<p>I'm wondering which advise for the structure I should trust. The sample essays provided by the Collegeboard all elaborate on one example, maybe two, and got a score of 6. The Barron's book says that you should write two paragraphs with 2 examples each.
What's better? Present one example and write a lot about it or give as many details as you can? What were your experiences?</p>
<p>There is a good thread below that is tracking data on this subject (“Post if you received a 10-12”). Check it out.</p>
<p>When the essay was first introduced, nearly all test prep companies taught students to present a 5 paragraph essay: introduction, 3 supporting paragraphs, conclusion. Now that we have 6 years worth of data, we know that the highest scoring essays have supporting paragraphs that are FULLY explained. The average high school student just cannot write three supporting paragraphs and fully explain them in 25 minutes. I consider myself a professional writer and I can’t do that in 25 minutes, either. However, we can all write two really good paragraphs in that timeframe.</p>
<p>If you only use one example, you better be a terrific writer and spend two pages discussing your example! I think students who can pull this off know who they are. All others should use 2 examples.</p>