Writing to Your Reader

Writing to Your Reader Would you consider giving a speech to a group without first knowing who they were and what they expected from you? The same logic applies to the written word, from resumes and cover letters to romance novels and sales brochures.While oral presentations have the added benefit of facial expressions, hand gestures, listener feedback and even visual aids, written communications must rely solely on their words for the desired response or effect. For that reason, the most important research you must obtain for everything you write is the information about your audience.Whether the subject of your document is of your own choosing or a scholastic assignment, before you put pen to paper, you must first ascertain the purpose of your communication and the identity of your reader(s) by finding answers to as many of the following questions as possible:Is your audience primarily male or female? This is important in your choice of words and phrases, imparting feelings or opinions, drawing conclusio ns, etc., as depending upon your topic and your purpose, you might elicit more positive responses if your document is tailored toward one sex or the other.What native nationality is your audience? As an example, if you are writing in English as your second language to a group that is primarily English-speaking, you should definitely have an English-speaking associate review your document.What is the age group? From childrens books to advertisements for denture adhesive, always determine the probable age of your major audience so that your words are read, not ignored or discounted as either too difficult to understand or too childish.What is the average annual income? Even a guess will help you determine word choices, tone, and possibly subject matter if you know whether you are writing to college students on a limited budget or to business executives who fly First Class and drive a Mercedes.Are you writing to please, persuade, or inform your reader(s)? Your purpose may change depend ing upon your audience, but you should always begin your writing with an idea of what you want to accomplish based on the identity of your reader(s).Under what conditions will your document be read (i.e., at home, in a classroom, in a magazine or newspaper)? The length and content of your writing may depend on where you expect your audience to be when they read your document. A casual setting like the kitchen table lends itself to more casual wording and more detail, while a teacher may have many papers to read and may be looking for immediate positive or negative reasons for a grade.Does your reader want to read your document? You must determine if your audience is looking forward to reading your document (i.e., someone buying your novel), and if it is a requirement or necessity (i.e., a teacher grading your essay or a consumer looking for a low price).What response do you expect (i.e., a good grade, the sale of a product, a phone call)? No matter what you are writing â€" advertisi ng copy, a short story, a personal statement, an essay â€" always keep in mind the end result you expect, and when you read your final draft, ask yourself, If I were my audience, would I respond as intended?Knowing your reader(s) actually makes writing easier, forcing you to focus rather than just throw words on a page, and ensuring that your final document has a much better chance of succeeding for any purpose. Before you begin to write, take a few minutes to explore your readers mind and environment; youll discover that your written communications will be better organized, more interesting and well-received.

Examples Of Cruelty In To Kill A Mockingbird - 779 Words

It seems that the world has become so cruel to itself. Have you felt it? In the book, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, there are examples of cruelty as shown by the character, Boo Radley. â€Å"‘Scout, I think I’m beginning to understand why Boo Radley’s stayed shut up in the house all this time†¦ it’s because he wants to stay inside.’† (Lee, 227) This quote comes from Jem Finch, talking about why he thought Boo stayed away from the rest of the world. There are also examples of cruelty shown by the characters Tom Robinson and Dolphus Raymond. Boo Radley has other examples of cruelty in the world, besides the one used already. â€Å"Atticus was right. One time he said you never really know a man until you stand is his shoes and walk around†¦show more content†¦Dolphus Raymond is a smaller, but still prominent, case of cruelty towards the world. He prefers to be around black people, even though he is white. To cover up his true motives, he drinks a substance in a paper bag. We don’t know what it is until Dill takes a drink out of it. â€Å"‘Here,’ he said, offering Dill his paper sack with straws in it. ‘Take a good sip, it’ll quieten you.’ Dill sucked on the straws, smiled, and pulled at length. ‘Hee hee,’ said Mr Raymond, evidently taking delight in corrupting a child. ‘Dill, you watch out, now,’ I warned. Dill released the straws and grinned. ‘Scout, it’s nothing but Coca-Cola.’† (Lee, 200) In this quote, D ill drinks out of Mr Raymond’s paper bag, and found that it was Coca-Cola. It was then he explained to them that he drank out of a paper bag so people thought he was a drunk and couldn’t change his ways. In reality, he choses to live with black people to show them that not all white people are as cruel as they have come to believe. In conclusion, the book â€Å"To Kill a Mockingbird† by Harper Lee has many examples of cruelty in the world, as shown by the characters Boo Radley, Tom Robinson, and Dolphus Raymond. Boo Radley’s case is more general, throughout the entire world. Because of the cruelty he sees, he decides to stay inside his house, not because he’s forced to, which is common belief in the neighborhood. Tom Robinson’s case is towards blackShow MoreRelatedTo Kill A Mockingbird And Kindred Essay735 Words   |  3 Pagesrace or ethnic identity† (Ashe). Throughout the novels, â€Å"To Kill A Mockingbird† and â€Å"Kindred†, the authors address important issues like social and racial injustice, racism, and discrimination in our history. In â€Å"To Kill A Mockingbird†, we follow young Scout and Jeremy as they began to discover the true meaning of discrimination. In â€Å"Kindred†, we follow a young woman as she travels back in time as a sla ve and discovers the true cruelty of racism. Although these novels were set in different time periodsRead MoreImpact Of Racism In To Kill A Mockingbird910 Words   |  4 PagesIn Harper Lee’s book â€Å"To Kill a Mockingbird† Jem , Scout , and Dill live in Maycomb , Alabama around the time of the 1930’s they all were struggling through racism and poor family’s trying to get by. Harper Lee’s first and only novel â€Å"To Kill A Mockingbird† was published during the civil right movements. In this book Jem, Scout, and Dill tend to have courage and loyalty through life and in their relationship toward one another . Jem and Scout are brother and sister, Dill is a friend of the familyRead MoreThe Figurative Meaning Of A Mockingbird By Harper Lee1473 Words   |  6 Pagesinnocence? Some might say innocence is being credulous or possessing a lack of corruption. In a way, mockingbirds are a representation of this magnificent innocence and purity. These harmonious birds live day by day, singing their hearts out, and doing no harm to anyone or anything. The Pulitzer Prize winning novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee explores the figurative meaning of a mockingbird. The narrator, Jean Louise Scout Finch, is a bright, young, and innocent girl from the small SouthernRead More Symbolic Mockingbirds Essay940 Words   |  4 PagesSymbolic Mockingbirds Symbolism is used extensively in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird. The theme of prejudice in the novel can be best perceived through the symbol of the mockingbird. Atticus advised his children that if they went hunting for birds to shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hitem, but remember its a sin to kill a mockingbird (96). Miss Maudie explains this further by saying that mockingbirds dont do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They dont eat up peoplesRead MoreHarper Lees To Kill a Mockingbird Essay567 Words   |  3 PagesDuring the 1930s prejudice and racism was spread through the U.S. For example in Harper Lees To Kill A Mockingbird, the small town of Maycomb struggles with these aspects. Each character of the novel has a strong personality. Scout Finch is tough, always has an opinion, and is a tomboy. On the other hand Boo Radley stays hidden most of the time, but we all know he is actually a friend to Jem and Scout. Then there is Tom Robinson, a hardworking, strong , and innocent man. But what do all these charactersRead MoreThe Setting Of Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee1354 Words   |  6 PagesLyons Title: To Kill a Mockingbird Author: Harper Lee Setting: The setting of To Kill a Mockingbird is a small town in south Alabama called Maycomb County in the early 1930s. Point of View: Harper Lee s first, only novel is written in first person due to the fact we see the whole story through Scout s perspective. Theme: One of the crucial themes that Lee based the novel on was racism, which was an extremely controversial topic at the time the book was published. An example of this is whenRead MoreKill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee1200 Words   |  5 Pagesyoung woman in Alabama sat down to tell this tale of a sleepy Southern town based off her own home, little did she know that it would become a powerful and timeless novel, becoming renowned as a piece of classic literature. Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird tells a story of a childhood in the deep South. Written in first person account, the story is told through the young eyes of Jean Louise â€Å"Scout† Finch. It tells of the childly endeavors to lure the fascinating Boo Radley out of his solitaryRead MoreTo Kill A Mockingbird Political Theme Essay1097 Words   |  5 PagesPolitical Themes Movie Review In the American classic 1962 movie, â€Å"To Kill a Mockingbird,† which is based on the Harper Lee novel by the same title, the movie explores and condemns the controversial political theme, especially controversial at the time of the movie, racism. Racism is defined as Prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that ones own race is superior, according to the Oxford Dictionary. Even though racism is the politicalRead MoreTheme Of Nature In To Kill A Mockingbird1394 Words   |  6 PagesOften times, nature and the organic things of life come together to form a representation or symbolic message to life. As shown in To Kill a Mockingbird, nature and various aspects of humanity are associated in the form of a mockingbird. As it relates to the novel, A mockingbird represents a commonality of an understood sin. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is well known, classic novel originally published in 1960. Though the n ovel was written in a different time span, its plot vividly detailsRead MoreAnalysis of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee Essay1360 Words   |  6 PagesAnalysis of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee In 1960, Harper Lee published her critically acclaimed book To Kill a Mockingbird. Only a year after being published the American classic novel was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in fiction as well as the Brotherhood Award of the National Conference of Christians and Jews. Gregory Peck stared as Atticus in the successfully adapted 1962 motion picture of To Kill a Mockingbird that won an Academy Award. This book is based on many childhood experiences

The Old Man And The Sea - 1128 Words

Literature Analysis 3 The Old Man and the Sea was written by Ernest Hemingway. It was published by the Charles Scribner’s Sons in 1952, and contains 127 pages. The genre is literary fiction. The story is about an old man named Santiago who fishes alone in the Gulf Stream and has been very unsuccessful for the past 84 days. A simple tale, this takes timeless themes of courage of one man’s struggle and personal triumph. The author’s purpose was to write both a realistic and allegorical story. The author did live in Cuba and was a fisherman himself. It is also to write a parable in which an old man achieves greatness and yet continues to suffer with dignity. This does somewhat mirrors his career as a writer. The main†¦show more content†¦Another character is the young boy named Manolin. He had fished with Santiago since the age of five. He cares for the old and stays devoted to him, even though his parents force him to go on a different fishing boat due to Santiago’s recent bad luck. He looks up to Santiago as his mentor. The distinct tone is factual but sympathetic. The old man’s struggles are felt by the author. The story shows not a lot of humor, and the whole fishing endeavor is taken very seriously. The story begins with an old man named Santiago. For eighty-four days he has not caught any fish. He has been so unlucky, that his young apprentice, Manolin, has been forced to leave the old man to fish in a more prosperous boat. Santiago tries to resolve his unsuccessful streak by sailing out further than usual the following day. While out there, he catches a really big fish known as the marlin. He cannot pull it in, as the fish starts to pull the boat. The old man holds the line for two days without stop. On the third day, the fish tires and Santiago manages to bring it close enough to kill it. He lashes it to the boat and sails back home. On the way, sharks attack the boat and eats away at the marlin. The old man tries to fight them back but fails. When he reaches the shore, there is only a skeleton left. The next day, a crowd of fishermen sees the carcass of the fish, thinking that it’s a shark. The young boy goes over to the old man’s house to see if he’s o kay.Show MoreRelatedThe Old Man And The Sea1561 Words   |  7 Pages The Old Man and The Sea is more than a book about a fish and an old man, it teaches us strength and never giving up on ourselves. The Old Man and The Sea is written by Ernest Hemingway about Santiago, The Old Man. Hemingway is a writer known for his iceberg themes in his novels, where ten percent of its message is what you read and the ninety percent is hidden. That ninety percent is up to interpretation. My interpretation is Hemingway’s The Old Man and The Sea he expressesRead MoreThe Old Man And The Sea1154 Words   |  5 PagesThe sea in a way is like a living being. The way it rhythmically carries itself, showing all of its majestic beauty. The sea has such power, each wave coordinately smashing against whatever stands in its way. Sea erosion, most commonly known as coastal erosion, is the slow process of wave action constantly shaping and reshaping the coastlines of our w orld. In The Old Man and the Sea, Ernest Hemingway portrays nature as a continuum-an endless progression of the invention and destruction which is ultimatelyRead MoreThe Old Man and the Sea900 Words   |  4 PagesThe Old Man and the Sea is a short, but rich novel about an old fisherman who, after eighty-four unsuccessful days in a row, hooks the largest fish of his life. Written by Ernest Hemingway in 1951, and published in 1952, the novel was the last of Hemingway’s novels to be published during his lifetime. The book was praised by critics, and became an immediate success. The story was also awarded the Pulitzer Prize for fiction, and was a factor in Hemingway winning a Nobel Prize. The story was publishedRead MoreThe Old Man And The Sea Essay1718 Words   |  7 Pagesearly to mid 20th century. Known mainly for his success in writing the critically acclaimed novel, The Old Man and the Sea, Hemingway had many symbolic meanings instituted throughout this novel and many other works. Many having the theme of a hero confronting a natural force, as seen when Santiago confronts the mighty sea. Along with the heroic themes, Hemingway had become a religious Catholic man growing up and decided to include many religious references and biblical allusions. Since the beginningRead MoreThe Old Man And The Sea1412 Words   |  6 Pagesboth having completely different writing styles and ideas, seem to have an underlying similarity in how they view leadership and heroism. The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemmingway and Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh both show internal battles and undeniable fate within characters throughout each novel. In The Old Man and the Sea Hemmingway uses Santiago, the old Cuban fisherman, to represent internal transformation, renewed life, triumph, and defeat. Ghosh also represents similar struggles throughRead MoreThe Old Man And The Sea1586 Words   |  7 Pageswithin the plot of the novel, The Old Man and the Sea and the motion pict ure, Life of Pi. In the novel, the old fisherman, Santiago spends a few days out at sea attempting to capture the fish of his dreams. He battles through pain, thirst and hunger in order to bring the Marlin to the shore. However, while losing his prey, he gains a priceless experience combined with pride, respect and compassion. On the other hand, the main character in the movie survives at sea for 227 days with a wild animal,Read MoreThe Old Man And The Sea1121 Words   |  5 Pagesimpact on the author of The Old Man and The Sea, Ernest Hemingway. Gertrude, an American novelist, poet, playwright and art collector, served as a mentor for Ernest. The novelist also served as a godmother to Ernest along with her companion, Alice B. Toklas. Ernest Hemingway used his experience with Gertrude in his 1952 book, The Old Man and The Sea. Santiago and Manolin share a relationship similar to Ernest Hemingway and Gertrude Stein. Throughout The Old Man and The Sea, Ernest Hemingway providesRead M oreThe Old Man And The Sea1395 Words   |  6 PagesBoth The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway and â€Å"To Build a Fire† by Jack London both explore the literary conflict of man verses nature. Both main characters share many similarities; however, they also have various differences that set them apart as well. In The Old Man and the Sea the story is about Santiago, an old fisherman who sets out one day and catches the fish of a lifetime. Santiago then spends multiple days fighting the fish in the middle of the ocean. â€Å"To Build a Fire† is about aRead MoreOld Man and the Sea1537 Words   |  7 Pagesand Jesus Christ. In the novel, The Old Man and the Sea, Ernest Hemingway creates connections between Santiago and Jesus Christ that adds religious coloration to the story. Santiago can be compared to a Christ figure on the basis of his relationships with other characters in the novel. People look up to Santiago, as would a follower to Christ, hereby setting up a comparison between the two. (transition) Since the age of five, Manolin has aided the old man by working alongside him as an apprenticeRead MoreThe Old Man And The Sea993 Words   |  4 Pages one Earnest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea, is a captivating story about and old seasoned fisherman named Santiago. It is a tale of his epic struggle with the greatest catch of his life after not catching anything for eighty-four days. He face psychological challenges and encounters multiple villains. Santiago is fishing with a young boy named Manolin and the boy leaves the old man to go on another boat. Hemingway explains to us why they boy had to leave the boat. â€Å"But after forty

Equiano’s Travel Questions Free Essays

1. Olaudah Equiano represented a confluence of African and European cultures. While he spent only his childhood in Africa, Equiano remained cognizant of his African heritage and tied to his cultural roots. We will write a custom essay sample on Equiano’s Travel Questions or any similar topic only for you Order Now Yet he also embraced British culture and customs with prodigious alacrity. Equiano imbibed British ideas about liberty, commerce, Protestant religion, and social habits and mores. He even married an Englishwoman, Susan Cullen, and lived out his days in London. In short, Equiano lionized British society and sought to emulate his white peers. How does Equiano define his identity? Is he African? Is he British? How do you explain this hybridity? 2. Equiano was baptized into the Christian faith at the age of fourteen in 1759. What role does religion play in his life? Discuss Equiano’s relationship with God and his belief in the fatalism of Providence. 3. Equiano purchased his freedom for forty pounds at the age of twenty-one in 1766. Throughout his narrative, he became an able and astute entrepreneur. What role does the economy play in Equiano’s life? In what ways does commerce make him a modern man? What is Equiano’s economic solution to slavery at the end of the book? 4. Equiano was familiar with the entire system of slavery from Africa to the Middle Passage to plantation life in the West Indies and United States. How do his experiences of African slavery and New-World slavery compare? What is his view of slavery? Is it so simple as a one-sided condemnation, or is it more complicated? Does Equiano accept slavery under any circumstances? Are their ways in which it is legitimized? 5. Autobiography is a literary genre that allows the author to recall and record events from his or her past. Intentionally or not, however, sometimes autobiographers reinvent their pasts to their advantage. Memory and interpretation can obscure what actually took place. In what ways does Equiano appeal to the reader? Does he present a judicious and balanced view of his life, or is this book merely an exercise in propaganda? 6. If all of these questions fail to stimulate your interest, creativity, and analytical apparatuses, you may create your own paper topic provided you receive my approval well in advance. How to cite Equiano’s Travel Questions, Essay examples

Speech #3 Essays - Crime, Human Trafficking, Sex Crimes,

Speech #3 Problem Solution Speech Skeletal Outline 6 minute limit General Purpose: To inform the audience about Children Being Human Specific Purpose: to persuade my audience to believe that we must help decrease human trafficking of children. X= Human Trafficking of children Introduction Attention: When Tonya was 13, she met Eddie (a pseudonym) at the apartment she was living in with her mother in the Dallas, Texas, area. His estranged wife was the property manager. Tonya was classmates with Eddie's step daughter, so the two would often see each other at the apartment and in the local grocery store. It was there that the two first Swapped numbers. By the time she was 15, Tonya spent night after night in different hotel rooms, with different men, all at the command of someone she once trusted. She was held against her will, beaten and made to feel like she had no other option at the time, all by the man she thought she loved. Tanya was coerced into Child Human Trafficking. Orientation: This is an ongoing problem we must fix and help decrease the rate of children being human trafficked across our country; by educating our community on the warning signs of human trafficking. Preview: Now let's explore Human Trafficking. Body I. Human Trafficking is on the rise. A. The significance is due to trafficking victims ranging from 2-4 million annually and of those numbers 50% are children. (Blair Corbett, 2016) B. The harm of human trafficking are mental, psychical and emotional issues human trafficking does to a child. Can be very detrimental, predator's abuse the child physically and emotionally leaving physical scars and emotional wounds as well. Not only that but also affecting that child's mental growth and psyche. The child loses the ability to be educated and have a normal child hood. Children who have been human trafficked usually have to go through years of recovery, therapy and life coaches to cope. And that's if the child even makes it out of their human trafficking situation alive. (Blair Corbett, 2016) C. As of now we have advocacy groups like GenerationFreedoma nonpartisan campaign founded by the country's leading anti-trafficking experts to inspire historic American leadership to break the back of human trafficking and modern slavery. II. Congress should passH.R.466SexTraffickingDemandReduction Act. A. The plan is to amend theTraffickingVictims Protection Act of 2000 relating to determinations with respect to efforts to reduce demandfor commercialsexacts under the minimum standards for the elimination oftrafficking (Congress.gov, 2017). B. (b)Effective Date.The amendment made by subsection (a) takes effect on the date of the enactment of this Actandapplies with respect to determinations under subsection (b)(12)(A) of section 108 of theTraffickingVictims Protection Act of 2000 that are made on or after such date of enactment (Congress.gov, 2017). III. The plan will work. A. Recently, In North Carolina the Human trafficking laws have harsher due to a major case ending with a 33-year-old perpetrator getting life in prison for running an extensive sex trafficking business with children as young as 15. (Human Trafficking Hotline, 2016) B. The benefits of harsh laws on human trafficking will prevent people like shahid Hassan from committing crimes if they understand they could go to jail for life. (Human Trafficking, 2016) Conclusion Summary: In conclusion, Human Trafficking of children has risen, and H.R 466 Sex Trafficking Demand Reduction Act is in the works. Closing: This could be your child being sold, exploited and degraded across the country. Final Fix: If there were programs and laws to protect these children, maybe Tonya would've never been human trafficked. Source Citations: Hultgren, R. (2017, February 16). Text - H.R.466 - 115th Congress (2017-2018): Sex Trafficking Demand Reduction Act. Retrieved https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/466/text?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22preventing%2Bsex%2Btrafficking%2Band%2Bstrengthening%2Bfamilies%22%5D%7Dr=1 Corbett,B. (2016, December 13). Ark for Hope of Children. The Ark for children.org Blog. Retrieved from http://arkofhopeforchildren.org/blogs/how-sexual-abuse-as-a-child-leads-to-overeating Generation Freedom's Coalition Members Ready to Push Candidates to End Human Trafficking. (2016, April 12). Retrieved https://polarisproject.org/news/press-releases/generation-freedom%E2%80%99s-coalition-members-ready-push-candidates-end-huma (n.d.). Retrieved April 24, 2017, Retrieved https://humantraffickinghotline.org/

Village to City essays

Village to City essays From Village to City Over the years of history, there have been many civilizations. We will look at the earliest of all civilizations known to man. From Village to City began in 8000BC and spanned all the way into 3000BC. Throughout this report we will look at the 6 key features of this civilization as outlined in our classroom discussions, and hope to convey what we have learned in a useful, and interesting way. The development of a city: The first city to be built was Jericho, in the Middle East Map: This map is a picture of what the division of land would have looked like in those times. Clearly identified here, it is possible to see Babylon, Ur, and Eridu. Â © Microsoft Encarta 95. (Appendix 1). Sumer at this time evolved into the largest city-state, established by a people known as the Ubaidians. The development of the city, allowed for rapid population growth due to the abundance of food. Sheep, goat and pigs had been originally domesticated for use as food, not as sources of clothing. The main economic activity during this time was trade and barter. Obsidian, a volcanic glass was fashioned into razor sharp tools and weapons. It was also used as trade. People who lived near Obsidian deposits often risked their lives to collect it and eventually barter it off for food or money. Obsidian comes from volcanoes and was a kind of glass, the only of the times. The value of Obsidian was great, and so therefore was the supply and demand. Salt, ore, copper, and soapstone were accepted trade materials around 8000BC. Most of the Village to City civilization took place during the copper age, when copper was mined and used for many purposes. Trade developed between different cities, Jericho, Sumer, Adab, Eridu, Isin, Kish, Kullab, Lagash, Larsa, Nippur and Ur. Most of the trade consisted of livestock and other things such as weapons and food. Sumerians constructed large temples called Ziggurats. These temple...

SAT Security Protocols What to Expect on Test Day

SAT Security Protocols What to Expect on Test Day SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips The security of standardized testing materials is critical in preserving the relevance and fairness of the test as a whole. Since so many students around the world take the SAT, it can be difficult to prevent leaks, but the College Board does have many measures in place to keep confidential questions from being released to the public. In this article, I'll go over the specifics of theSAT security measures, explain the most recent breaches in test security, and review what all of this means for you. Why Is SAT Test Security a Concern? Test security is a huge concern for the administrators of standardized tests like the SAT.If anyone manages to access test questions before the exam is administered, the whole system is compromised by the students who had an unfair advantage. The invalid scores of students who cheatedwill ruin the curve, which just ends up hurting the scores of other students who didn't get a sneak peek at the test. This means that the integrity of the test is extremely important for all students.If people are able to access materials before the exam, their unfair advantage can actively hurt your scores by creating artificially high numbers of top scorers. Breaches in test security also undermine the overall validity of the SAT as a measure of academic ability, which is a huge problem for the College Board and for universities that rely on SAT scores to assess candidates. How Does the College Board Ensure SATSecurity? There are a variety of measures that the College Board implements to ensure that test questions don't fall into the wrong hands. These regulations come into play throughout the test registration and administration process. Registration Security Regulations The College Board shares scores and registration information with each student’s high school. If an investigation into a student’s scores is conducted, this information will also be shared with any colleges where he or she has been admitted.Keeping all parties in the loop ensures that it’s much more difficult for someone to take the SAT for another person or circumvent the regulations in any other way. The College Board also implements an â€Å"intended use† policy, which means they take steps to ensure that everyone who registers for the SAT is using it to apply to colleges or scholarship programs.People who are taking the SAT for other reasons can only take it on dates in October, January, and May (January will be replaced with August in the 2017-18 school year) because the College Board discloses the test form for those dates with its optionalQuestion and Answer Service. For example, everyone here at PrepScholar originally signed up for the first administration of the 2016 SAT in March. However,all of our registrations were transferred to the date in May instead because we were just taking the test to get a feel for the new exam, not to apply for anything (and also very few of us could pull off a 21 Jump Street thing).If anyone who takes the test has the opportunity to order the QAS, the test material will be out there for the public to see anyways, so there’s no real risk of compromising the integrity of the exam.All students are prohibited from discussing exam content unless it's released in the form of the QAS. Accurate depiction of me taking the SAT Test Day Security Regulations The College Board also takes measures to keep test materials secure before, during, and after the exam. If you’ve taken the SAT before, you know that you have to break a seal on the test booklet to begin, which ensures that no one can read the questions ahead of time without the College Board’s knowledge.Test materials are secured in lock boxes when they’re sent to international locations to prevent the theft of test booklets. Every student must have a valid photo ID and admission ticket to be allowed into the test center. Photo IDs are checked against your admission ticket multiple times throughout the testing process to ensure that no one can swap identities. You have to upload a photo of yourself during SAT registrationso the test coordinators can verify that you are who you say you are. As you might expect, phones and other electronic devices are banned from test centers to prevent people from documenting the content of the exam. No one is allowed to read test materials without completing an answer sheet or leave the building before the test is finished. If you do, you will be dismissed, and your scores will be canceled.These actions are red flags that the person might have registered for the exam just to get a look at the test content and share it unlawfully. Even if you've been given extra time, you’re not allowed to skip ahead to preview sections before you start them.Seeing the questions before the section starts, even if it only happens during an earlier part of the test, leads to an unfair advantage. Prepare for separation anxiety when you can't look at your phone every five seconds (I do this too - I'm not just making fun of teenagers here). Recent Breaches in SAT Test Security The College Board has experienced some issues in the past few years with people obtaining test materials ahead of time.In fact, in 2013, they brought in an independent consultant who recommended additional security measures to ensure the confidentiality of not just physical test materials but also the College Board’s servers, storage, and data.The potential for system hacking complicates the security measures the College Board has to take to ensure exam safety, meaning sometimes things slip through the cracks. Also, for international test administrations, the College Board sometimes reuses questions or entire sections that have already been given to students in the US. This greatly increases the risk that students will have prior knowledge of the material.Problems with SATsecurity are particularly prevalent in Asia, where the College Board has delayed score releases and even canceled test administrations several times after finding evidence that the material was previously released to the public. In January of 2016, test administrations were canceled in China and Macau due to evidence of leaked test materials.In May of 2013, all scores in South Korea for both the SAT and SAT Subject Tests were canceled. The latest version of the SAT, introduced in March of 2016, has experienced major issues with question leaks.Reuters reported that a disgruntled ex-College Board employee with access to the materials showed them hundreds of confidential test questions.The College Board confirmed that these were official questions and that their public circulation would have dire consequences for the integrity of the test. They even got the FBI involved.Agents raided the home of the whistleblower in question, seizing computers and other potentially incriminating materials. This matter is still under investigation, and the College Board is working to switch out sections of future tests that they fear may have been compromised. The College Board treats the release of confidential test questions to the public as an extremely serious criminal matter. This makes sense because of the huge amount of time and money that went into creating questions that are now essentially useless. This is the actual whistle that was blown to call out the College Board for shoddy preparation of test materials. Just kidding, this one is far too whimsical for such purposes. It was definitely a more robust metal whistle. How the College Board Is Cracking Down on SAT Cheating In February 2017, the College Board announcedthey will begin implementing new regulations to crack down on SAT cheating in both the US and abroad.Some of these new measures include: Reducing how oftenthe SAT is administered overseas. (The SAT will now be offered four times a year overseas, in October, December, March, and May.) Reducing the number of questions that are reused formultiple tests. Providing the names of people andfirms suspected of cheating to law enforcement and federal agencies(both in the US and abroad). Preventing people from taking the SAT, SAT Subject Tests, or AP Exams if the College Board has found they were guilty of past cheating offenses. Making it easier for test takers and proctors to confidentially report suspected cheating. These new measures won't eliminate cheating completely, but they should help make it even harder to cheat on the SAT and get away with it. Reducing the number of SAT questions used on multiple exams should especially lower the number of studentswho walk into the SAT already knowing some of the questions and use that information to inflate their scores. What Does SAT SecurityMean for You? For the most part, you shouldn’t have to worry too much about this issue.However, it’s in your best interests to protect the security of the test by following protocol during the exam, not sharing confidential information, and reporting any leaks you hear about to the College Board. Leaks of test materials create unfair advantages for certain groups of students and damage the credibility of everyone’s SAT scores.Such incidents may lead the College Board to cancel the scores of a large group of students if they aren't sure who had access to the test beforehand, which is very unfair to people who played by the rules. When you arrive at the test center, make sure you have a valid photo ID and admission ticket ready to present to the test coordinator. During the test, don't peek at sections ahead of time or try to go back and fix mistakes on sections that have already passed. Don't discuss exam content during breaks or leave the building for any reason. The only electronic devices you should have are a watch (if you want) and an approved calculator. Keep your smartphone turned off and in your backpack for the duration of the test. It's best not to risk violating any of these rules because if you're caught, you may be dismissed and have your scores canceled. You should also refrain from discussing or posting about specific questions in the aftermath of a test administration.These same questions may be reused overseas or on a future SAT test date in the US.Once the questions are out there on the internet, there’s no telling who will find and take advantage of them. Conclusion To ensure security of SAT test materials, the College Board takes steps to preserve the integrity of the test questions both before and after the exam is administered. Despite these precautions, there continue to be question leaks and cheating scandals that have affected many students' scores. Test security is extremely important due to the nature of standardized tests, and it is especially critical for the SAT considering how popular it is around the world as a college admissions assessment. As you go through the process of registering for and taking the SAT, make sure you avoid sharing confidential information. This could have a huge negative impact on the validity of your scores and the scores of potentially thousands of other students. What's Next? What is SAT test day really like? Read this guide to learn exactly what to expect after you arrive at the test center. You don't want to bring anything to the SAT that might compromise your scores. This article will tell you which materials to bring and which to leave at home. Finally, if you notice any suspicious behavior during the test, it's in your best interests to speak up. Find out how you can report cheating and address other issues at your test center. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points?We've written a guide about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now: