SAT: QUESTION DECICIONS OF LEADERS

TOPIC: Is it important to question the ideas and decisions of people in positions of authority?

In 1998, after sequence of effort, Vietnam initialed in the agreement to become a member of WTO. But in the official to sign in the agreement, Vietnamese leader did not turn up and they declined to become a member of WTO. It is turned out that this year, all the work of the government was not questioned by Vietnamese people and this eliminated a wonderful chance for Vietnam to foster and open its economy to the world through WTO. Therefore, in some cases, taking ideas, decisions of people in positions of authority into consideration is very important.

Lee Kuan Yew is a great Singaporean statesman. As co-founder and first secretary-general of the People's Action Party (PAP), he led the party to a landslide victory in 1959, oversaw the separation of Singapore from the Federation of Malaysia in 1965 and brought Singapore from an underdeveloped colonial outpost with no natural resources into an Asian Tiger. He has remained one of the most influential political figures in Singapore and also other South-East Asia Countries. Therefore, Lee Kuan Yew received all the approval from Singaporean and in this case, questioning him seems to be unnecessary.

However, take a look at the North-South railway project in Vietnam in 2010, everything is contrary. That the Vietnamese Government in early 2010, proposed a high-speed railway plan which cost about $56 billion. While Vietnam is still an underdeveloped country with the gross GDP is about $80 billion, many economists said that this project was unrealistic and it would drive down Vietnam economy significantly. Despite of warning, Vietnamese leaders still numerous time mentioned it with a dream of carrying out it. But now, this project is definitely canceled as it received a widespread disagreement from Vietnamese citizens. If Vietnamese people did not concern or scrutinize it, this project would be a heavy burden for the next generations.

"Sometimes it is necessary to challenge what people in authority claim to be true. Although some respect for authority is, no doubt, necessary in order for any group or organization to function." this is true. Questioning or not should be placed in a harmonious balance so as to take the most advantage of them.

This is the first time i have written a SAT essay so I would really appreciate comments from everyone!
Now, I also have a problem that my source of examples is very poor, maybe it just starts at the zero. So anyone can help this that i need a list of good examples and a simple advice how to present these examples on SAT essays.

Thanks a lot!!

Answer the question in the first paragraph (i.e. it IS important to question the ideas and decisions of people in positions of authority,) back it up in the middle and wrap up in the final paragraph. You are (in the final paragraph) "sitting on the fence" so to speak. You should clearly take one side with strong examples and on a lesser note, temper it with examples of moderation. Comparing Lee Kuan Yew to the Vietnamese military dictatorship is a bit like comparing apples and oranges. Maybe comparing Lee Kuan Yew to Lula of Brazil would be more meaningful (or comparing the Vietnamese to Burmese military government.) Do some research to come up with more examples that you feel good about. You need to choose what is most compelling to YOU in order to write a good response.

In 1998, after sequence of effort series of arguments and resolutions, Vietnam...-- just an idea I had.

Therefore, in some cases, taking ideas, decisions of people in positions of authority into consideration is very important. -- this sentence ids too complicated. Let's try to say it in fewer words without tryng to say too much.

Therefore, in some cases, taking ideas, decisions it is very important for citizens to carefully scrutinize the decisions of people in positions of authority.

Lee Kuan Yew is a great Singaporean statesman.---- change this sentence so that it tells the main idea of the paragraph. The main idea of the paragraph is not that he was a great statesman. The main idea is that he is an example of a statesman whose judgment seems to good that people do not feel the need to question it. So, I think you should change the topic sentence of the paragraph to reflect that idea.

:-)

Thanks a lot for the comments

----My SAT teacher tells me that in my essays, i should take both side of the assignment as it makes the grader think that i am smart and also eliminates the subjective factor.

So should i, a beginner, follow his rules right now or try to take just 1 side, write better then apply his rules in my essay??

...

You make your point in the first paragraph.
In each body paragraph, give ideas to support your main point.
In one of the last body paragraphs, just before the conclusion paragraph, write about the other perspective.

In that second-to-last paragraph, you can do what is called "refuting the counter-argument." That means you explain the other point of view, and then you tell why your view is more correct.

You can do this to make any essay stronger. Instead of just making your argument, refute the counter-argument, too!