SAT Test Prep Lesson #4 – Writing Source: AVID Coordinator’s Training on February 6, 2014 by Study Smart Tutors

“To succeed, we must first believe that we can.” -Michael Korda

Writing Quick Facts This section discusses error ID and improving sentences and paragraphs All sections, except paragraph improvement, increase in difficulty The grammar section has a lot of traps since test takers usually respond based on what “sounds good” and not what is actually correct

Error ID Questions never There is never more than one error in a sentence One answer will be easy to eliminate The non-underlined part is never wrong “No Error” will occur about 20% of the time

Improving Sentences You must identify & correct the error Answer (A) always repeats the question If there is something wrong, eliminate (A) There can be multiple errors in a sentence (unlike error ID questions) Shorter revisions are best

Using Answers as a Guide use the answer choices for guidance. When questions are challenging, use the answer choices for guidance.

Periods & Semicolons Periods should only be at the end of complete sentences. Semicolons (;) are used when two sentences are closely related thereforehowever Semicolons are also used with conjunctive adverbs such as therefore and however Semicolons can also be used in lists following a colon

Semicolon Example #1 Question: Why does the sentence “I’m going to the grocery store; I need to buy food for the party” have a semicolon?Answer: The two statements “I’m going to the grocery store” and “I need to buy food for the party” are related. They are also two separate independent clauses that could otherwise be separated by a period.

Semicolon Example #2 Question: Why does the sentence “I wanted to play golf today; however, I have to go to school” have a semicolon?Answer: The sentence uses the conjunctive adverb, however. Using a semicolon before the adverb and a comma after helps unite the two sentence parts.

Semicolon Example #3 Question: Why does the sentence “My road trip will take me to the following places: Istanbul, Turkey; Rome, Italy; and Paris, France” have a semicolon?Answer: The sentence has a list of places that relate to a single trip. The places are independent and therefore separated by semicolons.

The Apostrophe Apostrophes are used to signal possession Apostrophes can also be used to replace letters that are removed in contractions

Apostrophes Example #1 Question: Jeff ’s hat is very ugly. Sarah’s paper is quite interesting.Answer: Apostrophes are used to show that Jeff owns the hat and Sarah wrote the paper.

Apostrophes Example #2 Question: Don’t, let’s, wouldn’t, couldn’tAnswer: Each word represents a contraction between two words, so an apostrophe is used.

The Colon The colon is used in two situations. Both need independent clauses, or complete sentences, before the colon Colons are used to 1.) introduce lists, 2.) introduce an explanation or example

Colon Example #1 Question: After four days, the jury made its decision: the defendant was guilty.Answer: The colon separates a complete sentence from a single example decision.

Colon Example #2 Question: Why is the use of a colon in the sentence “My favorite places to eat are: Burger Pit, Pizza palace and at home” incorrect?Answer: The colon is used incorrectly because the first half of the sentence is not preceded by a complete sentence.

Noun Agreement Nouns must agree with other nouns and verbs in the sentence Make sure the noun is consistently singular or plural

Noun Agreement Example #1 Question: Many students suffer from a guilty conscience immediately after cheating on a difficult exam. a) Many students suffer from a guilty conscience b) Many student suffer from a guilty conscience c) Many students suffer from guilty conscious’ d) Many students suffer from guilty consciences e) Many students suffer from guilt conscience’sAnswer: The correct answer is letter d because if there are many students, a plural noun, they must have many consciences, another plural term.

Noun Agreement Example #2 Question: High school students who play sports are more likely to become a successful college student. a) Are more likely to become a successful college student b) Are more likely to become successful college students c) Is more likely to be a successful college student d) Is more likely to be successful in college e) Are more likely to succeed when going to collegeAnswer: Letter b is correct because there are many students who play many sports, both are plural terms. The result, all nouns must be consistently plural, so the final word “student” must be changed to be plural, “students”

Subject/Verb Agreement Singular subjects must take singular verbs and plural subjects must take plural verbs

Subject/Verb Agreement Example #1

Subject/Verb Agreement Example #2

And vs. Or Subjects joined by “and” are always plural Subjects joined by “or” can be singular or plural. If the last noun is singular, it takes a singular verb. If the last noun is plural, it takes the plural verb

And vs. Or Examples

Additional Practice With the remaining class time, click on the SAT logo below to view videos of sample writing questions.