So you made a mistake on your Common App? And the college you applied to has instructed you to contact the admissions office directly to make the correction? (Stanford does this, for example.)
First, here’s an example of how NOT to write (and yes, I may exaggerate for effect):
First email at 12:14 PM:
*oh hai i made a mistake on my application, so can you fix it for me? my sat is actually 1920, not 1290. okay thanx.
Second email at 2:17 PM:
*oh hai, i forgot, my name is my full name. kthxbye!!!111
I hope that that communication is obviously wrong. If it’s not, please, let’s have a talk! Or talk to someone who has experience with writing for help (such as an English teacher or someone who has a professional job).
This is a better version of the email:
Dear Admissions Officer,
Unfortunately, I recorded some information incorrectly on my Common App. I tried to update it myself, but it’s locked, and I can’t make the change myself. I checked your site’s FAQ, and it said I should email you with corrections. My SAT score is 1920. The score of 1290 is incorrect.
Thanks in advance for your assistance .
Best regards,
My Full Name
Obviously, if you’re going to use this email, please use this as a template only. In other words, don’t just copy and paste this email–edit it to make it your own.
Anytime you make a post on Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, your school website, some random essay website, or whatever, you’ve got to believe and understand that whatever you write could be seen by pretty much anyone in the future.
For example, this is BAD:
*half a grade off for one day late? (WTHeck) mr foshizzle????!!!!!! (hecka) (angry)!
This is better:
Note to self: Always plan for the unexpected.
Why? In the future, some admissions officer or job interviewer may come across your post and decide to reject you for it. No kidding. It happens.
Write your answer down, or just store it in that razor-sharp mind of yours. (If you can’t wait, the answer is below.)
Now let’s learn about the word quotidian.
Part of Speech of quotidian
quotidian is an ADJECTIVE.
Pronunciation quotidian
Here’s how to pronounce quotidian:
IPA: /kwoʊ.ˈtɪ.di.ən/
Glossary-style: [kwoe-TIH-dee-un]
Definition of quotidian
quotidian means: common, ordinary, trivial (Ex: quotidian duties, such as putting away one’s clothes). daily; occurring or recurring every day (Ex: quotidian dialysis; quotidian report).
Explain more about quotidian, please
If something is quotidian, then it literally occurs every day. By extension, it is also common, expected, ordinary, and completely unexciting.
Example of quotidian
Here’s the word quotidian used in a sentence:
The premise of the reality television show was that one or two rich people would have to live a conventional middle-class life and have the same quotidian responsibilities that the rest of us have.
If you’ve read this far, you’re a great student and will learn vocabulary quickly. You may now check your answer.
What does cacophony mean? Read below for the definition.
Quick vocab quiz for the word cacophony
First, before you read about the word cacophony, try this quick vocab quiz:
cacophony most nearly means
(A) idea
(B) luxury
(C) racket
(D) ilk
(E) glare
Write your answer down, or just store it in that razor-sharp mind of yours. (If you can’t wait, the answer is below.)
Now let’s learn about the word cacophony.
Part of Speech of cacophony
cacophony is a NOUN.
Pronunciation cacophony
Here’s how to pronounce cacophony:
IPA: /kə.ˈkɒ.fə.ni/
Glossary-style: [kuh-KAH-fuh-nee]
Definition of cacophony
cacophony means: a mix of harsh, discordant sounds; dissonance (Ex: the cacophony of car horns and police sirens).
Explain more about cacophony, please
cacophony simply means loud noise that hurts your ears. For example, imagine the worst, loudest sounds you can imagine–sirens wailing, dogs barking, babies crying, horns honking, all at once. That’s cacophony.
And the best part is that cacophony is very much pinky-up kind of word. Throw it into your writing or speech here and there, and people will be rightfully impressed with your high level of vocabulary.
Example of cacophony
Here’s the word cacophony used in a sentence:
Perceived as cacophony by some, the shouts, calls, and laughter of the playground was euphony [beautiful sounds] to Señor Chang, who reminisced nostalgically on his childhood.
If you’ve read this far, you’re a great student and will learn vocabulary quickly. You may now check your answer.
Write your answer down, or just store it in that razor-sharp mind of yours. (If you can’t wait, the answer is below.)
Now let’s learn about the word mirth.
Part of Speech of mirth
mirth is a NOUN.
Pronunciation of mirth
Here’s how to pronounce mirth:
IPA: /mərθ/
Glossary-style: [muhrth]
Definition of mirth
mirth means: happiness, gaiety, or jollity; pleasure or joy (Ex: a day full of mirth).
Explain more about mirth, please
mirth is simply happiness. The word mirth has some connatations of enjoying oneself in a the company of others, especially at holiday times, family meals, and yes, alcohol.
Finally, the word mirth sounds a bit old, so you’re more likely to come across it older writings than modern ones.
Example of mirth
Here’s the word mirth used in a sentence:
The New Year’s Eve party was marked by great mirth as friends celebrated the incoming year together.
If you’ve read this far, you’re a great student and will learn vocabulary quickly. You may now check your answer.
What does empirical mean? Read below for the definition.
Quick vocab quiz for the word empirical
First, before you read about the word empirical, try this quick vocab quiz:
empirical most nearly means
(A) large
(B) extant
(C) confirmable
(D) hard
(E) distant
Write your answer down, or just store it in that razor-sharp mind of yours. (If you can’t wait, the answer is below.)
Now let’s learn about the word empirical.
Part of Speech of empirical
empirical is an ADJECTIVE.
Pronunciation empirical
Here’s how to pronounce empirical:
IPA: /ɛm.’piɹ.ɪ.kəl/
Glossary-style: [em-PEER-ih-kul ]
Definition of empirical
empirical means: derived from or guided by experience or experiment (Ex: empirical evidence).
Explain more about empirical, please
Empirical evidence is evidence that has been obtained through observation, experimentation, or experience. Sure, that sounds logical you’re thinking. What other kind of evidence or information is there? Well, some people rely on the often-unreliable method of… guessing. Or intuition. For example, sometimes people attribute their success to a good-luck charm, such as a favorite pair of socks. Or they say, “I got a 2380 on my SAT because I memorized lots of vocabulary!” How do people know this? It is often the case that the utterers of these statements in fact based their statements not on empirical evidence but on intuition, suspicion, or more vaguely, a general hope for things to be the way they want them to be.
And when we make decisions, we rely on a variety of resources and information to make the best choice possible. Sometimes we base our decisions on past experiences; other times, we use our intuition or “gut feelings” to decide what to do. If we base our decisions information that has been carefully collected and measured, then we are using empirical data. empirical data or evidence is different from theoretical or intuitive information, which is derived from guesses or other “non-scientific” methods of obtaining information.
So, empirical simply means based on evidence as opposed to based on a theory, a guess, a “gut-feeling”, or the like.
Example of empirical
Here’s the word empirical used in a sentence:
Scientists are trained to gather empirical evidence to support their theories, not common sense.
If you’ve read this far, you’re a great student and will learn vocabulary quickly. You may now check your answer.
Write your answer down, or just store it in that razor-sharp mind of yours. (If you can’t wait, the answer is below.)
Now let’s learn about the word vitiate.
Part of Speech of vitiate
vitiate is a VERB.
Pronunciation of vitiate
Here’s how to pronounce vitiate:
IPA: /’vɪ.ʃi.eɪt/
Glossary-style: [VIH-shee-ate]
Definition of vitiate
vitiate means: debase or morally corrupt (Ex: enthusiasm vitiated by years of failure). spoil, make faulty; reduce the value, quality, or effectiveness of something (Ex: to vitiate the quality of the conversation by yawning and not paying attention).
Explain more about vitiate, please
vitiate is not a terribly common word (not one that I use in my daily speech, anyway). vitiate basically means to reduce the good qualities of something. For example, if you vitiate the power of the government, you weaken it. If you vitiate the importance of something, you make it less important.
Example of vitiate
Here’s the word vitiate used in a sentence:
The TA inadvertently vitiated the professor’s attempt to make a point by letting go of a laugh at an inopportune moment.
If you’ve read this far, you’re a great student and will learn vocabulary quickly. You may now check your answer.
What does abated mean? Read below for the definition.
Quick vocab quiz for the word abated
First, before you read about the word abated, try this quick vocab quiz:
abated most nearly means
(A) decreased
(B) retired
(C) exploded
(D) existed
(E) appeared
Write your answer down, or just store it in that razor-sharp mind of yours. (If you can’t wait, the answer is below.)
Now let’s learn about the word abated.
Part of Speech of abated
abated is a(n) VERB.
Pronunciation abated
Here’s how to pronounce abated:
IPA: /ə.ˈbeɪ.tɪd/
Glossary-style: [uh-BAY-tid]
Definition of abated
abated means: diminished in degree or intensity; died down (Ex: His anger abated with time.).
Explain more about abated, please
If something abated, then it decreased, diminished, or went down. For example, you could say that Jessie’s interest in an athlete abated when she learned that the athlete had used steroids or other banned substances to improve his performance.
Example of abated
Here’s the word abated used in a sentence:
Unfortunately the gales had not yet abated by the time Chip and Dale approached Cape Horn, and the intrepid duo had to turn back.
If you’ve read this far, you’re a great student and will learn vocabulary quickly. You may now check your answer.
What does hullabaloo mean? Read below for the definition.
Quick vocab quiz for the word hullabaloo
First, before you read about the word hullabaloo, try this quick vocab quiz:
hullabaloo most nearly means
(A) time
(B) vista
(C) tumult
(D) engagement
(E) aroma
Write your answer down, or just store it in that razor-sharp mind of yours. (If you can’t wait, the answer is below.)
Now let’s learn about the word hullabaloo.
Part of Speech of hullabaloo
hullabaloo is a(n) NOUN.
Pronunciation hullabaloo
Here’s how to pronounce hullabaloo:
IPA: /ˈhə.lə.bə.lu/
Glossary-style: [HUH-luh-buh-loo]
Definition of hullabaloo
hullabaloo means: a loud, continued noise; confusion, uproar, or commotion (Ex: hullabaloo after the team’s victory).
Explain more about hullabaloo, please
hullabaloo is a great word, and not just because it’s fun to say. hullabaloo refers to a situation that is noisy, chaotic, confusion, and full of disorder. For example, in some cities on holiday nights (for example, Halloween), you might see or hear a hullabaloo when a large number of people (who’ve often had a bit too much to drink) get rowdy out on the street.
Example of hullabaloo
Here’s the word hullabaloo used in a sentence:
“What’s all the hullabaloo?!” roared irascible Uncle Fred to the children playing with their toys. The excited children quickly quieted down, grumbling to themselves that Uncle Fred was really an Uncle Scrooge.
If you’ve read this far, you’re a great student and will learn vocabulary quickly. You may now check your answer.
Writer’s block? Happens to the best of us. Image credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/alun/
College Board has recently released the SAT essay prompts from the October 2012 administration of the SAT. If you would like to see the full text of the essay prompts, including the “context paragraph,” the assignment question, and the instructions, visit the official College Board page with the prompts. Please note that College Board generally replaces the content of that page with the most recent essay prompts, so in a few weeks the content of that page will contain the essay prompts from the November SAT test. So here’s the gist of those topics for posterity:
SAT Essay Prompt #1: A question about caring about people from one’s own country vs. caring about people from other countries.
SAT Essay Prompt #2: Do high achievements help all or only the achiever? (This is the prompt that TestMagic students wrote on.)
SAT Essay Prompt #3: The value of past vs. that of the present.
SAT Essay Prompt #4: The value of creativity.
Discussion of the SAT Essay prompts: Ingroup vs. outgroup
This question is a classic example of the type of question whose response will differ depending on how the question is posed. For example, compare two different ways of asking a similar question:
“Are people from your own country more important than people from other countries?”
“Should people help people in their own countries before they help people from other countries?”
Depending on how the question is asked, people will probably give different responses. For the SAT, it is important not to get caught in this trap and realize that any reasonable response is acceptable. (To the credit of College Board, the SAT essay prompts are written to reduce the chance that test-takers are led to respond in a certain way.)
There are many ways that a writer could address this essay topic. The writer could easily argue that all people are equal, and those who are in the greatest need should receive help, no matter what country they are from. A good example could be any number of international charities, such as Doctors Without Borders, UNICEF, and CARE, that allocate funds according to need, not location. However, the writer could also easily argue that the people in one’s own country should take priority over those from other countries, the argument being that people from one’s own country represent a kind of home, and people have greater responsibility to their “family members” than they do to those outside of their own “family”. Some examples to use could be such natural disasters as earthquakes (the Sichuan, China earthquake of 2008) and floods (e.g., Hurricane Katrina), world hunger, lack of medicine and health care, and the like.
Discussion of the SAT Essay prompts: The effect of high achievers
Again, depending on how this is worded, writers could be pointed in different directions. If test-takers are asked about highly successful people, they might write that almost all success is good. If, however, the prompt mentions “high achievers” (as it did), writers might see some of the negative aspects of people who are extremely successful. As always, writers have multiple (if not countless) ways to interpret the prompt and could write about humanitarians, Nobel laureates, successful businesspeople, politicians, and the like. To score high, should try to dig deep into the topic and discuss whether success is always fair. For example, is it generally true that the best people tend to get ahead? Or do more aggressive less ethical people tend to have the highest achievements? Writers could also discuss whether the ends justify the means–for example, if someone is very successful at the expense of ethics, is his success still deserving of respect? Possible examples: Bill Gates (a ruthless businessman who donates a huge portion of his wealth charity) and Lance Armstrong (American bicyclist who allegedly used drugs to improve his performance).
Note: This prompt shares some similarities with another common prompt, the one that asks whether public figures and other role models have a greater responsibility to comport themselves morally and ethically.
Discussion of the SAT Essay prompts: Past vs. present
The SAT has asked many times in the past about the importance of the past and of history, so test-takers should be at least a bit familiar with the question of whether it’s important to learn from the past. Be careful not to interpret this particular prompt solely to mean history in the sense of History with a capital H. This prompt, especially the way it was worded in October (“why waste time dwelling on what has already happened”) could refer to any past event, even something as mundane as burning your morning toast.
We’ve all heard George Santayana’s quote “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it”, which could work well in this essay if you choose to argue that the past is important to learn about or learn from. And if you choose to discuss history, Mark Twain’s lesser known quote “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it does rhyme” might fit in somewhere as well.
Obviously it is important to study history and learn from the past. So why does this prompt appear? Well, it’s also sometimes important to forget the past. More specifically, it’s important to let go of past grievances and avoid the myopic navel-gazing that can result from fixating on past successes or wrongs committed by others against you or your nation. And as the prompt hints at, yes, the past is not changeable (at least according to the currently-accepted laws of physics).
So, if I were writing on this prompt, I would say that the past is valuable when we can learn from mistakes, but at other times, we should move on, leave the past behind, and not dwell on that which we cannot change. For this particular prompt, I would personally want to write about the U.S.’s current position in world politics and write that many Americans have become complacent about our past successes, but we need to see that the world is changing very quickly and need to adopt more modern policies.
Discussion of the SAT Essay prompts: Creativity
Ah, the “creativity” prompt. Who would ever argue that creativity is not important? Well, it’s conceivable that in some situations or professions, creativity is not important, believe it or not. Soldiers, for example, are trained to follow orders blindly, to walk straight into enemy fire simply because they were told to do so. Some workers are also expected not to think creatively, but rather to strictly adhere to procedures. And many unethical leaders know that it’s easiest to control people when they lack the ability to think independently.
This prompt, however, seems to define creativity rather narrowly (“Political leaders are not usually considered to be very creative”), suggesting that creativity should be interpreted as breaking with tradition. This interpretation is entirely possible, but again, it would still be difficult (but not impossible) to argue that no one needs to be creative.
What would I write about? I like writing, reading, and most things artistic, so I would wholeheartedly recommend creativity for all people, from the youngest to the oldest, no matter their profession or situation in life. I would further argue that even in professions in which creativity is not generally considered necessary or desirable, it is can still be important sometimes. There are myriad examples of what to write about, but off the top of my head, I’d suggest perhaps writing that leaders today need creative solutions to complex, modern problems (did that sound like an ad? Phew.).
In conclusion…
If this article was helpful, please let me know by commenting, “liking”, etc. We teachers write articles like this to help people, for that once-a-year thank-you from students, and from feedback. (All people love compliments. It’s true.) Even a simple question would be welcome. :)
