of Manhattan, NY: $6,000 per year for SAT 1150 or higher

*NJIT, NJ: full scholarship for SAT scores 1500 and above

*NJIT, NJ: full scholarship for SAT scores 1500 and above

But that raises a question:  how do colleges handle multiple SAT scores from the same student who took it two, three or four times?  Do colleges average the scores, or take the highest set of three scores, or take the highest individual score for each type of exam (critical reading, writing or math)?

But that raises a question:  how do colleges handle multiple SAT scores from the same student who took it two, three or four times?  Do colleges average the scores, or take the highest set of three scores, or take the highest individual score for each type of exam (critical reading, writing or math)?

Put yourself in the colleges' shoes.  Colleges want to brag that their student body has high SAT scores.  So they have an incentive to take the highest possible score combinations, so that it improves their own image.  Accordingly, most colleges allow and even encourage multiple test-taking of the SAT in order to boost students' scores to the maximum extent possible.

Put yourself in the colleges' shoes.  Each colleges wants to brag that its student body has high SAT scores.  Thus each college has an incentive to take the highest possible score combinations, in order to improve its own image.  Accordingly, most colleges allow and even encourage multiple test-taking of the SAT in order to boost students' scores to the maximum extent possible.

The College Board, which offers the SAT, makes money every time a student takes its test, so it encourages multiple test-taking also.  The SAT allows students the option of "score choice," which enables students to pick and choose which scores for which test they want sent to which college.  Most colleges participate in this program.<ref>http://professionals.collegeboard.com/testing/sat-reasoning/scores/policy</ref>

The College Board, which offers the SAT, makes money every time a student takes its test, so it encourages multiple test-taking also.  The SAT allows students the option of "score choice," which enables students to pick and choose which scores for which test they want sent to which college.  Most colleges participate in this program.<ref>http://professionals.collegeboard.com/testing/sat-reasoning/scores/policy</ref>

*Wheaton College takes the highest of the three scores from all of the SATs that an applying student submits.<ref>http://www.wheaton.edu/admissions/UndGrad/applying/admissFAQ.htm#q14</ref>

*Wheaton College takes the highest of the three scores from all of the SATs that an applying student submits.<ref>http://www.wheaton.edu/admissions/UndGrad/applying/admissFAQ.htm#q14</ref>

*Houghton College in New York recently recently started taking the highest critical reading and math scores for the SAT.  

*Houghton College in New York recently started taking the highest critical reading and math scores for the SAT.  

*James Madison University takes the highest scores from the reading and math sections on the SAT.<ref>http://www.jmu.edu/admissions/process/freshman.shtml</ref>

*James Madison University takes the highest scores from the reading and math sections on the SAT.<ref>http://www.jmu.edu/admissions/process/freshman.shtml</ref>

<br>(e) dislike intensely

<br>(e) dislike intensely

Even if you don't already know what the word "abhor" means, you should be able to figure it out from the context.  Only answer (e) fits the expression well.  As to answer choice (c), why would someone say that "I don't feel strongly one way or the other about all the paperwork that government makes people fill out these days," followed by an exclamation point?  That would be unlikely.  Note also that answer choices (a), (b) and (d) are similar to each other, and they cannot all be correct.  Answer choice (e) stands alone as the most likely meaning.

Even if you don't already know what the word "abhor" means, you should be able to figure it out from the context.  Only answer (e) fits the sentence well.  As to answer choice (c), why would someone say that "I don't feel strongly one way or the other about all the paperwork that government makes people fill out these days," followed by an exclamation point?  That would be unlikely.  Note also that answer choices (a), (b) and (d) are similar to each other, and they cannot all be correct.  Answer choice (e) stands alone as the most likely meaning.

Example 2:   

Example 2:   

<br>(e) word

<br>(e) word

In this example you can figure out what a word in ancient Greek means.  Starting with answer choice (a), the phrase near the end of the sentence would be "evil was God," and that does not make sense.  So eliminate (a) as a possibility.  Similarly, strike out choice (d) as a possibility because "chaos" was not God.  How about choice (c), "universe"?  It would not make sense for the "universe" to be in the very beginning along with God, and the "universe" was certainly NOT God.

In this example you can figure out what this ancient Greek term means.  Starting with answer choice (a), the phrase near the end of the sentence would be "evil was God," and that does not make sense.  So eliminate (a) as a possibility.  Similarly, strike out choice (d) as a possibility because "chaos" was not God.  How about choice (c), "universe"?  It would not make sense for the "universe" to be in the very beginning along with God, and the "universe" was certainly NOT God.

The only possible meanings among the choices for "λόγος" (logos) are (b) and (e).  If you do not know at this point, then you have at least a 50/50 chance.  "Word" fits the expression "was God" better, and is the correct answer.

The only possible meanings among the choices for "λόγος" (logos) are (b) and (e).  If you do not know at this point, then you have at least a 50/50 chance.  "Word" fits the expression "was God" better, and is the correct answer.

Find a dictionary in your home, or learn how to look up words online.<ref>See, e.g., http://www.m-w.com</ref>

Find a dictionary in your home, or learn how to look up words online.<ref>See, e.g., http://www.m-w.com</ref>

Write an essay of at least 300 words about any topic you like.  It could be about a personal experience, or the tragedy in Haiti, or a song that you like, or anything else.

 

Write an essay of at least 300 words about any topic you like.  It could be about a personal experience, such as the March for Life trip, or the tragedy in Haiti, or a song that you like, or anything else.

In your essay, use at least one new word that you do not ordinarily use, and underline it.

In your essay, use at least one new word that you do not ordinarily use, and underline it.