I’m trying to use the format=raw syntax for the cloud API variable request but am uncertain where to put it in relation to the access token. It is unclear in the reference docs. Does anyone know how to use it? Thanks in advance 
The parameters are URL encoded like with any GET request you’d separate the individual parameters with an ampersand (&).
This should work
https://api.particle.io/v1/devices/<yourDeviceID>/temperature?access_token=<yourToken>&format=raw