<p>I have some questions about the essays on the SAT. When it comes to the examples that you use to prove your point, does it matter where they come from? Let's say if each of your examples is taken from a book, will it matter? Do the people that mark the exams like to look for a variety, or does it not matter? </p>
<p>Also, what is the prefered format for the essays (how many paragraphs, etc.)? Are we not supposed to talk in the first-person, like we aren't for most other essays? What about contractions?</p>
<p>It's good to show some vareity in ur examples, i.e. one from a literature, one from a historical event, etc. But it might be effective to use examples from one source. But if u use examples from one source, be sure to have some variety within that one source. Don't just talk about one single character from a book throughout the essay, but rather compare/contrast two or three different characters from a book. But this really depends on the personal taste of the grader reading ur essay.</p>
<p>Usually the safest bet is to have a 5-paragraph essay - one intro, three body, and one conclusion. 4-paragraph essays (with two body paragraphs) are also acceptable, but 3-paragraph essays might not work very well.</p>
<p>It's okay to use first person, as long as it doesn't sound awkward in the context of the whole essay. If u r using a personal experience as an example, it's kindda impossible not to use first person.</p>
<p>Contractions are acceptable, but try not to use them unless u have two sentences to write with 10 seconds remaining.</p>
<p>Okay, that's really good. So there should be about 3 examples in the essay?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>3 is recommended, although u can certainly get a very good score with two examples. An effective way to use two examples is to have 1 example that supports ur point and a "counterexample" that shows the opposite case is false.</p>
<p>Okay, so you don't necessarily have to pick a side when writing your essay?</p>
<p>pyang88 said that you have to pick examples and then counterexamples that prove the other side false. i.e, I love Dogs. I think Dogs are cool. Others say that Dogs are not cool, but they are wrong.</p>
<p>Right right, sorry I misread the sentence...</p>
<p>I hear this way is best: 4 paragraphs, one from literature, and one on anything else. I also here it's best to change the details of the second support to best prove your point, they don't care if you make stuff up.</p>