<p>Hmm...</p>
<p>One thing to remember is that the essays you write for the SAT are NOT the essays you write for AP/IB/advanced writing programs. The SAT is looking to grade the "typical" student on a "typical" scale-ish.</p>
<p>Also, remember that SAT graders are horribly ideological. It actually helps more than hurts if you put some sort of "good-kid" statement in the conclusion to wrap up your essay, such as: "the world would be a much safer place if we all clean up the environment" (but more sophisticated, of course. I hope you get the gist, though.)</p>
<p>In addition, SAT pays a lot of attention to persuasion and voice. Don't see it so much as citing "academic" examples (such as some random thing from The Grapes or Wrath or The Scarlet Letter or Madam Bovary or One Hundred Years of Solitude...etc.), because often times, academic and literary examples are not so compelling. If you want to cite one, and it's applicable and totally cogent, go for it. Otherwise, keep out the a-bit-off-topic literary examples.</p>
<p>Historical examples, however, are mostly good. I don't see how they can be off topic. But again, if you can't think of a good historical example, don't just STICK one in there because you think it makes you look intelligent (which I'm sure you are). Instead, just sticking an example that scarcely applies hurts more than helps.</p>
<p>Personal examples are the hardest to handle. Most people have a tendency to go overboard in description and narration and eventually lose track of the main idea. However, SAT likes to see personal examples. Just don't make them random; make sure you're in a somewhat-formal-stance while delivering the story/opinion. Also, you shouldn't center all of your arguments on just one personal example. </p>
<p>I advise you to see the SAT essay portion as a debate in which you are planning a skillful delivery for PERSUASION, not for ACADEMICS. The more persuasive, the better. (From what I've seen, the major problem with people on CC and people in my school is that they have plenty academic examples--but those examples just happen to be off track)</p>
<p>As a final note, don't just go off with great examples and forget about writing. Always pay attention to varying your sentence structure and diction. Big words are good here and there, but don't stuff an essay full of them. That will make you look like a braggadocio (haha)</p>
<p>Remember, it's not an AP essay. Quite a number of people who have aced the AP lit exam managed to come down with 8's and 10's on their SAT exams. </p>
<p>Good luck! Hope that wasn't too long :D</p>