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SAT
SAT ESSAY EXAMPLE BANK
The bold headings on the next several pages are some of the most common, repeated themes for SAT Essay
questions. The odds are good that you’ll see a version of one of these themes, so prepare now by thinking of
SPECIFIC examples that you might develop into body paragraphs.
On the following pages, list examples that you might use in essays on these themes, drawing from the categories
below. . .
Personal Experience/Observations
For example: Sports you play, Volunteer work, Family trips, Family traditions, Family background/history, ­Accomplishments, Creative projects, Inventions, Clubs, Jobs you’ve held, Camps, Hobbies, Talents,
­Experiences with pets, Relationships with people other than your immediate family . . .
Historical Events/Figures
For example: Famous leaders like Gandhi, Benazir Bhutto, Abe Lincoln, Stalin, Malcolm X, etc.
Wars and Battles: Vietnam War, World War II, etc.; Famous Supreme Court Rulings (e.g. Brown vs. Board of
Education, Plessy vs. Ferguson); Time periods/Eras: Renaissance, Slavery, Civil Rights, World Explorations;
Major Inventions and change: Cotton Gin, Automobile, etc.;
Controversies/scandals: Salem witch trials, Sacco and Vanzetti, Watergate
Reading/Literature/Film/Television
For example: Materialism, Greed: Great Gatsby
Conformity vs. Individuality/Social Expectations: Catcher in the Rye, Scarlet Letter
Standing up For Your Principles: To Kill a Mockingbird
Revealing True Character: Lord of the Flies
Facing and Overcoming Fear: Finding Nemo
Getting in Touch with What’s Really Important, Loyalty/Friendship: The Wizard of Oz
Current Event /Social Issues/Figures
For example: Rebellions, as in the uprisings in Syria/Egypt/Libya; Natural disasters; Developments in Medicine, Government, and the Arts; Struggles for rights: gay marriage, civil rights; girl almost killed by Taliban for
going to school and fighting for education; Court cases: Trayvon Martin Case, OJ Simpson case; Current controversies/issues: Environmental Debates, NSA spying on U.S. citizens, immigration reform, healthcare, etc.;
People with scandals/issues: Lance Armstrong, Angelina Jolie, Bill Clinton affair, etc.
Individuality vs. Conformity/Following & Belonging to Group
Personal Experience/Observations
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Historical Events/Figures
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Reading/Literature/Film/Television
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Current Events/Issues/Figures
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Creativity/Originality
Personal Experience/Observations
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Historical Events/Figures
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Reading/Literature/Film/Television
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Current Events/Issues/Figures
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Identity/Self-Determination/Decisions & Opinions
Personal Experience/Observations
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Historical Events/Figures
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Reading/Literature/Film/Television
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Current Events/Issues/Figures
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Characteristics/Factors Determining Success/Achieving Goals
Personal Experience/Observations
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Historical Events/Figures
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Reading/Literature/Film/Television
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Current Events/Issues/Figures
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Winning vs. Losing/Value of Hardship, Struggle, Mistakes & Criticism
Personal Experience/Observations
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Historical Events/Figures
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Reading/Literature/Film/Television
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Current Events/Issues/Figures
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Collaboration/Groups and Success/Groups and Change
Personal Experience/Observations
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Historical Events/Figures
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Reading/Literature/Film/Television
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Current Events/Issues/Figures
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Happiness/Contentment/Optimism
Personal Experience/Observations
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Historical Events/Figures
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Reading/Literature/Film/Television
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Current Events/Issues/Figures
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Ethics/Treatment of Others/Relating to Others
Personal Experience/Observations
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Historical Events/Figures
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Reading/Literature/Film/Television
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Current Events/Issues/Figures
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Tradition/Past/Memories
Personal Experience/Observations
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Historical Events/Figures
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Reading/Literature/Film/Television
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Current Events/Issues/Figures
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Technological “Progress”/Innovation/Solutions to Problems
Personal Experience/Observations
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Historical Events/Figures
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Reading/Literature/Film/Television
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Current Events/Issues/Figures
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Materialism/Money/Working Hard
Personal Experience/Observations
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Historical Events/Figures
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Reading/Literature/Film/Television
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Current Events/Issues/Figures
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Heroes/Leaders
Personal Experience/Observations
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Historical Events/Figures
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Reading/Literature/Film/Television
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Current Events/Issues/Figures
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Information/Objectivity/Knowledge/Education/Idealism vs. Realism
Personal Experience/Observations
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Historical Events/Figures
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Reading/Literature/Film/Television
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Current Events/Issues/Figures
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