Name: Sumair Ijaz Hashmi

SAT essay Mock Exam # 2:

In the adaptation of David Epstein’s book, “Sports Should Be Child’s Play” by the New York
Times Company, David successfully argues that “hyperspecialization” in sports by children is
ineffective and can be dangerous. He effectively uses studies and examples of renowned
sportsmen, along with a concerned and persuasive use of language to reinforce his argument.
David Epstein uses studies and experiments carried out by various parties to prove his point. He
explains the study carried out by Neeru Jayanthi, of Loyola University in Chicago, who observed
a group of young athletes for three years. The athletes who were specialized in specific sports
had a “36 percent increased risk of suffering a serious overuse injury.” This shows the reader that
being overly trained in one particular sport as a child can be injurious to health, which convinces
the reader to David’s argument that it would be naive to promote specializing in a single sport at
a young age.
David also gives examples of current day sport stars who grew up playing all kinds of games.
For example Steve Nash, a widely popular N.B.A player, who played soccer as a child and
“didn’t own a basketball until age 13”. Another example given by the author is of Roger Federer,
his parents “encouraged” him to play several sports as a child like badminton, basketball and
soccer. These examples successfully support David’s argument that specializing in a sport as a
child does not help. Several of today’s sport stars did not specialize in their specific sports as
children; on the contrary, they grew up as all-rounded athletes.
But the author doesn’t only use solid evidence to build his argument – he also evokes the
reader’s emotions. He has adopted a concerned tone which profitably creates an emotional
response in the reader’s mind. David also uses powerful words and phrases that contribute to this
concerned tone, stating that specializing in a single sport at an early age results in a lower
“ultimate level of athletic success.” Later, he says that a 25-year-old goalie who started
practicing his tactics since he was very young “already needed a hip replacement.” When the
author further develops his argument by talking about diversification of sports he states “in case
health risks alone aren’t reason enough for parents”. This sort of wording instills a sense of
concern and fear in the reader’s mind, and makes him agree with David’s argument, that indeed
specialization of sports in children can have its toll on children in terms of physical injury and
inefficiency.
David Epstein’s mix of studies, examples of renowned sportsmen and appeals to emotion makes
it clear that specialization of sports in children should not be done. And diversification of sports
“would serve engagement, skill development and health.” Anyone who reads David’s argument
will surely agree with him.