The Most Important Word in an SAT/ACT Essay

Because.

That's it -- the most important word. You are more persuasive if you provide a reason for something. You will earn a better score on your essay if you are more persuasive.

A Harvard behavioural psychologist (Ellen Langer) did a study to determine how important the word "because" is. The gist of it is that when a person asked to cut in line to make five copies, 60% of people said OK.

When the same person asked to cut in line to make five copies because she was in a rush, 94% of people said OK. When that same person asked to cut in line to make five copies because she needed to make copies, 93% of people said OK.

So, even though that second reason isn't compelling, the person was vastly more persuasive when she had a reason than when she didn't. 33% more people said OK, even when the reason was bad. 33%.

I've been telling students for years that the two most crucial elements of thesis writing are to answer the question asked and use the word "because" before giving a reason. Explaining WHY you think what you think is critical to success.

Even Harvard psychologists say so.

I haven't read the whole study yet --and I sure would like to -- but I found the information about the study here, among other places.