ACT PREP Writing Grammar and Reading Tips ACT

ACT PREP! Writing, Grammar, and Reading Tips

ACT WRITING TEST: The “Fast-Food” Essay (Ideas from http: //www. sparknotes. com)

THE “FAST-FOOD” ESSAY ⦿ A great ACT essay and a great essay are NOT the same thing. Great essays take hours, even days to write. ⦿ In 30 minutes you will not write an essay that will change the world. ⦿ Fast food is not just fast, it’s consistent. ⦿ You need to learn how to write a top-notch essay every time. ⦿ To make it happen consider the 3 key things that all fast food chains know: � Your customers � Your ingredients � How to put the ingredients together

KNOW YOUR CUSTOMERS: ⦿ Two trained raters will score your essay on a scale of 1 -6 ⦿ The 2 grades are then added; final scores range from 2 -12 ⦿ Raters are instructed to look for student’s ability to do the following: � To take a side and articulate that opinion on the issue � To maintain a clear focus � To explain your position with good evidence and solid reasoning � To organize ideas logically � To communicate clearly ⦿ Here’s how the raters separate the good from the bad: Score Characteristics: 4 -6 • Writer shows clear understanding of purpose and fully develops ideas • Claims are supported with specific examples • A clear focus maintained • Writer demonstrates competent use of language (e. g. , word choice, sent. structure) • Although there may be some errors, they don’t interfere with rater’s understanding of essay 1 -3 • Writer does not clearly articulate position on issue • Development of ideas are general or repetitious • Focus is not maintained in every paragraph • Incorrect word choice/ weak or awkward sentence structures • Errors distracting and interfere with rater’s understanding.

HOW TO ENTICE YOUR CUSTOMERS: ⦿ DO LIST: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Write only on the given topic Take a clear position Write persuasively to convince rater Include examples to support position Write with correct grammar and spelling Write as clearly as possible Write specifically with concrete examples Write 4 -5 paragraphs Write as neatly as possible in PRINT ⦿ DON’T LIST: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Write on a topic that relates vaguely to the one given Take a wishy-washy position or argue 2 sides Write creatively just to show off Include examples not related to position Forget to proof for grammar mistakes or misspelled words Use poor sentence structure (e. g. , overly long sentences) Be vague Put more importance on length than quality Write in cursive

KNOW YOUR INGREDIENTS: ⦿ To write a “tasty” essay, you have got use these ingredients: Position: strong and clear opinion expressed in intro (a. k. a. —thesis) 2. Examples: relevant, well-developed, specific reasons that support position 3. Organization: highly recommend Jane Schaeffer 4. Command of Language: sentence construction, word choice, grammar 1.

1. POSITIONING ⦿ ⦿ ACT essay topics will address � Example: • ACT PROMPT: issues that pertain to high Many successful adults recall a time in their life when school students; most are they were considered a failure at one pursuit or about education (e. g. , dress another. Some of these people feel strongly that their previous failures taught them valuable lessons and led code, block scheduling) to their later successes. Others maintain that they Employ 2 strategies in stating went on to achieve success for entirely different reasons. In your opinion, can failure lead to success? your position: Or is failure simply its own experience? 1. 2. Rephrase the prompt in your own words Choose a side (yea or nay) • STUDENT’S POSITION: (thesis) “Failure can lead to success by teaching important lessons that help us avoid repeating mistakes in the future. ”

2. EXAMPLES ⦿ Strong examples… �Go into detail �Get specific ⦿ Note: choose examples that you know a lot about, (duh!) so that you can give specific, descriptive details! ⦿ Use a broad range of examples from different areas: �History �Current events �Personal life �Politics ⦿ Again, stick to what you know. �Don’t make stuff up �Rely on “common knowledge” when you have to.

3. ORGANIZATION ⦿ ⦿ A good “fast-food” essay is like the double or triple-decker burger: Use 2 -3 body paragraphs. � (Three body paragraphs are better, but if you run out of time it is better to drop the 3 rd body paragraph instead of conclusion. ) ⦿ Intro: (4+ sentences) � Grab reader’s attention � States your position/ thesis ⦿ Body Paragraphs: (4 -5 sentences long) � Topic Sentence � Concrete Detail � 2+ Commentary � CD (optional) � 2+ CM (optional) � Concluding Sentence (optional) ⦿ Conclusion: (4+ sentences) � Recap argument � Possibly: expand on position, look to future, give a “what if” scenario; basically, close meaningfully ⦿ NOTE: Give intro and conclusion same attention as body paragraphs. Each paragraph should be equally good.

4. COMMAND OF LANGUAGE ⦿ Variation of sentence structure �Vary length � no “awkward” sentences �Transition between sentences when necessary (e. g. , “clearly, ” “furthermore, ” “however”) ⦿ Word Choice �Use sophisticated words if you can �Use the proper word; don’t just try to show off ⦿ Grammar, punctuation, and spelling. �Raters are instructed to look for “patterns” of errors �Minor mistakes won’t kill you

KNOW HOW TO PUT YOUR INGREDIENTS TOGETHER ⦿ Step 1: Read prompt closely. Understand it? Choose a side. (1 min) ⦿ Step 2: Brainstorm and create an outline. (45 min) ⦿ Step 3: Write the essay. (15 min) ⦿ Step 4: Proof the essay. (3 min)

TROUBLE SHOOTING: ⦿ Refutation? ? ? �Can go anywhere �Get in; get out. State the opposition; then argue against their claim • ⦿ In Opponents of yada assert… the intro, how can I grab my reader’s attention? ⦿ Any other questions? ? ?

WRITING SCORING ⦿ 6 Point Holistic Scoring Rubric ⦿ To get above a 2, they must have a counter argument! It can be very small, but they must show that they see the other side of the issue. ⦿ http: //www. opi. mt. gov/PUb/PDF/Assessment/ ACT/12 Fall 6 Point. Holistic. Rubric. pdf

Grammar, Usage & Mechanics ⦿ 40 questions � A. Sentence Structure (18 questions) • 1. Fragments • 2. Run-Ons • 3. Modifiers • 4. Parallelism • 5. Conjunctions

Grammar, cont. ⦿ B. Usage (12 questions) � 1. S-V Agreement � 2. Consistency � 3. Pronoun- Antecedent Agreement � 4. Adverbs and Adjectives � 5. Comparatives and Superlatives � 6. Prepositions � 7. Idioms

Grammar, Cont. ⦿ Punctuation (10 questions) � 1. Commas (3 comma rules!) � 2. Semicolons, Dashes, Colons � 3. Apostrophe

Rhetorical Skills (35 ? ’s) ⦿ A. Style (12 questions) � 1. � 2. � 3. � 4. Redundancy Wordiness Word Choice Clarity

Rhetorical Skills Cont. ⦿ B. Strategy (12 questions) • • • Use appropriate transitions Maintain tone Maintain main idea Provide Supporting Details Revision Strategies

Rhetorical Skills, Cont. ⦿ C. Organization (11 questions) • • Reorder sentences within a paragraph Reorder paragraphs within an essay

Other Tips for the students. . . ⦿ ACT does not like redundancy. . . short and clear sentences are the best ⦿ Most punctuation are about commas ⦿ 3 kinds of transitions and conjunctions

Fall 2015 Writing Changes The ACT writing test will remain an optional essay test with a single prompt. Each prompt will present a paragraph that introduces and gives context to a given issue, and three perspectives on the issue. The writer is asked to “evaluate and analyze” the given perspectives; to “state and develop” his or her own perspective; and to “explain the relationship” between his or her perspective and those given. Taken as a whole, these pieces constitute a rich argumentative task that draws from subgenres including evaluative argument and rhetorical analysis, and that also calls upon the tools of expository writing. http: //www. act. org/actnext/