I’m a mom, and like all moms I have to brag when my children accomplish something that’s especially brilliant, so please indulge me :)
#1 son took the SAT last month, and we recently got the scores back. For those of you who haven’t taken the SAT in a while (like me) and may have forgotten how it works—the student is tested in three sections: math, critical reading, and writing. Each section is scored individually, and a perfect score in each section is 800.
Son’s score on the math section was...*drum roll, please*...780!
What can I say? The kid is a little mathematical whiz. Okay, maybe not, I don’t really know what percentage of students score a 780 or above, but I couldn’t have done it. Son inherited his math abilities from his father.
Apparently, he didn’t inherit any abilities from me, because his scores on the reading and writing sections...well, they weren't pretty. But thankfully, he can retake it.
Since I’m talking about the SAT, let me state for the record that I very much dislike the new essay portion of it (which was added to the test in 2005).
I won’t say what the prompt was on Son’s SAT (because I don’t know if it’s ‘allowed’), but I will say that it was very “philosophical”. It’s basically a personal opinion, but it’s something that you really have to put some thought into, and of course, you have to be able to support your position. And the students are only give 25 minutes to write this essay. That’s not nearly enough time. Son didn’t even finish his.
Even as an adult who writes on a daily basis, and who has an entire lifetime of knowledge and experiences to drawn upon, I’m not sure that I could have completed this essay in 25 minutes. Well, maybe I could have, but I fear it would have been very lacking in quality. It would have taken me the first 10 minutes just to get my thoughts together. And forget having time to revise.
I think the kids are at a huge disadvantage with this small time allotment, and it’s very frustrating for them.
How are kids taught to write? They’re taught to write a rough draft, and then revise it (several times usually). They’re not taught how to write an essay in 25 minutes. And frankly, I don't think they should be taught how to write an essay in 25 minutes. An essay should be well thought out and have gone through at least one revision.
Adequate writing skills are a necessity in life. It’s important. But I don't think that the SAT essay is giving colleges a true indication of a student’s writing ability. The College Board seriously needs to rethink this. But that’s just my personal opinion.
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I write contemporary romances that vary in heat level from sensual to erotic.
I’m also an experienced editor and the owner of Beachwalk Press, Inc.
You can find me at the following places:
My website: www.pamelatyner.com
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Finding Passion by Pamela Tyner
Genre: Erotic Contemporary Romance
An unexpected weekend adventure leads to renewed passion, but will it be enough to save a troubled marriage?
Nathan Collins is stunned when he's served with divorce papers…almost as stunned as he'd been three weeks prior when his wife had suddenly asked him to move out of the house. At the time, Susan had proposed a thirty-day separation followed by marriage counseling. Nathan intends to hold her to that agreement.
He moves from stunned to pissed when Susan attempts to use blackmail as a means to obtain his signature on the papers. Damned if he'll be blackmailed into anything, especially when he's innocent of the accusations. He'd never cheat on his wife.
When an unexpected storm and a flooded road strand them together for the weekend, neither suspects that it will lead to a discovery of secret desires and fantasy fulfillment. But will their renewed passion be enough to revive their fledgling marriage? Despite Nathan's vehement denial, Susan has some pretty convincing evidence of his extramarital activities.
Content Warning: contains explicit sex and adult language
Click HERE to purchase Finding Passion.
Protecting Tricia by Pamela Tyner
Genre(s): Contemporary Romance
Desperate and on the run, Tricia is forced to seek protection from a man who betrayed her years earlier.
After escaping an abusive relationship Tricia Stephens returns to the hometown she left years ago. But when her ex-boyfriend follows her, she needs help in a big way to stay one step ahead of him. Fearful of police involvement and flat broke, she's still reluctant to accept help from Clint Owens, a man she had a disastrous and humiliating relationship with almost a decade prior. His white-knight-in-shining-armor act doesn't impress her, even if he does have the full support of her friends.
The sight of bruises on Tricia's face is all Clint needs to feel justified in doing whatever is necessary to keep her safe. Although she balks at accepting his help, it doesn't deter him from his mission. He's determined to protect her, even if she fights him every step of the way.
With each passing day Clint's supportive and caring attitude slowly weakens Tricia's resolve to keep him at a distance. Still, it's imperative she remembers that he's already proven himself to be untrustworthy and capable of betrayal. And she mustn't forget that domineering side of him that showed itself recently—a side she'd never known existed. It certainly hadn't been in her plan to trade in one controlling man for another.
Content Warning: contains sensual sex scenes
Click HERE to purchase Protecting Tricia.
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