# When writing SAT essays what is the most favored format?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-writing-sat-essays-what-is-the-most-favored-format/741862>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 1, 2016, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-writing-sat-essays-what-is-the-most-favored-format/741862 "2016-01-01T00:21:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![davidmich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\
**Post date:** [January 1, 2016, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-writing-sat-essays-what-is-the-most-favored-format/741862/1 "2016-01-01T00:21:27Z")

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Hi

When writing SAT essays, do examiners prefer to see pros and cons on an issue expressed in the same paragraph or in separate paragraphs? I look forward to your feedback.

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**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\
**Post date:** [January 1, 2016, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-writing-sat-essays-what-is-the-most-favored-format/741862/2 "2016-01-01T16:34:15Z")

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That is what is called a “counterargument”, and yes a separate paragraph is recommended.

I teach test prep essay writing, and if you do all of the right things well you should get at least a 4 (out of 6).

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**Author:** ![davidmich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\
**Post date:** [January 2, 2016, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-writing-sat-essays-what-is-the-most-favored-format/741862/3 "2016-01-02T00:18:09Z")

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> [@John\_DiFool](#):
>
> That is what is called a “counterargument”, and yes a separate paragraph is recommended.
> 
> I teach test prep essay writing, and if you do all of the right things well you should get at least a 4 (out of 6).

Thanks JohnDiFool. Perhaps you can recommend a website that shows a model essay and accompanying rubric. That would be very helpful.

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**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\
**Post date:** [February 8, 2021, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-writing-sat-essays-what-is-the-most-favored-format/741862/6 "2021-02-08T13:16:53Z")

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Closed on February 8, 2021, 1:16pm UTC



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**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\
**Post date:** [February 8, 2021, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-writing-sat-essays-what-is-the-most-favored-format/741862/7 "2021-02-08T13:17:27Z")

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Closed old thread bumped by a spammer.