Here is my first ever writing sample, taken from a prompt on from AAMC.
It took me exactly 30 minutes and I would appreciate some feedback.
What was good, what was weak and what would you have written? (just generalities, I am not asking you to write an essay yourself.
Finally, what do you think would the score be if this essay was graded by an actual MCAT grader?
1. The object of education should be to teach skills, not values.
Describe a specific situation in which the object of education might be teaching values rather than skills. Discuss what you think determines when the object of education is to teach skills and when it is to teach values.
This statement is claiming that the goal of education should be to imbue people with objective knowledge and specific skill sets needed to allow them to become productive members of society without imposing or transferring value judgments to the student.
This statement fails to realize that humans are emotional creatures who see their entire world through an ethical frame. For this reason it is impossible not to impart values along with skills while educating someone because even the opinion that one should not force ones morals on others is itself a value judgment. Homogenous values are often a benefit to people working in close groups.
For example in the military before any skills are taught, a common moral framework is established in enlisted personnel. Character values such as physical and mental discipline, teamwork, loyalty to ones comrades and a sense of duty are instilled in recruits because these values must be shared by all if unit cohesion is to be maintained and missions successfully accomplished.
The determination regarding the indoctrination of students with ethical ideals should be made by the instructor based upon the fallowing criteria, do my students share the values required to make the teaching of skills possible and efficient?
For example, in a science classroom certain subjective values must be shared by students in order for an atmosphere conducive to learning to be established. These values include a curiosity about the physical world, a respect for the scientific method, as desire to learn and willingness invest the time and effort to study effectively.
If these necessary values are held by all students than skills may be taught with no other ethical ideals being imparted, however they must be taught to students who do not share them, if only to prevent a dysfunctional classroom setting that is un-conducive to the learning of all those who do hold these values.
It took me exactly 30 minutes and I would appreciate some feedback.
What was good, what was weak and what would you have written? (just generalities, I am not asking you to write an essay yourself.
Finally, what do you think would the score be if this essay was graded by an actual MCAT grader?
1. The object of education should be to teach skills, not values.
Describe a specific situation in which the object of education might be teaching values rather than skills. Discuss what you think determines when the object of education is to teach skills and when it is to teach values.
This statement is claiming that the goal of education should be to imbue people with objective knowledge and specific skill sets needed to allow them to become productive members of society without imposing or transferring value judgments to the student.
This statement fails to realize that humans are emotional creatures who see their entire world through an ethical frame. For this reason it is impossible not to impart values along with skills while educating someone because even the opinion that one should not force ones morals on others is itself a value judgment. Homogenous values are often a benefit to people working in close groups.
For example in the military before any skills are taught, a common moral framework is established in enlisted personnel. Character values such as physical and mental discipline, teamwork, loyalty to ones comrades and a sense of duty are instilled in recruits because these values must be shared by all if unit cohesion is to be maintained and missions successfully accomplished.
The determination regarding the indoctrination of students with ethical ideals should be made by the instructor based upon the fallowing criteria, do my students share the values required to make the teaching of skills possible and efficient?
For example, in a science classroom certain subjective values must be shared by students in order for an atmosphere conducive to learning to be established. These values include a curiosity about the physical world, a respect for the scientific method, as desire to learn and willingness invest the time and effort to study effectively.
If these necessary values are held by all students than skills may be taught with no other ethical ideals being imparted, however they must be taught to students who do not share them, if only to prevent a dysfunctional classroom setting that is un-conducive to the learning of all those who do hold these values.
