Beat the Clock Essay Workshops and SAT Prep Workshops

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the minimum number of students needed for a Beat-the-Clock workshop?

A: In order to have enough students for good participation and dialog, we need at least 10. For non-local workshops, it helps to have at least 15 students to help offset travel expenses. The best workshops we've ever done have been with fairly large groups of teens, with at least a few who enjoyed asking questions, sharing their essays, and participating wholeheartedly. Their enthusiasm seems to be contagious, and we end up with a very lively, interactive class, which makes the entire topic more memorable.

Q: How old must students be to attend?

A: I don't like to put a specific age requirement on the workshop, because children develop so differently. I've had middle-school students who participated fully, and loved the workshop; and I've had a few high-school students who felt a bit overwhelmed. For the Beat-the-Clock workshop, if your student reads well, and can write at least three paragraphs in a half hour, he or she is probably physically ready to try the workshop. In addition, though, he or she must be able to consider and analyze abstract ideas such as the causes of happiness or the value of honesty. The problems and essay questions we use are formulated by the creators of the SAT, so they are very similar to what students will encounter on the exams.

Q: I would like to look at samples of the essay questions you will be using. Can you post a few?

A: I can't post the questions, because they are copyright by College Board. However, you may see a sample question in the student section of their website. I highly recommend The Official SAT Study Guide for sample exams and lots of test-taking help. This is the guide produced by the authors of the SAT, and it offers a very accurate preview of what to expect in the real test, plus a look at how the exams are evaluated. It's a huge book- nearly 900 pages- and costs less than $15 at Amazon (I don't suggest getting a used book-- they almost always have writing or fillled-in tests, and they aren't enough cheaper to be worth it). After taking the essay workshop, if your student follows the instructions and works through each of the eight sample tests, he or she should be well prepared for each of the three sections (math, reading, and writing) on the SAT.

Q: My student has never written an essay before, but she likes to do creative writing. Can she still take the workshop?

A: Yes. If a student enjoys other types of writing but has not yet attempted an essay, this workshop can be a good beginning. We cover all the basics of how to answer essay questions, organize ideas, and use relevant examples to illustrate their thesis. If your student needs a solid semester-long course in essay writing, I highly recommend The Elegant Essay Writing Lessons by Lesha Myers. It's available through the Institute for Excellence in Writing.

Q: What is in the handbook?

A: The 30-page handbook contains a complete outline of what we cover in the workshop, plus suggestions for additional resources. It will serve as a reminder of what they learned in the workshop, and as a helpful reference for future writing.

Q: What is the difference between auditing the workshop and taking the full workshop?

A: Parents who choose to take the full workshop will receive a handbook, write essays, and ask questions, just as the students do. Auditing parents will observe quietly, and will be able at the end to participate in the parent / teacher group evaluation of their student's essay.

Workshops are usually scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., but can be scheduled differently as needed. Large groups (over 20 students) usually need more time than smaller groups. If the workshop site is available for 5 hours, this allows plenty of time for questions during the workshop, as well as for evaluations afterward.