5 Passages 75 Questions 45 Minutes ACT English Test 5 Passages 75 Questions 45 Minutes

English Test Content Production of Writing (29-32%) Determine whether a text’s goal has been reached (Purpose) Evaluate relevance of material (Relevancy) Ensure logical organization, smooth flow, proper transitions, effective introduction and conclusion (Organization)

English Test Content Knowledge of Language (13-19%) Ensure concise word choice Maintain consistency in style and tone (Style)

English Test Content Conventions of English (51-56%) Apply understanding of conventions of standard English Apply understanding of sentence structure and formation Make revisions to improve writing Recognize common problems with punctuation Recognize common problems with usage

Production of Writing These questions ask you to apply your understanding of the purpose and focus of a piece of writing

Writer’s Goal or Purpose These questions ask you to determine if the writing does what the author intended for it to do. “Suppose the writer’s goal had been…”(Question #15 page 330) “Suppose the writer’s primary purpose had been…” (Question #75 page 339)

Tips for Answering Purpose Questions 1. Review the passage briefly before answering. 2. Ask yourself whether the passage fulfills the writer’s intended goal or purpose. This will eliminate two of the four responses.

Tips for Answering Purpose Questions 3. Finally ask yourself why the passage either fulfills or does not fulfill the goal or purpose stated in the question.

Relevancy of Material These questions ask you to determine whether sentences or phrases should be added, changed, or deleted and why.

Relevancy of Material “At this point, the writer is considering adding…” (Question #64 page 338) “If the writer were to delete the preceding…” (Question #74 page 339)

Relevancy of Material How do I answer these questions? Is the information relevant or irrelevant to the focus of the paragraph of passage? Two answers say YES and two say NO First determine whether the answer is YES or NO (continued on next slide)

Relevancy of Material How do I answer these questions? (continued from previous slide) This will eliminate two of the four responses. Then state in your own words why the information should be added or removed. The answer will then be clear.

Relevancy of Material These questions ask you to recognize irrelevant material – material that is technically correct but does not relate to the topic being discussed.

Relevancy of Material “At this point, the writer is considering adding…” (Question #27 page 332) Notice that the question seeks to add irrelevant material to the passage. Always be concise

Organization These questions ask you to recognize the proper order of words, sentences, and paragraphs Ideas should flow logically and coherently

Organization You will need to recognize logical order in… Sentences Paragraphs Essays

Transitions Transitions help with the flow and logical order of the writing. Transition questions are the most common rhetoric question on the ACT.

Transitions Transitions typically fall into three main categories: Transitions within sentences Transitions between sentences Transitions between paragraphs

Types of Transitions Continuers Contradictors Cause and Effect And Also Finally Furthermore In addition In conclusion In fact Indeed Likewise Moreover Next Of course Similarly Then Although But Despite Even so Even though However In contrast In spite of Instead Meanwhile Nevertheless On the contrary On the other hand Rather While Yet Accordingly As a result As such Because Consequently For So Therefore Thus

Transitional Sentences These questions ask you to identify the best transitional sentences between paragraphs. “Which choice best introduces the subject of the paragraph…” (Question #22 page 331)

Knowledge of Language These questions ask you to maintain consistency in style and tone. Formal vs. Casual Style Point of View Word Choice (Diction) Subject Matter

Diction Words have multiple meanings: Denotation – definition without emotional attachment Connotation – definition with emotional attachment What is wrong with the following statement? The doctor found that the new procedure caused his mortality rate to drop alarmingly.

Diction – Commonly Confused Words Then vs. Than Then = Next Than = Comparison The cookies were better then the cake. The cookies were better than the cake.

Diction – Commonly Confused Words Are vs. Our Are = Verb Our = Possessive Pronoun Grandma brought the dog to are house. Grandma brought the dog to our house.

Diction – Commonly Confused Words Have vs. Of Could, should, would, might should always be followed by have, NOT of We should of went to a movie instead of the park due to the rainy weather. We should have went to a movie instead of the park due to the rainy weather.

Rules for Answering Rhetorical Skills Questions 1. When in doubt, remove the underlined portion

Taking it Out 1/3 of questions on the ACT are for bad writing habits such as long windedness, repetitiousness, and irrelevance Be Concise – The shortest answers are correct ½ of the time Omit – when offered this is the shortest answer

When in Doubt Omit or Remove Always try to remove unnecessary or irrelevant words. Look for technical errors only after you have decided the underlined selection is concise and relevant.

Rules for Answering Rhetorical Skills Questions 2. Make it make sense!

Make it Make Sense Complete Sentences – Fragments and run-ons appear frequently on the ACT Correctly placed modifiers Adequate and appropriate transitions Correct verb usage Consistent tone

Rules for Answering Rhetorical Skills Questions 3. Trust your ear!

Trust Your Ear Look for any of the following: Shifts in construction Shifts in tone, point of view, tense, or number Shifts in dialect