<p>I am a good essay writer but sometimes I have difficulty in coming up with relevant supporting details/examples. If I have everything planned out, I can construct the essay well but in a time cruch such as the SAT essay I can't think properly.</p>
<p>To solve my problem, I have created some fall back themes such as the following: Catcher in the Rye, Great Depression, choosing honors vs. AP, volunteering, etc.</p>
<p>My friend used Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs in the last SAT essay prompt "Happiness" and he scored a 12. I need good supporting details such as Maslow to really help me score that elusive 12.</p>
<p>My friend used "Mean Girls" on the essay about conformity and got an 11 haha. The topics you use don't really matter, it's just how you back them up. The Great Gatsby is good for anything, I've used it on the past 2. Just make up some thing that "happened to you" and blah blah. As long as you can BS, you will do fine.</p>
<p>I disagree. It's better to have examples that you know well and can twist for multiple topics than to make something up. You'll feel much better going into the exam if you already know your essay topics cold. </p>
<p>(As I side note, I would rethink the "honors vs. AP" example. Talking about school doesn't really win friends, and it might seem superficial or irrelevant to an adult grader.)</p>