When I took the ACT w/ Writing in September, I got a 32 on the essay. Considering that I had done only minimal practice for the new essay, I was surprised to get such a good score.
As I’m taking the ACT again in February (this Saturday!), I was hoping to get some advice about how to write the essay. I don’t understand how to address the different perspectives while maintaining my own (or siding with one of the perspectives but making my argument for the strongest). And how do I provide evidence for each of my arguments for the perspectives? Do I use current events? Personal anecdotes? Historical events? Made-up examples? Also, does the ACT look for a five-paragraph essay, complete with a hook and thesis statement in the beginning and an effective call-to-action in the conclusion?
I honestly don’t remember what I wrote in September, so I can’t use my past essay as an example of how to write my next one. Much appreciated!
Not sure what the “official” guidelines are, but I have been told to try and do 5 paragraphs–DEFINITELY with a thesis statement and a hook if you can.
You’re going to generally want to pick one side of the argument, do two body paragraphs on it using real examples (personal, modern, historical), then do a rebuttal on why the opposite side of the argument isn’t good. This is what I’ve been told to do by multiple teachers and prep books.
Make sure to have a conclusion!! I’ve read that rushing one is better than not having one at all because they apparently want to see if you can come to a concise ending. I don’t think it necessarily has to be a call to action, just at least a general restatement of the thesis.
Also, the writing is not on its own. The writing score is your essay and the English score combined, so be sure to do well in the first section.
This is all from my own personal experience, so I’m not sure how accurate it might be for you, but I hope it helps. good luck! 
@fishgill I believe you are talking about the old essay, based on your description. But now that the new essay provides three perspectives and wants you to address each one, I am confused about how to include each one in my essay, especially if I partially agree with two or all three of them.
Oh I’m so sorry! I didn’t realize it has changed, I took my last test in June 2015.
I used Up Your Score to prep, and a lot of their tips were really useful. I’m not sure if they’ve released a 2015-2016 edition but I would check it out if you need just some brief advice.
I got a 36 on my ACT writing and all I did was BS really really hard.
Don’t plan. Just write. Make up your own examples. I had some example from the University of Tennessee researched something even though they probably have never researched said study relating to prompt. Then I put a counterargument. Let me repeat that again. PUT A COUNTERARGUMENT. I can’t stress that enough. It’s your difference between going from 29 up to 30.
Your examples don’t have to be fancy. I put a wide variety of made up examples. Another thing about examples is that they MUST in some way directly relate to your thesis or whatever your position is.
Your thesis doesn’t have to be the last sentence of your paragraph. In fact, I think they prefer it not to be the last sentence of your intro. And don’t put a hook. For some reason the ACT graders hate that and it hurts you more than you think. Just bland and straight to the point. No fancy vocab or whatever. I put it as my first and it wasn’t even a well written thesis. All you have to do is take a position and say i agree or disagree for example:
Prompt: Is immortality a blessing or curse?
Your thesis" I believe immortality is a curse because blah blah… Period.
That’s all.
Another important thing that can’t be stressed enough. TAKE UP EVERY SINGLE PAGE. WRITE LIKE YOUR HAND IS ON FIRE AND TAKE IT ALL UP. Don’t plan and don’t make an outline. That’s probably the thing that’ll screw you on time. Planning.
Even if you don’t finish it you still have a chance to get a 36. I wrote around 3.5/4 pages and I don’t think i even got to my conclusion.
You can structure your essay anyway you want by the way. I structured by paragraphs by separating them into example categories. For example by body paragraph 1 would be historical examples, body paragraph 2 would be personal experiences, body paragraph 3 would be statistics. etc etc…
For your conclusion, sum up all your examples and get straight to the point. One paragraph = one sentence. Then for the final sentence just take the reader to the point you want to make.