Sat Essay Prompt Guide

Here are 3 SAT-style essay prompts with passages for timed practice (50 minutes each):

Prompt 1:
Passage: In his 1941 speech "The Four Freedoms," President Franklin D. Roosevelt argued that the world should be founded upon four essential human freedoms: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. He called on every nation to embrace these principles and warned that isolationism was no longer viable in an interconnected world. "The freedom from fear," he stated, "means a world-wide reduction of armaments so that no nation will be in a position to commit an act of physical aggression against any neighbor — anywhere in the world."

Prompt: Write an essay in which you explain how Roosevelt builds an argument to persuade his audience that global cooperation is essential. Analyze how he uses evidence, reasoning, and rhetorical devices to support his claims.

Prompt 2:
Passage: In a 2018 article, journalist James Somers argued that the rise of automation will not eliminate human creativity but will force us to redefine what we consider "creative work." He noted that photography did not kill painting — it freed painting from the obligation to be realistic. Similarly, AI that writes articles or composes music does not make human creators obsolete; it challenges them to go beyond what machines can replicate. "The real threat," he wrote, "is not that machines will become too creative, but that we will stop trying to be creative at all."

Prompt: Write an essay in which you explain how Somers builds an argument to persuade his audience that AI is not a threat to human creativity. Analyze how he uses evidence, reasoning, and stylistic elements to support his argument.

Prompt 3:
Passage: In a speech at Harvard, activist Malala Yousafzai argued that education is the most powerful weapon against global inequality. "When you educate a girl, you educate a generation," she said. She cited statistics showing 130 million girls worldwide are out of school and that each year of secondary education increases a woman's future earnings by 15-25%. She acknowledged cultural and economic barriers but argued these are not excuses for inaction. "Books are not just paper and ink — they are passports to a better life."

Prompt: Write an essay in which you explain how Malala Yousafzai builds an argument to persuade her audience that education access is a global priority. Analyze how she uses evidence, reasoning, and rhetorical devices to strengthen her argument.