Prompt
Think carefully about the issue presented in the following excerpt and assignment below.
A mistakenly cynical view of human behavior holds that people are primarily driven by selfish motives: the desire for wealth, fo power, or for fame. Yet history gives us many examples of individuals who have sacrificed their own welfare for a cause or a principle that they regarded as more important than their own lives.Conscience-that powerful inner voice that tells us what is right and what is wrong-can be a more compelling force than money, power, or fame.
Assignment
Is conscience a more powerful motivator than money, fame, or power? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your readings, studies, experience, and observations.
SAT Sample Essay - Score of 6 SAT作文6分范文
As society toils onward into its dreams of the future, the progress that accompanies this movement may be tainted by individual motives of avarice. However, as seen in various fields such as art, history, and science, the human conscience will limit the motivation of greed and inspire good works for the sake of morality. Ones sense of right and wrong forever impels one to be a decent, thoughtful person.
Such people widely populate the idealistic field of literature. Though novels may be rife with villainous, self-serving characters, only the heroic and moral personas emerge triumphant. For example, the well-known literary character Huckleberry Finn, from Twains Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, rescinds his claim to a sizable fortune if possessing such wealth would diminish his safety. Furthermore, Huck will risk himself to ensure the security of his close comrade Jim. His loyalty, a facet of ones conscience, compels him to sacrifice his safety to ensure the well-being of others, which is more than money has accomplished in motivating Huck. Thus, a person, however fictional, considers the rewards of acting on conscience to be more fruitful than to be possessed by greed.
Although such characters are fictional, the same motives of charity and morality have inspired numerous people in history to set aside their desires. Lyndon B. Johnson, Former President of the United States, pushed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 through Congress motivated by conscience and a desire to correct the immorality of racism in society. Though some Senators stridently opposed such a bill, the power of motivation by conscience impassioned Johnson to strive even harder to remain loyal to the American precepts of equality. Such is fruition of conscientious actions.
Though the great figures of history seem out of reach in their stature, as an individual I am faced with moral dilemmas rather often. For example, I have been offered more weighty positions on the newspaper, but as a rule, I have always refused when there was someone better qualified than I. Consequently, their talents result in a more improved issue, thereby increasing the benefit for all.
There in lies the reason why we are compelled by conscience. Money, fame and power are fleeting and insubstantial, for they can never mend the integrity sacrificed to obtain them. It is only when we act in the name of what is right that all of our possible talents may benefit ourselves, our peers, and our ideals.
Score Explanation SAT写作6分范文点评
This response demonstrates clear and consistent mastery. The writer effectively and insightfully develops the point of view that the human conscience will limit the motivation of greed and inspire good works for the sake of morality. By focusing on fictional, historical, and personal examples of conscience as a compelling force, the writer demonstrates outstanding critical thinking. The first example is the fictional character of Huckleberry Finn, whose loyalty, a facet of ones conscience, compels him to sacrifice his safety to ensure the well-being of others. The writer then moves to the historical figure Lyndon B. Johnson, who pushed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 through Congress motivated by conscience and a desire to correct the immorality of racism in society. Finally, the writer offers the personal example of declining more weighty positions on the newspaper . . . when there was someone better qualified. This essay organizes these clearly appropriate examples well, demonstrating clear coherence
and a smooth progression of ideas. The essay exhibits skillful use of language and demonstrates meaningful variety in sentence structure . Thus, this outstanding essay receives a score of 6.
EQ让你的面试锦上添花
2010年英语口语之一---在家中3
美国口语突破教程 第六天
2010年英语四级口语必备:纯正美语发音秘诀篇(五)
08年CET备考:科学聊天法与句子库法学习英语口语
2010年英语口语之一---在家中4
08年CET介词用法口诀4-CET口语
歧路亡羊英语小故事
六级改错命题规律及解题步骤
英语辅导:完美口语三步走汇编
美国口语突破教程 第一天
英语辅导:完美口语三步走(三)
英语面试题:为什么喜欢这个工作
口语辅导:完美口语三步走(一)
英语辅导:完美口语三步走(二)
08年大学英语四级口语:教你如何听懂老外说话
张晓楠:如何提高英语水平之口语篇(一)
张晓楠:如何提高英语水平之口语篇(二)
关于运气的英语小故事(附翻译)
08年英语四级口语考试必背高频词汇表II
英语小故事:杨布打狗(附翻译)
CET口语考试简介
美国口语突破教程 第七天
如何提高英语水平之口语篇汇编
2010年常用大学英语四级口语绝佳句型三
美国口语突破教程 第十天
2010年常用大学英语四级口语绝佳句型一
最常用英语口语
09年四六级听力备考的四个方法
2010年6月大学英语228句四级口语要素4
不限 |
英语教案 |
英语课件 |
英语试题 |
不限 |
不限 |
上册 |
下册 |
不限 |