What score would you give to the following answer?

Open Scoring Guide

Sample Position Task - Answer #1:
The statement “the opinion of the majority is not the final proof of what is right” has certainly been true during the course of my life. A story that has often been told in my family provides an excellent example. In the months before my birth, routine medical examinations of my mother began to show a series of concerning abnormalities. While the details have never been made clear to me, the popular opinion of the doctors was that I would be born severely brain damaged. They considered the risk so great that my mother was repeatedly advised that an abortion may be the best choice.

In the midst of clamoring doctors, ill-fated test results, and all the associated emotions of fearing for the health of her unborn son, my mother called her best friend—my godmother. By this point, the birth was imminent and the majority opinion more sure than ever, but my godmother dissented and advised my mother that all would be well. Acting on renewed faith, my mother decided to ignore the popular medical opinion. The rest, as they say, is history.

As you can see, from birth the notion that a majority opinion is not necessarily the final indicator of what is right has resonated strongly with me. Further proof for this belief came some years later. After attending a very small private middle school for three years, I was faced with the decision of where to attend high school. I spoke with my academic advisors, parents, and friends and discovered that the vast majority seemed to be pushing me to continue along the private school route. However, the decision was not as simple for me.

The size of my private school had always bothered me. Though the school officials strove to promote diversity, I felt like I was missing out on possible social interaction. In short, I felt myself becoming increasingly introverted, a fact not aided by the heavy work load of a rigorous private school education.

Remembering my mother’s decision to ignore the majority and act, in part, on faith, I decided to attend the much larger public high school. I will never regret the decision as I feel it was crucial to shaping who I am today and will continue to serve me well in the future.

These are but two of the many examples I could cite in support of the statement given. Certainly the majority should never be ignored. All opinions must be duely considered when making an important choice. However, it has been my experience that a blind reliance on majority opinion may cost you important life lessons, or in my case, life itself.

Check Actual Score

Continue: Sample Position Task Answer #2 >>