SAT写作真题分类整理.doc

一、思维类
1.1 Past knowledge vs. new solutions
1. How valuable is history for our generation? On the surface this question is not as easy as it once might have been, for there is a widespread belief that history may no longer be relevant to modern life. We live, after all, in an age that appears very different from the world that came before us.
Stephen Vaughn, "History: Is It Relevant?"
Assignment:
Is knowledge of the past no longer useful for us today?
【2005-12】

2. People are often told to obey the rules. In reality, these rules are not permanent: what is right at a given point in time may be declared wrong at another time and vice versa. The world changes so rapidly that rules are out-of-date almost as soon as they are created. People cannot rely on established guidelines to determine what they should and should not do.
Adapted from Gregory D. Foster
Assignment:
Are established rules too limited to guide people in real-life situations?
【2006-6】

3. Newness has become our obsession. Novelty is more interesting to us than continuing with whatever is "tried and true." We discard the old so we can acquire the most recent model, the latest version, the newest and most improved formula. Often, we replace what is useful just because it is no longer new. Not only with material goods but also with cultural values, we prefer whatever is the latest trend.
Assignment:
Should people always prefer new things, ideas, or values to those of the past?
【2008-1】

4. If an old tradition is still around today, we can assume that it deserves to remain in existence. Well-established customs, styles that are still popular, and ideas that people still find sensible survive because these traditions are strong enough to survive. Continuity guarantees quality. Old-fashioned hospitality, old-fashioned politeness, old-fashioned honor in business—all these traditions have qualities of survival. Fortunately, these will always be with us.
Adapted from Jacob Braude, Jacob Braude's Second Encyclopedia of Stories, Quotations, and Anecdotes
Assignment:
Do all established traditions deserve to remain in existence?
【2008-11】

5. We are often urged to solve problems by ignoring traditional approaches and by finding solutions that are innovative or unconventional. We are encouraged to be creative and to trust that a new way of thinking will yield new insights. But innovation may be impractical and unnecessary. The best ways of fixing problems are often the tried–and–true ways.
Assignment:
Is it always necessary to find new solutions to problems?
【2007-11】

6. The philosopher John Locke once said that new ideas are usually opposed for no other reason than that people are unfamiliar with them. Locke thought people should not be suspicious of new ideas. He may have been right. After all, people once opposed the idea that the Earth is round. Still, people should not accept new ideas simply because they are new. It is foolish not to question new ideas.
Assignment:
Should new ideas always be questioned?
【2009.11】

1.2 Creativity/originality vs. conformity
1. There is no progress unless someone comes up with a new way of looking at things, of trying things that have never been done or thought of before. We cannot move forward by looking backward to old customs and past experience. There can be no advancement or improvement unless there are people who look forward in pursuit of the new and untried.
Assignment:
Does progress depend on people with new ideas rather than on people whose ideas are based on the current way of doing things?
【2005-5】

2. Conflict is not necessarily bad, and it does not necessarily indicate a failed interaction. It is a signal, a message that says, “Things aren’t working around here. We’ve got to do something different.” Thus, conflict can be a catalyst-a motivating force-encouraging people to interact and communicate in ways that are more satisfying. Conflict can actually benefit people by pushing them to make necessary changes.
Adapted from Beverly Potter, From Conflict to Cooperation
Assignment:
Is conflict helpful?
【2005-11】

3. The free expression of thoughts and opinions is one of humanity’s most precious rights. Every citizen must be able to speak, write, and publish freely, provided that he or she is held accountable for the abuse of this liberty in cases determined by the law.
Adapted from Thomas Paine, Rights of Man
Assignment:
Is it necessary to limit or put restrictions on freedom of thought and expression?
【2005-12】

4. Sometimes it is necessary to challenge what people in authority claim to be true. Although some respect for authority is, no doubt, necessary in order for any group or organization to function, questioning the people in charge-even if they are experts or leaders in their fields-makes us better thinkers. It forces all concerned to defend old ideas and decisions and to consider new ones. Sometimes it can even correct old errors in thought and put an end to wrong actions.
Assignment:
Is it important to question the ideas and decisions of people in positions of authority?
【2006-10】

5. All people judge or criticize the ideas and actions of others. At times, these criticisms hurt or embarrass the people receiving them. Other criticisms seem to be intended to make the critics appear superior. And yet criticism is essential to our success as individuals and as a society.
Adapted from Ken Petress, "Constructive Criticism: A Tool for Improvement"
Assignment:
Is criticism—judging or finding fault with the ideas and actions of others—essential for personal well-being and social progress?
【2007-11】

6. Think carefully about the issue presented in the following excerpt and the assignment below.
It is better to try to be original than to merely imitate others. People should always try to say, write, think, or create something new. There is little value in merely repeating what has been done before. People who merely copy or use the ideas and inventions of others, no matter how successful they may be, have never achieved anything significant.
Assignment:
Is it always better to be original than to imitate or use the ideas of others?
【2008-01】

7. In some circumstances we are encouraged to conform—to follow others, to do and think what everyone else is doing and thinking. In other circumstances, however, we are told to be individuals and are reminded that most people we consider great are not afraid to be different. Conformity may be appropriate in day-to- day life, but we should save our highest praise for people who choose to be unique.
Assignment:
Should originality always be more highly praised than conformity?
【2010-10】

8. From the time people are very young, they are urged to get along with others, to try to "fit in." Indeed, people are often rewarded for being agreeable and obedient. But this approach is misguided because it promotes uniformity instead of encouraging people to be unique and different. Differences among people give each of us greater perspective and allow us to make better judgments.
Assignment:
Is it more valuable for people to fit in than to be unique and different
【2007-3】

9. A society composed of men and women who are not bound by convention—in other words, they do not act according to what others say or do—is far more lively than one in which all people behave alike. When each person's character is developed individually and differences of opinion are acceptable, it is beneficial to interact with new people because they are not mere replicas of those whom one has already met.
Adapted from Bertrand Russell, The Conquest of Happiness
Assignment:
Is it better for a society when people act as individuals rather than copying the ideas and opinions of others?
【2008-6】

10. A requirement for membership in any group is conformity. Members must agree on such vital issues as how decisions will be made, who will serve as leaders, and how much freedom group members will have. The quality of decision making, however, is better when groups encourage nonconformity and disagreement among their members. Although it sometimes creates disorder and conflict, disagreement may prevent powerful majorities from making mistakes.www.liuxue.la
Assignment:
Do groups that encourage nonconformity and disagreement function better than those that discourage it?
【2011-6】

1.3 Personal view vs. common view
1. Alone we can afford to be wholly whatever we are and to feel whatever we feel absolutely. With others we are busy wondering what does my companion see or think of this, and what do I think of this, and what do I think of it? The original impact of our feelings gets lost or reduced.
Adapted from May Sarton, The Rewards of Living a Solitary Life
Assignment:
Does worrying too much about other people's opinions prevent us from seeing things clearly?
【2005-5】

2. In order to be the most productive and successful people that we are capable of being, we must be willing to ignore the opinions of others. It is only when we are completely indifferent to others' opinions of us—when we are not concerned about how others think of us—that we can achieve our most important goals.
Assignment:
Are people more likely to be productive and successful when they ignore the opinions of others?
【2006-12】

3. Beauty is not a quality in people or in objects themselves. It exists in the mind that perceives those objects, and each mind perceives beauty differently. To seek real beauty, in some absolute sense, is pointless. Where one person sees beauty, another may even see the opposite. For this reason, we all ought to accept our own perceptions of who or what is beautiful, and not be influenced  by the perceptions of others.
Adapted from David Hume, “Of the Standard of Taste”
Assignment:
Should our perceptions of beauty be influenced by the perceptions of beauty of other people?
【2005-11】

4. We do not take the time to determine right from wrong. Reflecting on the difference between right and wrong is hard work. It is so much easier to follow the crowd, going along with what is popular rather than risking the disapproval of others by voicing an objection of any kind.
Adapted from Stephen J. Carter, Integrity
Assignment:
Is it always best to determine one's own views of right and wrong, or can we benefit from following the crowd?
【2007-5】

5. The first problem for all of us is not to learn but to unlearn. We hold on to ideas that were accepted in the past, and we are afraid to give them up. Preconceptions about what is right or wrong, true or false, good or bad are embedded so deeply in our thinking that we honestly may not know that they are there. Whether it's women's role in society or the role of our country in the world, the old assumptions just don't work anymore.
Adapted from Gloria Steinem, "A New Egalitarian Lifestyle"
Assignment:
Do people need to "unlearn," or reject, many of their assumptions and ideas?
【2007-12】

6. We must seriously question the idea of majority rule. The majority grinned and jeered when Columbus said the world was round. The majority threw him into a dungeon for his discoveries. Where is the logic in the notion that the opinion held by a majority of people should have the power to influence our decisions?
Assignment:
Is the opinion of the majority-in government or in any other circumstance-a poor guide?
【2005-3】

7. When someone has the same ideas or views as most people do, we tend to believe that the person is reasonable and correct. Often, however, views that are considered reasonable or commonsensical are anything but sensible. Many widely held views regarding current events, science, education, arts and literature, and many other topics ultimately prove to be wrong. The fact that an idea or view is widespread—held by many people—does not make it right.
Assignment:
Are widely held views often wrong, or are such views more likely to be correct?
【2008-6】

8. So-called common sense determines what people should wear, whom they should respect, which rules they should follow, and what kind of life they should lead. Common sense is considered obvious and natural, too sensible to question. But people's common sense decisions may（更多考试资讯尽在 turn out to be wrong, even if they are thought to be correct according to the judgment of vast majorities of people.
Adapted from Alain de Botton, The Consolations of Philosophy
Assignment:
Can common sense be trusted and accepted, or should it be questioned?
【2009-6】

1.4 其他
1. It is rare to find an objective and independent viewpoint on style, literature, politics, or any other matter. Many people's opinions are formed through their associations with others. It is our nature to conform; conformity is a force that few can successfully resist. We give in to the human instinct to go along with the crowd and to have its approval.
Adapted from Mark Twain
Assignment:
Do we tend to accept the opinions of others instead of developing our own independent ideas?

2. Given the importance of human creativity, one would think it should have a high priority among our concerns. But if we look at the reality, we see a different picture. Basic scientific research is minimized in favor of immediate practical applications. The arts are increasingly seen as dispensable luxuries. Yet as competition heats up around the globe, exactly the opposite strategy is needed.
Adapted from Mihaly Csikszentmihaly
Assignment
Is creativity needed more than ever in the world today?
【2005-3】

3. Most people are so impressed by facts and objectivity that they do not appreciate the use of imagination. They worry that our imaginations get us away from reality, distort our views and perspectives, and, worst of all, are unscientific. As a result, using our imagination and other related activities such as appreciating art or music or being creative are often considered the "frosting"—the nice extras in life—rather than vital pursuits that are crucial to everyone.
Adapted from Rollo May, The Courage to Create
Assignment:
Is imagination less valuable than facts and objectivity?
【2010-11】

Example:
Vujicic, 3 Idiots, Henry Ford, Copernicus, William Harvey, Steve Jobs, Martine Luther King, racial discrimination, gender discrimination, gay marriage…

二、成功类
2.1 Factors in achieving success
1. Success in life is largely a matter of luck. It has little correlation with merit. And in all fields of life there have always been people of great merit who did not succeed.
Karl Popper, Popper Selections
As Colin Powell said, “there are no secrets to success. Don’t waste time looking for them. Success is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.”
Adapted from Barry Farber, “Selling Points”
Assignment:
Is success in life earned or do people succeed because they are lucky?
【2005-10】

2. Possibly because we live