<p>For the essay, I think it would be helpful if we could compile a list, into one thread, that contains quotes, facts, people, books and historical facts that help enhance our essays on the SATs. This way, those who are looking for a good start on what to research and read can have a base list to reference. Anybody got any good ones they use frequently?</p>
<p>These aren’t necessary. The essay doesn’t really test your knowledge, for it’s meant to merely show that you can write a persuasive essay in a highly organized and cohesive fashion. Showing knowledge is good, but not vital - just one literary or history example + a personal example is good enough. Surely, there is at least ONE thing you learned from your history class (be it a King, prime minister, or dictator) or english class (characters, books, etc) that you can incorporate into your essay… so memorizing examples and such is not necessary.</p>
<p>My 2 cents.</p>
<p>Just use whatever books you’ve recently read in English and whatever people/events you have recently studied in History. I got a 12 on the essay twice doing just that.</p>
<p>Are English books a good idea, though? <em>Everyone</em> writes about Catcher in the Rye and To Kill a Mockingbird.</p>
<p>^I didn’t:) No really, any book is fine. It’s more about how well the essay is written than about what kind of example you use.</p>
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<p>That is what I did on the March SAT and I got an 11. So, go with this format.</p>
<p>That’s the format I used too. Same score as jerrry4445.</p>
<p>I’d advise writing an anecdotal essay if you are using a personal example, and just use 2-3 literary/historic/current events examples otherwise.</p>
<p>I know for a fact that you can use Lance Armstrong for 9 out of every 10 SAT prompts.</p>
<p>^ hahaha! I’m using Martin Luther King for most of my essays. :)</p>
<p>I think that there is a thread already like this somewhere…</p>
<p>The most overdone example ever is MLK, close follow ups: Ben Franklin, Rosa Parks, Ghandi, Christopher Columbus. </p>
<p>All things considered, they do work, but they are kind of banal</p>
<p>I’ve pulled so many examples simply by watching an episode or two of 60 minutes (they talk about up and coming interesting technology, which is always cool), by reading malcolm gladwell books (blink, outliers, etc.), and by paying attention in AP Psych.</p>
<p>I used two made-up anecdotes –> 10/12</p>
<p>My prompt was something like “Do highly accomplished people accomplish more because they expect more out of themselves” and just talked about why I was retaking the SAT. I got a 12.</p>
<p>^lol 
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<p>^^wow, that’s really original. and also lol, like xrCalico23 said.</p>
<p>Well he’s christiansoldier, what an original mofooo.</p>
<p>Lol, I like to think of the essay as a FRQ ohoho~</p>
<p>I got two tens by using random examples from AP US History and referencing fantasy fiction books xD</p>