<p>how can anyone write something 500 words or fewer?</p>
<p>You just can I guess, mine was barely over 350 words.</p>
<p>hey tonyt88, would you mind sending your essays to me through PM? It would be greatly appreciated!</p>
<p>my AP LA teacher told me one page, single spaced. i read a bunch of sample essays and they really varied in length, but i swear some were over 500 words. i think perhaps they say 500 words so people don't get carried away and write extremely detailed essays. basically, you have to keep the interest of the reader the whole time.... (sorry i don't have any definitive answer/response for you)</p>
<p>Tips:
1. Keep the topic in mind, don't go on tangents.
2. You don't necessarily have to have 5 paragraphs, 2 or 3 might be enough.
3. After you write it and edit it a bit, leave it for a few days, and don't think about it. When you come back you'll see it differently, and things that seemed vitally important before might be things you could cut out upon reflection.
4. Don't be verbose. Rather than, "I thought about the magnificent experience with fondness," you might say, "I remembered the experience fondly." Etc...</p>