<p>I know that it is important to vary your sentence structure, and to not begin every sentence with the word “I”. Do good, thought-provoking rhetorical questions work on the SAT essay? </p>
<p>What other methods do you use to get a “rich, varied sentence structure” so that the reader does not fall asleep?</p>
<p>Rhetorical questions should be used so long as they enforce a point you have made, are making, or are immediately about to make. Don’t say something and then ask an unrelated question, not coming back to it.</p>
<p>As for varying structure, spread out facts (“X is Y.”), opinions (“I believe X is Y, because…”), and inferences (“Therefore, it is evident that…”), with a few rhetorical questions. In my opinion go for one or two rhetorical questions, and a third only if it is very strong.</p>
<p>The two most important things to do for the essay is to show reasoning, logic, etc. (the SAT is a reasoning test), and to express clearly what you are saying. Rhetorical questions to persuade and/or to show style won’t help you with your reasoning or your argument, but it may help your structure and your communication and coordination of ideas in the essay, so they can strengthen your essay if they’re used right. They definitely aren’t necessary, or necessarily good to use, but they can be good.</p>