<p>I was reading the ACT sample essays from their website and the higher scored essays seemed to conform to the same kind of organization: restating the prompt and making points using only the information in the prompt. I guess the real question I’m asking is, Is there room to be open-ended? Or should I just write “what they want to hear”?</p>
<p>write what they want to hear. to you, your essay will sound like complete bs, but they’ll love it. throw in a quote (preferably one that relates to the prompt) to really wow them</p>
<p>That is what I always do, just agree with the prompt. After I write it I would be like, “wow this is so not me”. But I do that because I tend to get a higher score if I agree with the promp rather than go against it. Unless you have an amazing opposing argument, then just try to go for the prompt (it’s easier in my opinion).</p>