談談如何積累SAT作文素材

我想同學們都知道，SAT作文的重點之一就是積累素材，這一方面是因為SAT的作文例子需要具體的事實，另一方面是因為SAT作文的例子是SAT作文高分的決定性因素。那麼要如何搜集例子呢？SAT作文的例子和托福作文的例子有什麼相同點和不同點呢？

搜集例子有很多不同方法，大部分學生可能從網上搜集或者從SAT老師那裡獲得，而Leah老師的建議是，同學們應該要開始自己主動的思考搜集什麼樣的例子，並且要總結自己的例子能夠適用於什麼樣的SAT作文題目。這看起來是個比較耗時的過程，但是1-3月後，你會發現這是一個非常有效切實的提高SAT作文分數的方法。

另外，在搜集例子的過程也是對美國文化了解，熟悉的過程。在網上，很多人都會看到Steve Jobs, 蘋果公司，或者一些藝術家梵高、莫扎特之類的例子。但是實際上，前者是已經被用到爛的例子(overused), 後者是和美國文化不沾邊，又有些枯燥的例子。想要取得SAT高分，為什麼不自己去搜集一些和美國文化相關的有趣的例子呢？

比如說，大家知道Miley Cyrus是誰嗎？她是美國的著名歌手，原來是Disney Princess(迪士尼公主)，「美國甜心」，但是現在呢？呵呵，她可是與Madonna, Britney Spears 不相上下的「叛逆女」。不知道她為什麼她非要選這樣一條「不歸路」，但是她在我心目中的形象已經180度大轉變，以前我是one of her fans, 現在是one of her anti-fans. 與她相比，我更喜歡和她同時成名的Selena Gomez, 至少比較「正常」。Anyway, 就是這樣一個「奇葩」，也能放在我們的SAT作文中？答案是Yes.

下面就是一段關於Miley的英文介紹（從她成名到變"crazy")以及她的例子適用於哪些SAT作文題目。

Miley Cyrus became an overnight sensation in 2006 as the star of Hannah Montana, a popular Disney Channel television series whose success allowed Cyrus to become Hollywood』s young star and an idol that has attracted millions of fans all around the world.

In 2005, Miley was cast in the title role of Hannah Montana, in which she played a teenage girl leading a double life: by day, shes Miley Stewart, an ordinary kid dealing with school, friends, siblings, and all the other foibles of life for a 14-year-old, while at night she dons a wig and becomes Hannah Montana, a multi-platinum pop star whose career is guided by her dad, songwriter Robby Stewart. After debuting in March 2006, Hannah Montana became an immediate success with young viewers and led to the release of a soundtrack CD in October.

Since then, Miley Cycus, a singer and actress, has been overwhelmingly successful in the entertainment industry throughout the world. However, like Justin Beiber, a young star who got lost because of the fame, she also conducted some behavior that shocked parents and disgusted some of her fans. The singer took to the stage in a revealing outfit and demonstrated some sensual dance moves on MTV VMA awards this year.

She shed her clothes on the stage and strutted her way out of Disney stardom. In an interview later related to her controversial performance, she says, "You want to make history. Me and [Robin Thicke] the whole time said, You know were about to make history right now. "

可以適用的作文題材：

October 2005

Is society』s admiration for famous people beneficial or harmful?

June 2009

Prompt 1

Do we benefit from learning about the flaws of people we admire and respect?

Prompt 2

Is it best for people to accept who they are and what they have, or should people always strive to better themselves?

October 2009

Prompt 3

Do books, newspapers, and other media focus too much on bad news?

November 2009

Prompt 1

Are the values of a society most clearly revealed in its popular culture?

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