<p>I’m new to the ACT and I have been studying for the September ACTs. I am wondering how the ACT Essay needs to be written. I know that you need to defend a side in a prompted situation. What I want to know is if I need outside sources such as books, current events, and or history just like the SAT. The example in my Princeton Review book was based purely on the writer, and included very little outside source.</p>
<p>I have a similar question, as I am taking the test tomorrow. Does the writing portion require that you include works you have read, or present and past historical events to prove your point? I would assume so, but I am unsure. Any help would be appreciated in solving this matter.</p>
<p>No it’s not required, you can, but you don’t have to. The ACT essay is more about persuasive writing based on the writer’s on beliefs. You tend to not use outside sources because the prompts are usually regarding some current issue with a teen’s life.</p>
<p>Thanks, I’m going to read through another essay, and try to emulate that. I find it trying though, that I will have to write in such a basic manner, given that most of the time, students are to write more formal, textually based papers in school.</p>
<p>yeah I also wondered this and it does feel a bit strange to write that way… I followed Princeton Review’s advice today with my essay and if I remember Ill tell your guys what my essay score was!</p>