SAT Practice Essay

I believe that in today's world, the media can determine what is important to people.
When watching a simple television program, commercials advertise idea's and products that the media thinks is important. For instance, there are many hair care and facial items being show. Advertising makeup and other beauty products gives the viewer the idea that appearance is very important to our society. People buy these products to fit in with America's values.
Another example of media controlling the importance of things is in the news or tabloids. While everyone is reading the latest magazine with the scoop on Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, not many are getting educated with what's really important, the ware in Iraq. Nowadays, people find it more important to know what happened to Meredith on the latest Grey's Anatomy episode, than what's happening around the world. The media's advertising can make people think the wrong things are important.
The media controlling everyone's thought's applies to most people but not all. There are different kinds of media that advertise different things. CNN broadcastsnews about political and global issues, while Entertainment tonight tell watchers about news in Hollywood. People have choices on what kind of media to watch or listen to so it can also be up to the public to decide whether they'd rather tune into a boring broadcast of CNN or exciting gossip on Entertainment Tonight.
I think that the media does have a say in what's important but the choice is ultimately yours whether you want to listen to their ideas.