<p>I’m glad I came upon this thread :); I was stressing out because I have seen this misconception and was panicking thinking that “I won’t be able to have three examples, how do I think of so many and use them during the test?” Now, I’m thinking of perhaps just using one literature example (and maybe a personal one).</p>
<p>how come many people the max score that is achievable with two examples is only a 10? Generally I used three examples and have received scores of 9 and 10, and for this May SAT I was planning on using two examples. I consider myself a pretty good writer, but Im not sure whether I would be able to write two pages on only one example…</p>
<p>Any advice?</p>
<p>^People who use two examples almost always write four paragraphs. The standard SAT essay for a high score is usually five paragraphs (whether using one example or using three examples).</p>
<p>This is only vague hypothesizing, but I think readers may be illogically biased when they see a four paragraph essay. The lack of a fifth paragraph may result in a lower score.</p>
<p>This is possible, considering how much essay score is impacted by length. Often, essays are judged by quantity as much as quality (wiki the MIT study on this).</p>
<p>Whichever way you go, try to write two full pages.</p>
<p>is there any way to incorporate an additional paragraph into a 2 example essay? I use two examples, so my essays are 4 paragraphs. I can easily fill 2 pages without problem. What can I do to get >10. I am a pretty good writer as well, so is there anything that can get me to >10? I want to use 2 examples because I don’t read very much, so thinking of some amazing examples would be hard (from literature). </p>
<p>So, any advice and tips to get >10 with 2 examples?</p>
<p>And what are some awesome examples that can relate to an array of prompts? I usually have 1 really good example and one average or subpar one…maybe 2 really good examples would get me higher…but I still need some tips.</p>
<p>I would think that for someone to write only 1 example and get a 12, it would have to be an real-life example that he/she could talk extensively on. Otherwise, if one can’t think of anything, IMO it would be better to use 3 made up (or real) examples.</p>
<p>Viggy - If you’re set on using two examples, I would try making the last example spread out over two paragraphs. I always used examples from literature because I read a lot. There are many themes in classical novels, so if you know a few good novels well, you’re set. I would imagine that this also applies to major historical events. Don’t go into the essay with a chosen side on your example. Choose your side after you read the prompt, and then support it.</p>
<p>Lightsource - I know plenty of people who have used one example from literature or history. It works well if you know your example.</p>
<p>Remember, the essay is subjective. This is only advice, so play to your strengths.</p>
<p>I read/was told that using three examples is a bad idea because you can’t really expand on them very much given only 2 pages. So, what do you think? How can a person write a 3 example essay and score >10…is it easily done? How difficult is it to score >10 when you use 2 examples?</p>
<p>^I wrote that using three examples is probably unwise if you’re equally strong at using one or three examples.</p>
<p>If you want to use a 3 example essay, I would emphasize transition sentences and flow, while maintaining as much depth as possible. I don’t know about 2 examples.</p>
<p>In the end, write a strong essay, and fill up the two pages. That’s all you can really do. I intended this thread to be a criticism of the idea that “one example is bad/weak.” I didn’t intend to tell anyone how to write his or her essay.</p>