Yes, You Can Get Fired For Having Bad Credit

Yes, You Can Get Fired For Having Bad Credit Yes, You Can Get Fired For Having Bad Credit Yes, You Can Get Fired For Having Bad CreditMost people know that employers can check your credit score while hiring you, but they can also do it while you work thereâ€"and let you go if the results are bad.If you were to make a list of things that would get you fired, where would you rank “having a bad credit score?” Surely it would be below all-time classics like “stealing money,” “calling your boss a bad word,” and “insisting that your coworkers call you Lord Fancy Pants The Fourth.” Honestly, most people don’t even realize that you can get fired for having a poor credit score.But you can! And while it’s unlikely that a lousy credit score will get you cannedâ€"it’s much more likely to stop you from being hired in the first placeâ€"it certainly can happen, especially if you’re in one of the many states that don’t restrict the use of employer credit checks.A quick refresher on creditworthiness and credit checks.Your creditworthiness is summed up by your cre dit score, a three-digit number that created using information from your credit reports. The most common type of credit score is a FICO score, which was first created by Fair, Isaac and Company in the 1980’s (they’ve since changed their name to just FICO). Your FICO score is ranked on a scale from 300 to 850â€"the higher your score, the more creditworthy you’re considered to be.Credit reports are documents that track your history of credit use. Most of the information on your reports date back seven years, but some information (like bankruptcies) can stay on your report for longer. Credit reports contain information on how much you owe, whether you pay your bills on time, the types of credit you have, recent hard credit checks, etc.There aren’t any hard and fast rules on what defines “great” credit versus “good” or “bad” credit, but there are some general guidelines you can follow. If you have a score above 720, you won’t have to worry much about having a perso nal loan/apartment/job application denied or getting slammed with high interest rates. Meanwhile, if your score is below 630, that pretty much means you have bad credit and could find yourself paying for it in all sorts of ways.When it comes to credit checks, only “hard” checks affect your score. These return a full copy of your report, unlike “soft” checks which only return a summary of your credit history. Hard credit checks are often run by potential lenders and landlords, but they can also be run by prospective or current employers. In order to run a hard check on your credit, the business in question must first obtain your express permission.Want to read more about the difference between hard and soft credit checks? We’ve got a blog for that: How are Soft Credit Checks Different From Hard Checks?Employers can check your credit before and after you are hired.When it comes to credit checks and the possibility of unemployment, you are much more likely to run into problem s while applying for a position than you are after you’ve been hired. Checking credit history as part of a background check is a fairly common part of the hiring process.Depending on how that long hiring process lasts, though, you might end up serving in the job for a while before the employer gets the results and decides to terminate you. Additionally, employers can run a credit check after you’ve been hired or if you are up for a promotion and let you go if the results send up a red flag.(Everything in this section depends on which state you live in. For a list of states that restricts how employers can use credit checks, scroll down.)One thing that’s important to note here: These pre-employment credit checks will not actually return a copy of your credit score. Instead, they will only return a copy of your credit report. This will allow employers to view, for instance, your debt-to-income ratio and your history of bill payments.Even with just a copy of your credit report, e mployers will be able to get a pretty good idea of how you have managed your debts over time, even if they aren’t given a single score to sum it all up. So if you have a bad credit score, your employment status could be at risk.While there are no defined limits on what roles can require a credit check, it tends to be much more common in certain industries and job types than it is in others. Jobs in financial industries or finance positionsâ€"especially ones where you will be handling large amounts of moneyâ€"commonly carry requirements for a credit check.Certain states and cities limit what employers can do with credit checks.If it hasn’t been made clear by now, the laws under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) that dictate employer credit checks give them a fair amount of leeway. While a current or potential employer needs your permission to run a credit check, refusing to grant them that permission pretty much means that you either won’t get the job or won’t have your cu rrent job for long.This is why 13 states, two cities, and the District of Columbia have passed laws limiting employers’ ability to check people’s credit. According to the good folks at Microbilt, an alternative credit reporting agency, the following areas have laws designed to rein in how employers use a person’s credit information:CaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareHawaiiIllinoisChicago, IllinoisMarylandNevadaNew York City, New YorkOregonPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaVermontWashington StateWashington, D.C.While the specifics vary from state to state (or city to city), many of them limit credit checks to managerial positions, finance jobs, or public safety officers. Some also limit what decisions can be made with this information, while a few of them outright ban the practice entirely. If you live in one of these areas, you can read more about your local laws in Microbilt’s report: State Laws Limiting Use of Credit Information For Employment.When you have bad credit, an unexpect ed bill can mean turning to predatory no credit check loans like payday loans, cash advances, and title loans in order to get by. That parts pretty obvious. And yet, bad credit can also affect your life in so many more additional ways.  For more information on how a bad credit score can negatively impact your everyday life, check out these related posts and articles from OppLoans:How Bad Credit Can Affect Your UtilitiesShopping for Furniture with a Bad Credit Score? Here’s What You Need to KnowCan Bad Credit Keep You From Getting That Apartment?Have you ever been fired or not hired because you failed a credit check? We want to hear from you! You can find us  on  Facebook  and  Twitter.

The Syrian Arab Republic, A Country On The Continent Of Asia

Introduction The Syrian Arab Republic also known as Syria is a country on the continent of Asia. It lies on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean. It shares borders with Turkey on the north and northeast, Iraq on the east, Jordon on the south, Israel and Lebanon on the south west and its coastal region on the west. The land geographically consist Mountain ranges, rivers, desert, plains and coastal area. It is approximately 72,000 square miles, and the climate is hot and dry. Syria capital Damascus along with Aleppo is the country largest cities, and is widely known as the most ancient continually occupied cities in the world. The country’s official language is Arabic however, English is widely understood. The population is mostly Muslims and a small percentage of Christians. The people of Syria have endured many changes in the past and still continue to do so today. I am writing about Important Aspects of Syria which includes the country’s physical geography, cultural geography, conflict / issues, and conclusion. I Physical Geography †¢ Mountains, Rivers, Deserts, plains and Coastal Region II Cultural Geography †¢ Religion, Language, Ethnicity III Conflict †¢ Civil War IV Conclusion Physical Geography Syria is a country on the continent of Asia in the Middle East on the shore of the Mediterranean. It shares it border with Turkey on the north and northeast, Iraq on the east, Jordan on the south, Israel and Lebanon on the south west and its coastal regionShow MoreRelatedArab Nationalism and Syria Essay3250 Words   |  13 PagesDescription of Country Syria is a country located in the Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Lebanon and Turkey. The modern nation of Syria did not exist until the 20th century, although the idea of Syria has been in existence since at least the time of the Prophet Muhammad. The name â€Å"Syria†, was first used by the Greeks, historically identifying the region at the eastern end of the Mediterranean lying between Egypt and Asia Minor. Greater Syria, the larger region (calledRead MoreThe Country And Culture Of Iraq1998 Words   |  8 Pagesbetween those nations. In this essay I will study the Country and Culture of Iraq. I will first start with the physical imports of the area: the geographical location, terrain and climate. Then I will cover the people who make up this country: the language they speak, their ethnicities, religions, cultural norms, and their nationality. Finally I will discuss major conflicts that have shaped Iraq and disputes between their Country and the Unites States of America Before I dig deep intoRead MoreSneak Peak into the Egyptian Culture2802 Words   |  12 PagesEGYPTIAN CULTURE The Arab Republic of Egypt is located in the north-eastern corner of Africa and south-western Asia. It is bounded on the north by the Mediterranean Sea, on the east by Palestine and Israel, on the south by Sudan, and on the west by Libya. The capital of Egypt is Cairo. Population amounts to 76,117,421. The Egyptian community    The Egyptian community is one of the most deep-rooted communities all over the world; due to the fact that the ancient Egyptian practiced agriculture 5000Read MoreEgypt Cultural and Economic Analysis3973 Words   |  16 Pagesmajor points and place it at the front of the report. The purpose Of an executive summary is to give the reader a brief glance at the critical points Of your report. Those aspects of the culture a reader should know to do business In the country but would not be expected to know or would ï ¬  nd different based On his or her SRC should be included in this summary. WHAT PRODUCT WHY SUCCESSFUL The physical size of Egypt, the enormous size and density of its urban populationRead MoreFixed Deposit Investment10502 Words   |  43 Pagesaffiliates. The investing firm may also qualify for an FDI if it owns voting power in a business enterprise operating in a foreign country. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Definition Foreign direct investment is that investment, which is made to serve the business interests of the investor in a company, which is in a different nation distinct from the investors country of origin. A parent business enterprise and its foreign affiliate are the two sides of the FDI relationship. Together they compriseRead MoreWal-Mar Global Expansion Strategy10037 Words   |  41 Pages __________ 2 Wal-Mart: Global Expansion Strategy ____________________________________________________________ _________ A. Introduction In the last couple of years, a number of major changes took place in the global hemisphere. Countries, earlier committed to tight governmental control of their economies, have redirected their political concepts and initiated drastic reforms in order to facilitate trade. The world has arrived in the global market place, at least in some terms. NotRead MoreThe Social Impact of Drug Abuse24406 Words   |  98 Pagescomparative data by country and geographical area; on how changes in the global economy have affected these developments; and on the monitoring of drug abuse by various agencies. Part two discusses the social impact of drug abuse and its consequences for families, health, education, crime and employment. Part three covers the interaction between drug abuse and development, including efforts by the international community to facilitate economic and social progress in developing countries. Development is

Inconsequential Rock Sub-Genre Glam Rock Essay - 1846 Words

Glam rock is usually viewed as an inconsequential rock sub-genre. It is often forgotten in the abundance of genres that originated in the 1970s, and it is often neglected completely as a major genre at all in America. Critics slammed the new genre, calling it hype-driven and plastic. One argument held that glam rock was typically seen as insignificant because it did not have a long life, nor did it capture the attention of the world. Glam rock was popular in the UK, but even there, it was short-lived and only popular amongst teens who missed out on the pop culture and hippie ideology of the late 1960s. Glam rock, then, may seem a genre that is worth forgetting, except that glam rock laid the foundations of the modern popular music†¦show more content†¦He sang African American blues music and performed it to white audiences. His popularity was incomparable, it reached every continent, and expanded the influence and ideas of what popular music could be. Renamed from rockabilly , the rock and roll genre was born and Elvis was â€Å"The King†. Along with this new wave of rock and roll was an artist by the name of Little Richard. He was an exuberant figure who commanded the stage. He drew attention to himself by wearing flashy outfits, mascara, and eyeliner. His overall performance was considered obscene by most Americans—a man presenting himself with feminine appearances was taboo in the 1950s. It was a social stigma that Americans did not shake until the 1980s when hair metal became popular. Little Richard’s song â€Å"Tutti Frutti†, set the bar for other musicians, and broadened the scope and the future of rock and roll. The impact Little Richard had on glam rockers is often stated as one of the most pivotal reasons for their interest in rock music. David Bowie was quoted, â€Å"I fell in love with The Little Richard Band.† He continued to elaborate, â€Å"I never heard something that lived in such bright colors in the air, it really just painted the whole room for me.† Figures like El vis and Little Richard, captured the attention of millions, and spurred on a new sense of creativity and theatricality. The 1960s built off rock and roll music of the 1950s and boasted a growing international popularity.

Effective Communication in the Workplace Free Essays

As a baby, you learn that if you cry and fuss, Mom and Dad will rush over to comfort you; however, as you mature, you realize that there are better ways of communicating. I will present my message here today on â€Å"Effective communication in the work place. † Communication in the work place is essential because first, communication skills prepare you to perform specific duties in the work place making you a better employee. We will write a custom essay sample on Effective Communication in the Workplace or any similar topic only for you Order Now Second, communication skills in the work place prepare you to exercise flexibility. Last, communication skills form better relationships and understanding amongst other employees and managers. Body I. Communication skills prepare you to perform specific duties in the workplace making you a better employee A. Good communication passes information along and if you can effectively communicate, then people understand you much better, and information you are trying to tell or receive will get across without being misunderstood. 1. Marsha Ludden states in a book he had written that, â€Å"if you can communicate effectively what you need or want, you are more likely to be successful in getting it. An example will be a bigger salary. 2. Effective communication also helps you to convince others to agree with you in a persuasive setting. B. Good communication helps you to think better which are essential to make you perform well when performing duties in the workplace. 1. In order to communicate effectively, you have to think ahead and organize your thoughts. 2. When performing job duties this teaches you not only how to learn how to organize, but how to plan ahead. II. Communication skills in the work place prepare you to exercise flexibility A. Communication in the workplace reflects key personality traits, as well as key competencies for success. Show yourself, your staff or your employer you have the necessary intellectual, creative and behavioral flexibility to handle what each work day brings. 1. Studies show to suggest positive aspects of a challenging situation. Examine how a change in a supplier, for instance, can improve a product you manufacture or a service your company provides. Resist insisting that a change cannot work, advises the University of Bradford, Career Development Services office. 2. Have a scheduled time with each department in your company. Add to your skills set to enable you to better understand new issues that may arise in each department. B. Find the secret of effective, easy performance to get more equip with difference task including other workers. 1. Implement team problem-solving measures. Meet with key staff members when changes arise. 2. Get brief insight and solutions from your team if, for example, a valued client decides not to interact in certain situations. III. Communication skills form better relationships and understanding amongst other employees and managers A. Good communication passes information along and if you can effectively communicate, then other employees understand you much better, and information you are trying to tell them will get across without being misunderstood. 1. This prevents arguments, especially between co-workers, explain your thoughts and feelings, and then you won’t misunderstand each other. 2. If you can effectively communicate, then you can get along better with other employers. Most arguments are caused by people not communicating effectively and not being able to negotiate with each other. B. Being respectful and using manners in the work place sets a great tone in the environment and forms better relationships with managers 1. Good listening skills are part of good communication; you need to understand what you’re manager is saying to you as well as to say what you want. 2. Communication often includes non-verbal clues such as tone of voice, facial expression, gestures, and body posture. Good comm unication includes being observant and focusing on the other person. Conclusion I. There is always room for improvement when it comes to communication skills. The more you practice by interacting with others, the better you will be. In addition, you will be better able to tell when you are getting your ideas across effectively, and how to improve if you are not. The better you are at communicating, the easier it will be to do your job and work with others- making the workplace more enjoyable, and making you a more successful employee. II. In the words of Tony Robbins, â€Å"To effectively communicate, we must realize that we are all different in the way we perceive the world and use this understanding as a guide to our communication with others. † How to cite Effective Communication in the Workplace, Papers

Made-Up Nixon Speech Essays - Presidency Of Richard Nixon

Made-Up Nixon Speech My fellow Americans, I come to you tonight to ask for a hand to lend in my aide. I know that a great number of the silent majority would like to see the Vietnam war to finally come to a close. And, because of my campaign promise, I am standing here tonight to inform you that I have a plan of action that I shall use to uphold that promise. But, I need your support. We have to come together as a country, as a whole, to back our troops in Vietnam. A nation that stands as one is very hard to say no to. And I shall use that to the fullest of its extent in my upcoming meeting in Paris. We must unite for peace as well as victory. To lose this war would be an upset to all of our country. It would be an upset to the people of this country, the soldiers that died for our cause, and an upset to the American Flag, our symbol of power and freedom. Therefore, we must all join forces as one to adapt and overcome this obsticle. As your president, I hold the key to ending this war and I shall use it. You can feel free to rest your mind and soul in knowing that the end is near. The fighting will soon cease and the Americans that gave their time, effort, and lives up shall be back on American soil to enjoy life here as we have all been living. The dark wave of war is soon to calm, leaving only memories in the heads of those who lived it and ink in history books to come. I thank you for your support and look forward to the long awaited process of moving on. Goodnight.. History Essays

The Peters Projection and the Mercator Map

The Peters Projection and the Mercator Map Proponents of the Peters projection map claim that their map is a good, fair, and non-racist view of the world. Theyre comparing their map to the almost-defunct Mercator map. Unfortunately, geographers and cartographers agree that neither map projection is appropriate for use as a map of our planet. The Mercator vs. Peters controversy is truly a moot point. Both maps are rectangular projections and are poor representations of the planet. But heres how each came to prominence and in most cases, misuse. The Peters Projection German historian and journalist Arno Peters called a press conference in 1973 to announce his new map projection that treated each country fairly by representing area accurately. The Peters projection map used a rectangular coordinate system that showed parallel lines of latitude and longitude. Skilled at marketing, Arno claimed that his map more fairly displayed third world countries than the popular Mercator projection map, which distorts and dramatically enlarges the size of Eurasian and North American countries.   While the Peters projection does (almost) represent the land of equal area equally, all map projections distort the shape of the earth, a sphere.   Peters Picks Up Popularity   Proponents of the Peters map were vociferous and demanded that organizations switch to the new, fairer map of the world. Even the United Nations Development Programme began using the Peters projection in its maps. But the popularity of the Peters Projection may have been due to a lack of knowledge about basic cartography.   Today, relatively few organizations use the map, yet the evangelizing continues.   Peters chose to compare his strange-looking map to the Mercator map because he knew that it was an inappropriate map of the earth. Defenders of the Peters projection claim that the Mercator projection distorts the size of countries and continents in the Northern Hemisphere and a  place like Greenland appears to be the same size as Africa, yet Africas land mass is actually fourteen times larger. These claims are certainly all true and correct. The Mercator map was never intended to be used as a wall map and by the time Peters started complaining about it, the Mercator map was well on its way out of fashion anyway. The Mercator Map The Mercator projection was developed in 1569 by Gerardus Mercator as a navigation tool. Like the Peters map, the grid is rectangular and lines of latitude and longitude are all parallel. The Mercator map was designed as an aid to navigators since straight lines on the Mercator projection are loxodromes or rhumb lines representing lines of constant compass bearing perfect for true direction. If a navigator wishes to sail from Spain to the West Indies, all he has to do is draw a line between the two points and the navigator knows which compass direction to continually sail to reach their destination. The Mercator map has always been a poor projection for a world map, yet due to its rectangular grid and shape, geographically illiterate publishers found it useful for wall maps, atlas maps, and maps in books and newspapers published by non-geographers. It became the standard map projection in the mental map of most westerners. The argument against the Mercator projection by the pro-Peters folks usually discusses its advantage for colonial powers by making Europe look a lot larger than it actually is on the globe. Mercator No Longer Widely Used Fortunately, over the past few decades, the Mercator projection has fallen into disuse from many reliable sources. In a 1980s study, two British geographers discovered that the Mercator map did not exist among dozens of atlases examined. But some major map companies still produce wall maps using the Mercator projection.   In 1989, seven North American professional geographic organizations (including the American Cartographic Association, National Council for Geographic Education, Association of American Geographers, and the National Geographic Society) adopted a resolution that called for a ban on all rectangular coordinate maps. The resolution called for the complete elimination of the use of the Mercator as well as the Peters projection. But what to replace them with? Alternatives to Mercator and Peters Non-rectangular maps have been around for a long time. The National Geographic Society adopted the Van der Grinten projection, which encloses the world in a circle, in 1922. Then in 1988, they switched to the Robinson projection, on which the high latitudes are less distorted in size (but more so in shape). Also in 1998, the Society began using the Winkel Tripel projection, which provides a slightly better balance between size and shape than the Robinson projection. Compromise projections like the Robinson or Winkle Tripel present the world in a more globe-like look and are strongly encouraged by geographers. These are the types of projections youll see on maps of continents or of the world today.

How to Write an SAT Essay, Step by Step

How to Write an SAT Essay, Step by Step SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips SAT Essay writing requires a very specific set of skills. It's a little daunting to think that you only have 50 minutes to read a passage, analyze it, and then write an essay. But don't worry- getting a top SAT essay score is within everyone's reach! The most reliable way to score high is to follow our SAT essay template for every essay and to prepare well beforehand. In this article, we'll show you how to write a great SAT essay. We'll take you through all the steps you need to follow when writing the SAT essay to show you how you can put together a killer essay yourself. If you haven't already, read our article on 15 tips for improving your SAT essay. We'll be using the lessons from that article here in our essay example. Come back to this article afterward. Overview: Before You Start Writing We'll plan and write an essay in response to the sample SAT essay prompt below, using the tips we've shared. If you follow our plan below and practice it to fluency for your 50-minute essay, you're guaranteed a 6/6/6 or above on the SAT essay. Let's start by reading and understanding the prompt: Write an essay in which you explain how Peter S. Goodman builds an argument to persuade his audience that news organizations should increase the amount of professional foreign news coverage provided to people in the United States. In your essay, analyze how Goodman uses one or more of the features listed in the box above (or features of your own choice) to strengthen the logic and persuasiveness of his argument. Be sure that your analysis focuses on the most relevant features of the passage. Source: The Official SAT Study Guide; the article referenced in the prompt can also be found (unmodified) online for free here. Hint: Read The Prompt Before Reading The Passage As we mentioned in our 15 SAT essay tips article, the author's argument that you'll be discussing is in the first line of the prompt: "Write an essay in which you explain how Peter S. Goodman builds an argument to persuade his audience that news organizations should increase the amount of professional foreign news coverage provided to people in the United States." This is the argument you need to deconstruct in your essay. Writing an SAT essay consists of four major stages: Reading: 5-10 minutes Analyzing Planning: 7-12 minutes Writing: 25-35 minutes Revising: 2-3 minutes There’s a wide time range for a few of these stages, since people work at different rates. Some people, for instance, will be a lot faster at reading than they are at planning, while it might be the other way around for others. You'll need to find the timing combination that works best for you through a little bit of trial and error. Writing takes the large bulk of the 50 minutes, but reading and analyzing and planning are equally important parts of the SAT essay writing process. Stage 1: Read the Passage (5-10 minutes) There are a couple of different ways to read through the passage on the SAT essay, each with their own advantages. No matter which strategy you use, though, make sure to keep an eye on the time so you don’t run out of time for analyzing and writing! If you can just read straight through the passage without getting too hung up on details, go for it. This strategy works well for students who are naturally fast readers and don't have trouble getting distracted under time pressure. If you’re a slow reader, get anxious about reading in timed situations, or find that the subject matter of the article is confusing, you might want to try skimming the article. You can use similar strategies to those you might use on SAT reading passages. In either case, you'll want to make sure you get a good idea of the way the passage is laid out before you do a detailed pass through it. Why? You'll probably end up reading through parts of the passage multiple times to make sure you fully understand it. Giving the passage a quick read-through before you do any detailed analysis can help cement which parts you'll want to come back to and which parts aren't as important. When you go back do a more detailed reading of the article, sure to keep an eye out for argument-building techniques and to try to remain objective. You may want to circle or underline examples of these techniques as you read, which leads right into the next stage of SAT essay writing. Stage 2: Analyze and Plan (7-12 minutes) Many students resist planning on the SAT Essay because it already feels like there's not enough time to read and write, let alone take away some of that precious time for planning. But take it from us: you're better off with a plan. This is because the SAT essay graders look for a clear structure: introduction, conclusion, and specific evidence in between. It's almost impossible to create this kind of structure and still write quickly without a plan You can write all over the passage as you analyze it – circle or underline key points, scribble in the margins, etc. This way, when you go back to quote the author in your essay, you’re not searching the text for the quote or supporting detail. One way to mark up your passage is by numbering your examples and then circling and numbering any evidence from the passage you’ll be referring to in each paragraph. Another option is to write a brief description of the details from the passage in your planning and outlining, along with the location of the details. Taking this time during the analyzing and planning stage will end up saving you time in the long run. I personally find it helpful to take notes as I read the passage and then organize them into an essay outline. Below are the TOTALLY LEGIBLE notes I took as I was analyzing the passage for the essay prompt: As I was reading the passage, I scribbled down key details and the way I’d use them to support my thesis in the essay. For instance, I wrote, â€Å"last paragraph – We need†¦we need (x4) - overall use of â€Å"we† drawing reader into his POV† in my notes. This describes what I want to talk about (the author's use of the word "We" and "We need"), what it means (it draws the reader into agreeing with his point of view), and where this is illustrated in the passage (last full paragraph). I then organized these notes into some semblance of an outline I could use to plan the organization of my essay. Here's a (rough) transcription of my outline: IntroFacts/evidence-first paragraph stats and facts - to show issue is real, lend credibility-by not explaining has a couple of effects-forces reader to draw own conclusions/think about which draws them into the argument-alt makes reader look to author in rest o/article (b/c had facts at first + so can be trusted)Reasoning-acknowledges counterargument-so very easily could’ve gone on a rant abt twitter which would’ve undercut argument, disconnected from reader-instead, provides examples of when social media has been helpful (Arab Spring)-counterargument is more powerful as a result - take his â€Å"unease† more seriouslyDiction/style-â€Å"We† draws reader in, makes author sympathetic (not lecturing)-contrasts b/t ideal + real, b/t prof + amateur engage reader in the comparison, force to admit author is right-language elsewhere reinforces the idea that prof journalism under siege, words like â€Å"assailing† and â€Å"eroding†Conclusion You can see that in the section labeled â€Å"Diction,† the first point is "We" draws reader in, makes author sympathetic (not lecturing)". You can combine these two steps if you’re comfortable enough doing it; I just find that separating them takes the pressure off to make sure that I take notes in an organized fashion. Stage 3: Write Until 2-3 Minutes Are Left (25-35 minutes) Once you have your analysis and planning done, it’s time to write like the wind. If you’ve taken notes and planned effectively, you should be able to jump right in and not have to go back and forth too much between the text and your essay. Body Paragraphs For most people, writing body paragraphs is easier than writing introductions. If this is the case, start with the body paragraphs, and just leave 10 lines or so at the top of the page to add the introduction later. One example should take up 1-2 paragraphs. Let's use a methodical structure to try out a body paragraph about how the author uses a counterargument to add support to his own claim. The sample paragraphs below are all taken from an essay that I handwrote (and planned) in the 50-minute time limit. Sample Body Paragraph Start with a transition: In addition to employing facts to his argument’s advantage, Goodman also cunningly discusses the counterargument to his position. Then (briefly) introduce your topic: By writing about how social media and man-on-the-ground reporting has assisted the state of foreign news reporting, Goodman heads off naysayers at the pass. Explain the example’s context and relationship to your thesis: It would have been very easy for Goodman to ignore the whole issue of citizen reporting, but the resultant one-sided argument would have been much less convincing. Instead, Goodman acknowledges things like â€Å"the force of social media during the Arab Spring, as activists convened and reacted to changing circumstances.† As a result, when he partially refutes this counterargument, stating the â€Å"unease† many longtime profession correspondents feel over the trend of ‘citizen journalism’ feel, the reader agrees. Clearly state, in one sentence, how it is proof of your thesis: Knowing that Goodman takes the power of social media seriously will make the reader more inclined, in turn, to take Goodman’s concern about the limits of social media seriously. When you put all these pieces together, it’s a winning body paragraph. We start with a smooth transition from the introduction (or previous body paragraph), give enough background to understand why the example is relevant, and then connect it back to the thesis for the knockout punch. Try to read through this again so the structure really makes sense to you. Notice how this is formulaic – every one of your body paragraphs can be written in this structure, and you’ll get an excellent score! Having a structure like this will make many students less anxious about the new SAT essay. You’d then go through the above process with the other 1-2 examples. In some cases, one very good example of the way the author builds his/her argument can be enough, if you can write 2-3 relevant paragraphs about it without repeating yourself. But having two examples is usually safer, because it gives you a better chance to show how well you've understood the passage. Introduction and Conclusion After finishing your body paragraphs, don't forget your introduction and conclusion paragraphs. Both should briefly mention the author’s argument and the examples you're using to support your thesis, but everything else is up to you. Some students write about the concept in general, and others just try to restate the thesis in different ways. Even a couple of sentences is better than nothing- try to scribble something in even if you're running out of time. Sample Introduction Paragraph In the article â€Å"Foreign News at a Crisis Point,† Peter S. Goodman eloquently argues the point that news organizations should increase the amount of professional foreign news coverage provided to people in the United States. Goodman builds his argument by using facts and evidence, addressing the counterarguments, and couching it all in persuasive and compelling language. Stage 4: Revise (2-3 Minutes) Much like planning on the SAT essay, revision seems unnecessary to most students. But trust us, it will help your score. There are two reasons for this: Revising helps you change up your vocabulary and fix mistakes and/or illegible words If you know you’ll revise, you can write much faster because you don’t have to worry about making it perfect On the SAT essay, you can cross out words that you don’t want the grader to read. You don’t need to waste time erasing them, unless you want to replace them with something else. So what do you do when you revise? Well, let’s take the body paragraph we wrote earlier and revise it. New text is bolded. In addition to employing facts to his argument’s advantage, Goodman also cunningly discusses the counterargument to his position. By writing about how social media and man-on-the-ground reporting has assisted had some positive impact on the state of foreign news reporting, Goodman heads off naysayers at the pass. It would have been very easy for Goodman to ignore elide over the whole issue of citizen reporting, but the resultant one-sided argument would have been much less convincing. Instead, Goodman acknowledges things like â€Å"the force of social media during the Arab Spring, as activists convened and reacted to changing circumstances.† As a result, when he partially refutes this counterargument, stating his the â€Å"unease† many for longtime profession correspondents feel over the trend of ‘citizen journalism’ feel, the reader agrees. is much more likely to believe him. After all, Goodman acknowledges that social media does have some power. Kn owing that Goodman takes the power of social media seriously will make the reader more inclined, in turn, to take Goodman’s concern about the limits of social media seriously. At this point, you’ll have a complete winning essay. Want to see what this essay looks like put all together? Read our article on how to get a perfect 8 on the SAT essay. Our goal here was to show you how formulaic the SAT essay can be. By making the essay more predictable, you’ll go into every test with a game plan in mind, making the essay much easier (and less scary!). Information Fall-Out: Buckminster Fuller's World Game by Columbia GSAPP, used under CC BY 2.0/Cropped and resized from original. "Guys guys guys! I figured out a plan for the SAT essay!" Where to Go From Here Now you know how to write an SAT essay. To put this information to good use, you need to practice with real SAT essay prompts. We’ve written the most comprehensive guide to SAT essay topics and prompts here. Aiming for a perfect SAT essay score? Read our guides to get strategies on how to get an 8/8/8 on your SAT essay. And if you haven’t read our 15 SAT essay tips article yet, do so now! Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points? Check out our best-in-class online SAT prep classes. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your SAT score by 160 points or more. Our classes are entirely online, and they're taught by SAT experts. 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