6SATEssayExamplestoAnswerEvery

Prompt
AmajorsecrettoexcellingontheSATessayistopreplanthe
examplesandevidenceyouwanttouse.Bypreparingacollection
ofreliableexamplesthatcananswermostprompts,you'llcutdown
onplanningtimeandsignificantlyincreasetheamountyoucan
write.
Inthisarticle,wegiveyou6goodSATessayexamplestousethat
cananswernearlyeveryprompttheSATthrowsatyou.By
memorizingtheseexamplesandpracticingwritingaboutthem,
you'llbeabletowalkintoeverySATessayconfident.
BeforeYouContinue
Ifyouhaven'talreadyreadourlistofeverysingleSATprompt
evergiven,checkitoutnow.Thiswillgiveyouagoodideaofthe
rangeofpromptsyou'llhavetopreparefor.Thencomebacktothis
article.

The5MajorCategoriesofSATEssay
Prompts

OpinionsandValues
Thesequestionsareaboutweighingthevalueofthings,including
theopinionsofothers.
>Shouldpeopleweightallopinionsequally,orplacemoreweight
oninformedopinions?
>Shouldpeoplepaymoreattentiontotheopinionsofpeoplewho
areolderandmoreexperienced?
>Shouldpeoplealwaysvaluenewthings,ideas,orvaluesover
olderones?
>Shouldpeoplebevaluedaccordingtotheircapabilitiesrather
thantheirachievements?
>Isitbettertobeidealisticorpractical?
>Shouldbooksportraytheworldrealisticallyoridealistically?
>Canworkingtoreachanobjectivebevaluableevenifthe
objectiveisnotreached?

Morality
Thesequestionsareaboutrightandwrong.
>Areteamsorgroupsbeneficialforindividuals,ordoesgroup
membershippreventindividualsfromformingtheirownmoral
judgments?
>Isitbesttoalwayssuspectthatothersmayhaveulterior
motives?
>Isitbettertodecideone'sownideasofrightandwrongorfollow
thecrowd?
>Candishonestybeappropriateinsomecircumstances?

>Candeceptionhavegoodresults?
>Isitnecessarytomakemistakesevenwhenitharmsothers?
>Arepeoplemoremotivatedbyconscienceorbymoney,power,
andfame?
>Arebadandgoodchoicesequallylikelytohavenegative
consequences?

SuccessandAchievement
Thesequestionsareaboutpathsandobstaclestoachievinggoals.
>Isproductivitytheresultofthedemandsofothers?
>Isaccomplishmenttheresultoffreedomtodothingsone'sown
way?
>Areimportantdiscoveriestheresultoffocusingononesubject?
>Cananyobstaclebeturnedintosomethingbeneficial?
>Isitbettertobeconsistentortoadaptwhencircumstances
change?
>Isitbettertousecooperationorcompetitiontoachievesuccess?
>Cansuccesstobedisastrous?
>Issuccesstheresultofbeingextremelycompetitive?
>Isachievementtheresultofexpectingmoreofoneselfthan
othersdoofthemselves?
>Isgreatnesstheresultofidentifyingandfocusingonone's
greateststrength?
>Issuccesstheresultofeffortorluck?
>Doesprogressorimprovementusuallyinvolveasignificant
drawbackorproblem?
>Isitmoreimportanttodofulfillingorhighpayingwork?

>Istheprocessortheoutcomeofanprojectmoreimportant?
>Isasuccessfulcommunitytheresultofindividualssacrificing
theirpersonalgoals?

SocietyandCulture
Thesequestionsareaboutthestateofmodernsociety.
>Shouldpeoplelookuptoheroesinsteadofcelebrities?
>Shouldpeoplelookuptocelebrities?
>Shouldpeoplechallengeauthority?
>Shouldpeopletryhardertomaintainprivacy?
>Canaveragepeoplebebetterrolemodelsthanfamouspeople?
>Dopeopleunderestimatethevalueofcommunityduetoour
cultureofindividualism?
>Istheworldchanginginapositiveway?
>Istheworldactuallyhardertounderstandduetotheabundance
ofinformationnowavailable?
>Dopeopleovervaluegettingeverydetailright?
>Arepeopledefinedbytheiroccupations?
>Arepeopletoomaterialistic?
>Dopeoplevalueconveniencetoomuch?
>Ismostofwhatpeoplebuytotallyunnecessary?
>Shouldcitizensbemoreresponsibleforaddressinglocalor
nationalissues?
>Dochangesthatmakeourliveseasiernotnecessarilymakethem
better?

Knowledge,Learning,andCreativity
Thesequestionsareabouttheconditionsandsituationsthatlead
tovariouskindsoflearningandinspiration.
>Isselfknowledgetheresultofbeingforcedintoaction?
>Dopeoplediscovermorebyexploringtheunfamiliarorby
examiningthefamiliar?
>Isitmoreeffectivetolearnfromothersortoteachoneself?
>Islearningtheresultofexperiencingdifficulties?
>Isselfknowledgetheresultofinteractingwithothers?
>Isselfknowledgetheresultofadversity?
>Iscreativitytheresultofcloseddoors?
>Istheworldinneedofcreativitynowmorethanever?
>Doesplanninginterferewithcreativity?
>Canknowledgebeaburden?
>Dopeoplelearnfromthepast?
>Isitbetteralwaystobeoriginalratherthanimitating?
>Arepeopleevertrulyoriginal?
>Isitpreferabletocaredeeplyaboutsomethingortoremain
emotionallydetached?
>Shouldpeoplebeguidedbytheirfeelingswhenmakingmajor
choices?
>Isaperson'sidentityestablishedfrombirthordevelopedover
time?

PreselectingYourExamples
Asyoucansee,theSATessaypromptscoveralotofcommon
ground.Thismeansthatyoucanhaveaprettygoodideaaheadof
timeofwhatyoumightseewhenyouopenthebookletontestday.
Andbecauseofthat,youcanprepareyourselfwithSATessay
topicsthatinvolvemorethanoneoftheseissueswe'veprovided
someideasbelow.
IntheSATwritingexamples,we'vetriedtousebooks,peopleand
eventsthatmosthighschoolstudentsarealreadyfamiliarwith.
Rememberthatpersonalexamplesarejustasvalidasacademic
ones,butsincewedon'tspyonyourlife,wedon'tknowwhat
personalexamplesarenoteworthyinyourlife.
We'vechosen2books,2examplesfromAmericanHistory,and2
currenteventsthatyoucanuseasstellarevidencetosupportyour
thesis.PlaytoyourstrengthsifyoulikeEnglish,youmight
developmoreexamplesinliterature.Ifyou'reanewsbuff,you
mightusecurrenteventsthatareonyourmind.
Foreachexamplebelow,wealsoshowyouhowyoucanusethe
evidencetosupportyourthesisacrossarangeofprompts.This
shouldprovetoyouhoweffectivepreplannedexamplesare.
So,withoutfurtherado,ontoourlistofmultipurposesupportfor
anySATEssayprompt.

ExamplesfromLiterature

Booksaregreatexamplestousesincetheycoverawiderangeof
humanexperienceandsocialissues.Youdon'tneedtohavereada
booktowriteaboutityoujustneedtounderstandkeypoints
abouttheplotandbeabletorelateittothethesis.

AnimalFarm

ThisshortnovelwrittenbyGeorgeOrwellin1945isaparable(a
shortstoryusedtoillustratealesson)abouttheRussian
Revolution.Itdescribesafarm'sanimalsbandingtogetherto
overthrowthefarmerwhoexploitstheirworkandproducts(milk,
eggs,etc.)sotheycantakecontrolofthefarmthemselves.
However,thepigs(withspeciallybreddogsasguards)
immediatelybeginschemingtocontrolthefarmthemselves,and
ultimatelytakeadvantageoftheotheranimalsinthesamewaythe
farmerdid.
Thisisaliteraryclassic,andforgoodreasonittouchesupon
manycorehumanstruggles.AnimalFarmcanbeusedtosupport
thefollowingtheses,amongmanyothers:
(OpinionsandValues)Shouldpeoplepaymoreattentiontothe
opinionsofpeoplewhoareolderandmoreexperienced?
Yes;inAnimalFarm,theonlyanimalwhosuspectsthepigs'
deceptionisBenjamin,theoldestanimalonthefarm.Hetriesto

warntheotheranimalsthatthepigshavesenttheloyalhorse,
Boxer,tobekilled,butnoonelistenstohim,andthepigs'reignof
terrorcontinuestogounchecked.
(Morality)Isitbesttoalwayssuspectthatothersmayhave
ulteriormotives?
Yes;theanimalsinAnimalFarmwouldhavebeenbetteroffif
theyhadsuspectedthatthepigswereplanningtoexploitthem.
(SuccessandAchievement)Areimportantdiscoveriestheresultof
focusingononesubject?
No;inAnimalFarm,thesuccessoftheanimalsinrunningthe
farmdependsontheirabilitytoteachthemselveshowtoread,do
math,buildstructures,andharnesselectricity,amongotherskills.

Frankenstein

ThisclassicnovelbyMaryShelley,firstpublishedanonymouslyin
1818,tellsthestoryofDr.VictorFrankenstein,whoalienateshis
familybyfollowinghisobsessionwithanimatingamanmadeof
corpses,creatingartificiallifeforthefirsttime.Butheishorrified
byhiscreation,andthemonster,lonelyandmiserable,wandersthe
earth,rejectedbyeveryone.Hedevelopsangertowardhiscreator
andkillsVictor'sbrother,andthenVictor'swife,ontheirwedding
day.Victorthenchasesthemonsterallovertheworld,tryingto

killhim,anddiesintheprocess.
Frankensteincanbeusedtosupportthefollowingtheses,among
others:
(Knowledge,Learning,andCreativity)Isselfknowledgetheresult
ofadversity?
Yes;Dr.Frankensteincanonlyunderstandthehorrorofartificially
creatinglife(or"playingGod")aftermultiplepeoplearekilled.
(SuccessandAchievement)Cansuccesstobedisastrous?
Yes;inthefirstpartofthebook,Dr.Frankensteinsacrifices
everythingtoachievehisgoalofbringinghismonstertolife.But
assoonashedoes,hislifebecomesmoreandmoremiserableuntil
hefinallydiesintheArctic.
(Morality)Isitbettertodecideone'sownideasofrightandwrong
orfollowthecrowd?
Followthecrowd;Dr.Frankensteinignoreseveryone'swarnings
thathisobsessionisdangerous.Hiscreationofthemonsterisa
directresultofhisdecidingforhimselfwhatisrightandwrong,
becausehisobsessioncloudshisjudgment.

ExamplesfromAmericanHistory
You'velikelylearnedalotaboutAmericanhistoryinschool,buta
fewnotableexamplesstandoutascompellingeventsthatyoucan
usetosupportawiderangeofprompts.

TheAtomicBombingofHiroshimaandNagasaki,
Japan
DuringthelaststageofWorldWarII,afterGermanysurrendered
totheAllies,Japanrefusedtosurrender.Insteadofamilitary
invasionofthemainlandofJapan,theU.S.decidedtoendthewar
bydroppingtwoatomicbombsonJapanwithnowarning:oneon
thecityofHiroshimaonAugust6,1945,andtheotheronthecity
ofNagasakionAugust9.JapansurrenderedonAugust15,butthe
immediateeffectsoftheexplosionskilled90,000166,000people
inHiroshimaand39,00080,000inNagasaki;abouthalfofthe
deathsineachcityoccurredonthefirstday.Overthenextfew
months,largenumbersofpeoplemostlyciviliansdiedfrom
radiationburns,radiationsickness,andotherinjuries,exacerbated
byillnessandmalnutrition.
ThebombingsofHiroshimaandNagasakicanbeusedtosupport

thefollowingtheses,amongothers:
(Knowledge,Learning,andCreativity)Canknowledgebea
burden?
Yes;someofthescientistswhoworkedontheatomicbomb,in
1945,signedtheSzilrdpetition,whichaskedPresidentTruman
nottobombJapanwithoutwarning.Thisshowsthattheir
understandingofthepossibleeffectsofthebombswasaburdenon
theirrespectiveconsciences.
(Morality)Arebadandgoodchoicesequallylikelytohave
negativeconsequences?
Yes;thebombingsofHiroshimaandNagasakicausedmassive
civiliancasualties,buthadthecitiesnotbeenbombed,many
AmericansandJapanesewouldhavediedinfurtheroceanand
landbasedwarfare.
(OpinionsandValues)Shouldpeopleweightallopinionsequally,
orplacemoreweightoninformedopinions?
Placemoreweightoninformedopinions;AfterPearlHarbor,
manyAmericanshatedtheJapaneseandwantedtheirwhole
countryeradicated.Butthescientistswhounderstoodtheawful
poweroftheatombombhadadifferentview;theywerewaryof
droppingitonJapanwithnowarning.Manyfewercivilianswould
havehadtodieiftheconcernedscientistshadbeenheededandthe
Japanesehadbeenwarnedaboutthebombingsaheadoftime.

TheLifeofFrederickDouglass

FrederickDouglass(18181895)wasanAfricanAmericansocial
reformer,publicspeaker,writer,andpolitician.Bornaslavein
Maryland,hetaughthimselftoreadandwrite(despiteliteracy
beingforbiddentoslaves)andeventuallyescapedtotheNorth.He
becameanimportantleaderoftheabolitionistmovementthrough
hispersuasivewritinginantislaverypublicationsandthetalkshe
gaveduringhisfrequentspeakingtours.Hemadeitclearthat
slaveholders'argumentsaboutslaves'inferiorintelligencewere
fabricatedandhelpedseethecountrythroughtheCivilWarand
outoftheeraofslavery.
ThelifeofFrederickDouglasscanbeusedtosupportthe
followingtheses,amongothers:
(OpinionsandValues)Shouldpeoplebevaluedaccordingtotheir
capabilitiesratherthantheirachievements?
Yes;Douglass,likemanyotherseventoday,facednearly
insurmountabledifficultiesinachievingevenliteracy.Forthese
people,opportunitiesforachievementarerare,andcapabilitiesare
theonlyaccuratemeasureoftheirvalue.
(Morality)Candishonestybeappropriateinsomecircumstances?
Yes;Douglasshadtobedishonestwiththeslaveholderswho

'owned'himinordertolearnhowtoreadandwrite,becauseslaves
werenotallowedthatprivilege.Helaterhadalargeinfluenceon
theabolishmentofslavery,sohisdishonestywaswellworththe
cost.
(SuccessandAchievement)Isproductivitytheresultofthe
demandsofothers?
No;Douglassachievedandanunimaginableamountandpublished
anumberofbooksdespitethefactthathewasaslaveandnothing
atallwasexpectedofhim.

ExamplesofCurrentEvents
Notableeventshappenconstantlyinthenews.Manystudentswill
pullonthesetosupporttheirtopics,butthekeyistounderstand
thetopicsthoroughlyandbeabletospeakbeyondasuperficial
level.Thiswillimpressthegradersinceyouriseaboveother
testtakers.

TheShootingofMichaelBrowninFerguson,MO
Theshootingof18yearoldMichaelBrownoccurredonAugust9,
2014,inFerguson,Missouri,asuburbofSt.Louis.DarrenWilson,
28,awhiteFergusonpoliceofficer,shottheunarmedteenager
fromadistance,butitwasunclearwhetherBrownwas
surrenderingorthreateningWilson.Theunclearcircumstancesof
Brown'sdeath,theresultingnationwideprotests,andpoliceforces'
perceivedoverreactiontotheprotestsallledtoaseriousnational
debateaboutlawenforcement'streatmentofAfricanAmericansin

theUnitedStates.
TheeventssurroundingtheshootingdeathofMichaelBrowncan
beusedtosupportthefollowingtheses,amongothers:
(Knowledge,Learning,andCreativity)Dopeoplelearnfromthe
past?
Yes;despitewidespreadanger,theprotestsinFergusonwere
mostlynonviolent,reflectingthepracticesofearliercivilrights
protestersintheU.S.Thesenonviolentprotestssuccessfullyledto
widespreadawarenessofthegrowingnationwidelawenforcement
problemsofracialprofilinganduseofexcessiveforce.
(SuccessandAchievement)Isitbettertousecooperationor
competitiontoachievesuccess?
Cooperation;inthewakeoftheshooting,conflictsbetween
protestersandpoliceinMissouriledPresidentObamatocallfor
fundingtosupportinitiativestosupportcooperationbetween
communitiesandlawenforcement.
(Morality)Arepeoplemoremotivatedbyconscienceorbymoney,
power,andfame?
Conscience;TheshootingofMichaelBrownbroughtthousandsof
protestersalloverthecountryontothestreetstomakeastatement
againstracialprofilingandpolicebrutality.Monitoredbythe
policethemselves,theseprotestshavepotentialforconflict,but
peopleattendedthemanyway,motivatedbytheirconscience.

TheAmericanWealthGapandthe1%

In2014,theWashingtonTimesreportedthatthetopwealthiest1%
ofAmericanshold40%ofthenationswealth;thebottom80%,by
contrast,hold7%.Anotherwaytoputitisthatthe"richest1%in
theUnitedStatesnowownmorewealththanthebottom90%."
Thetop10%ofAmericanshas1,000%of(ortentimes)thewealth
ofthemiddleclass;thatincreasesanother1000%forthetop1%of
Americans.Thismeansthattheaverageemployeeneedstowork
morethanamonthtoearnwhattheaverageCEOearnsinone
hour.
ThewealthgapintheU.S.canbeusedtosupportthefollowing
theses,amongothers:
(SuccessandAchievement)Issuccesstheresultofeffortorluck?
Luck;mostofthewealthiestpeopleintheU.S.wereborninto
wealth,andhavebeenluckyenoughtohavetheirinvestmentsnot
fail.Effortclearlydoesnotfactorintothewealthdifferences
betweenaCEOandaminimumwageworker.
(SocietyandCulture)Shouldpeoplelookuptocelebrities?
No;celebrities,likeothersuperrichpeople,havealloftheirneeds
handledbyotherpeopleandleadlivesthataretotallydifferent
fromaveragepeople's.Tolookuptopeoplewhoarerichbecause

ofmodelingoractingcareersistocompareourselvestopeople
wholiveinadifferentworldfromaveragepeoplebecausethey
happentobebeautifulorgoodatacting.
(Morality)Arepeoplemoremotivatedbyconscienceorbymoney,
power,andfame?
Power,money,andfame;Thewealthgapimpliesthatpowerand
money(whicharestronglyconnected,ofcourse)aresuchpowerful
motivatorsthat,oncepeoplebecomerich,muchoftheirenergy
goesintobecomingmorerich.Thisistheonlywaytobuildthe
kindofwealththatcreatestheAmericanincomegap:tofocus
completelyonwhatwillbringinmoremoney,regardlessofthe
consequences.