<p>Hi guys! </p>
<p>Everyone says the SAT essay is just a formula that you follow to get a score from 10-12.What is this formula? I read Sparknotes for the SAT online and it says a. thesis must be the first sentence and b. there must be three examples. Is this true? Do all 6 essays have to have 3 examples with a thesis as the first sentence? </p>
<p>When i took the SAT, i got a 9 on the essay by having the thesis as the last sentence of the introduction and having 2 examples. Is this structure okay (but perhaphs I did not go much in depth/analysis) or do all high-scoring essays follow the Sparknotes structure? </p>
<p>Also, what exactly are the SAT people expecting as a "thesis"? Arent you supposed to have some sort of "hook"?</p>
<p>No there is no formula. People have achieved 11s and 12s by employing only 1 example. You don't even have to follow the standard 5 paragraph format (which by the way is so 7th grade). Practice writing a lot and soon enough, you'll develop your own style. Use it.</p>
<p>I usually go with the 5 paragraph format. Introduction / thesis paragraph , 3 example paragraphs, and a conclusion paragraph.</p>
<p>I don't think the thesis location matters, as long as it flows logically. Personally, my thesis statement has always been the last or second to last, first paragraph statement.</p>
<p>This is what I do and I have been scoring 10-11 on my tests:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>into paragraph
-intro sentences
-thesis (must be very strong thesis)</p></li>
<li><p>transition sentence
supporting sentences
conclusion sentence</p></li>
</ol>
<p>(use an example from literature or history)</p>
<ol>
<li><p>3rd paragraph
(same format as 2nd paragraph)
(use an example from literature or history)</p></li>
<li><p>Conclusion
transition sentence
restate thesis
reiterate important facts. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>YOU MUST INCLUDE REALLY STRONG EXAMPLES IN LITERATURE OR HISTORY OR CURRENT EVENTS. PERSONAL EXPERIANCES ARE NOT ADVISABLE.</p>