Should my ACT essay reflect a real life experience or a literary work?

I read in your blog that using real life examples to support your points in the ACT essay is a good idea. However, my teacher told me I should practice using examples from literature and culture.

I’m experimenting with different types of arguments, but I’d like to have a straightforward answer on what I should actually do on the test so I can focus on that while I’m studying.

On the ACT essay, your examples can be from history, culture, literature, or your own life. The source of the example is less important than the quality of the example, meaning both how well you can describe it and how well it supports your point. A specific example from your personal life is much more valuable than a vague reference to Shakespeare. As our ACT Writing tips article states, whether your example is factually perfect is less important than whether it's logically consistent.