You should ABSOLUTELY be on just one side of the argument. Also, incorporate SPECIFIC examples from literature, history, media or personal experiences.

Let’s say the essay is on whether it is better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all (b/c the questions are philosophical in nature). You would write a clear introduction stating your opinion (pretend we are saying that it IS better to have loved and lost as opposed to have never loved at all). Your first body paragraph could state that loving someone makes you a stronger person, even if you lose the love or the person. You could use Dana Reeves or Nancy Reagan as your specific example- they were both women who lost their husbands but it made them stronger.

Your next paragraph could state that it is better to love and lose because at least you know the feeling of love. You could use Romeo and Juliet as your example- how they died so young, but at least they knew the feeling of love.

Then your last paragraph could be about a movie or a personal example.

The ETS (the company who makes the SAT) definitely looks at the length of the essay- the longer the better! So, my advice is to write as much as you can, stay on one side of the argument and use specific examples. Good luck!!!

A short introductory paragraph–this is like a 2 sentences–you state your thesis and elaborate just a little. Mention your two-three examples you are going to use to make your point.

Body paragraphs–for each example, write a new body paragraph. You start off writing a topic sentence about the example, and the explain in a few or several sentences how the example defends the point you are trying to make in your thesis. Two examples can be sufficient, so that means two body paragraphs. You can do a third example and a third body paragraph if you like, but only if you have time and if you think the third example will add to the quality of your essay. Make sure you give your strongest example first, your 2nd strongest second, and if you use a third example, your weakest on in the last (but don’t think that your 3rd example should be weak).

Conclusion paragraph–wrap your paper up in 1-2 sentences. Any more sentences, and the paragraph will sound repetitive.

In addition, make sure you know your two-three examples, and write them down (1-2 words/example in a list) before you get going. This will ensure that you don’t end up writing a lot of crap about nothing–you need to PLAN you essay first.

You want to stay on only one side of the argument,