It is hard to accurately judge the strength of another writer’s argument unless you have read the good and the bad, as well as the in-between. Seek out known, published authors and experts to get an idea of what is contained in a “good” argument. Don’t forget to also look for inaccuracies in this writing—not every subject expert is an “argument expert.” Then, look for less formal writing, like newspaper editorials, which are written by others who may be less apt to present a well-thought-out argument that is well-supported by details. Practice assessing how well each author did and be sure to cite exact evidence from the text.
Even when you don’t have a pen in hand, get in the habit of reading “with an analyst’s eye.” Just because an author makes a statement, that doesn’t mean it’s fact, or even believable. Demand evidence in your mind and look for it as you read further. Constantly ask the question, “What makes him/her so sure this is true? How was this presented and why was it effective, or not effective?” This habit will not only prepare you for this test, but it will make you a better reader.
As you are reading the writing of others, practice finding evidence. If you finish a paragraph that is written to prove a point, go back afterward and try to find what the author used to prove the point. Was it a stated fact from an authority, a documented statistic, or did the author just make a statement and use unrelated facts to finish the paragraph, never really proving anything? If you read something and end up with a new opinion on a subject, go back through the text and find reasons for your new thoughts. Be sure to note rhetorical tools the author used to present points, including style, use of language, and structure.
Historically, a great deal of school writing involves stating your opinion or giving an account of an event. SAT essay writing should involve neither of these. Practice analyzing a piece of writing based strictly on what is contained in the passage, citing evidence directly from the passage. The only judgment required in your SAT exam essay writing is that of deciding if another author did a good job and telling why that is the case.