Strategies for Critical Reading and Writing Success SAT EXAM Strategies for Critical Reading and Writing Success

SAT EXAM Your verbal scores (200—800)come from two areas: Critical Reading, which includes… Sentence Completion Critical Reading Passages Writing, which includes… Essay Multiple-Choice Questions Identifying Sentence Errors Improving Sentences Improving Paragraphs

Sentence Completion Strategies See page 55 (General Strategies) See pages 78—90 (Vocabulary Development)

Sentence Completion Strategies Try inserting your own word

Sentence Completion Strategies Try inserting your own word Look for signal words: Synonyms Antonyms Definitions Positive and/or negative connotation

Sentence Completion Strategies Try inserting your own word Look for signal words Two blanks? Try the second word first

Sentence Completion Strategies Try inserting your own word Look for signal words Two blanks? Try the second word first Read each answer into the sentence; eliminate wrong answers as you go

Sentence Completion Practice Sentence Completion Problems Two sets; 9 sentences, and then 6 sentences

Critical Reading Introduction See pages 64--71

Critical Reading Introduction 3 sections count toward your score Two 25 minute sections One 20 minute section At least two sections will have Sentence Completion

Critical Reading Introduction 3 sections count toward your score 48 Reading questions (plus 19 Sentence Completion, for a total of 67 questions)

Critical Reading Introduction 3 sections count toward your score Total of 48 Reading questions (plus 19 Sentence Completion) Short Passages, Long Passages, Paired Passages

Critical Reading Introduction 3 sections count toward your score Total of 48 Reading questions (plus 19 Sentence Completion) Short Passages, Long Passages, Paired Passages Passages from hard sciences, social sciences, arts and humanities

Critical Reading Introduction 3 sections count toward your score Total of 48 Reading questions (plus 19 Sentence Completion) Short Passages, Long Passages, Paired Passages Passages from hard sciences, social sciences, arts and humanities Essential to practice at home and analyze wrong answers

Attack-Strategies for Critical Reading 1. Start with the first passage; answer all questions for that passage.

Attack-Strategies for Critical Reading Start with the first passage; answer all questions for that passage. Skim the questions before reading; don’t read the answers yet!

Attack-Strategies for Critical Reading Start with the first passage; answer all questions for that passage. Skim the questions before reading. Read the passage ONCE (more reading advice to follow).

Attack-Strategies for Critical Reading Start with the first passage; answer all questions for that passage. Skim the questions before reading. Read the passage ONCE. Read the questions carefully.

Attack-Strategies for Critical Reading Start with the first passage; answer all questions for that passage. Skim the questions before reading. Read the passage ONCE. Read the questions carefully. Read each answer choice carefully; ONLY use the information in the passage; eliminate wrong answers.

Reading Strategies for Great Comprehension Read the passage ONCE. Get the gist of the passage on your first reading.

Reading Strategies for Great Comprehension Read the passage ONCE. To avoid rereading, get the content by… READING ACTIVELY

Reading Strategies for Great Comprehension Read the passage ONCE. To avoid rereading, get the content by… READING ACTIVELY VISUALIZING

Reading Strategies for Great Comprehension Read the passage ONCE. To avoid rereading, get the content by… READING ACTIVELY VISUALIZING PARAPHRASING

Reading Strategies for Great Comprehension Read the passage ONCE. To avoid rereading, get the content by… READING ACTIVELY VISUALIZING PARAPHRASING ANALYZING

Skills for Reading Analysis Distinguish main idea from supporting ideas. Distinguish hypothetical or speculative ideas from author’s committed ideas. Identify transitions from one idea to another. Identify the relationship between different ideas. Recognize vocabulary within context.

Critical Reading Question Accessibility Know how to access the accurate answer; questions are written in three levels: FACTUAL QUESTIONS

Critical Reading Question Accessibility Know how to access the accurate answer; questions are written in three levels: FACTUAL QUESTIONS MAIN IDEA QUESTIONS

Critical Reading Question Accessibility Know how to access the accurate answer; questions are written in three levels: FACTUAL QUESTIONS MAIN IDEA QUESTIONS HIDDEN IDEA QUESTIONS

Critical Reading Eliminating Wrong Answers Answers can be eliminated when they are… IRRELEVANT to the question

Critical Reading Eliminating Wrong Answers Answers can be eliminated when they are… IRRELEVANT to the question CONTRADICTORY to the passage

Critical Reading Eliminating Wrong Answers Answers can be eliminated when they are… IRRELEVANT to the question CONTRADICTORY to the passage TOO GENERAL or TOO SPECIFIC

Critical Reading Eliminating Wrong Answers Answers can be eliminated when they are… IRRELEVANT to the question CONTRADICTORY to the passage TOO GENERAL or TOO SPECIFIC NEVER ADDRESSED in the passage

Critical Reading Eliminating Wrong Answers Answers can be eliminated when they are… IRRELEVANT to the question CONTRADICTORY to the passage TOO GENERAL or TOO SPECIFIC NEVER ADDRESSED in the passage INACCURATE ABSOLUTES or QUALIFIERS

Critical Reading Eliminating Wrong Answers Answers can be eliminated when they are… IRRELEVANT to the question CONTRADICTORY to the passage TOO GENERAL or TOO SPECIFIC NEVER ADDRESSED in the passage INACCURATE ABSOLUTES or QUALIFIERS LOOK FOR THE SPECIFIC WORD(S) THAT ARE WRONG

Critical Reading Practice Test Questions and Review Two long passages; 15 total questions

Critical Reading Final Advice Practice daily, concentrate on improving accuracy before efficiency Analyze why non-credited answers are wrong Analyze your own “misses” Analyze your own strengths and weaknesses Keep practicing!

SAT ESSAY WRITING See pages 114—126. Use the opportunity to shine and communicate. Write a persuasive essay; take a stand and convince the reader it’s plausible. 25 minutes. 2 pieces of paper (plan/organize in test book). Must use pencil.

SAT ESSAY SCORING Scored holistically (1—6) by two separate readers. Two readers’ scores combined; reported score 2—12. Third reader used if needed. Essay Score is factored into your overall Writing Score (200—800).

SAT ESSAY SCORING Scoring Guide overall summary: Write ON TOPIC Use clear, logical ORGANIZATION DEVELOP IDEAS THOROUGHLY Use sophisticated, STANDARD WRITTEN ENGLISH

SAT ESSAY SUGGESTIONS Remember it’s just a draft, not polished writing. DO INDENT PARAGRAPHS! Skip no lines. Be as neat as possible. Use third person (one); never use second person (you). Organize/plan in advance. Remember your audience.

SAT ESSAY TIMING 3—4 minutes: read the topic and plan Planning goals: Choose your position Gather your evidence, examples, ideas (brainstorm) Organize evidence into body paragraphs 20 minutes: write the essay 1—2 minutes: proofread

SAT ESSAY ORGANIZATION INTRODUCTION Use key words. Focus on the importance of the topic. State a clear thesis. Do not summarize the prompt. 2—3 sentences.

SAT ESSAY ORGANIZATION INTRODUCTION BODY PARAGRAPHS (write 2—3) Use topic sentences. Use concrete, specific examples. Show an awareness of the world, its history and literature (but avoid pop culture). Explain how your examples support your thesis. Insert transitions between examples.

SAT ESSAY ORGANIZATION INTRODUCTION BODY PARAGRAPHS CONCLUSION Avoid mere summary. Answer “so what?” and address the topic’s greater importance. 2—3 sentences.

SAT ESSAY PRACTICE Sample topic and planning Organize your examples Write a thesis Write no complete sentences Discuss and compare examples Repeat with second topic

MULTIPLE-CHOICE WRITING ONE 25 minute section with all three question types. ONE 10 minute section with one of the question types (usually Improving Sentences). 49 total questions.

MULTIPLE-CHOICE WRITING THREE QUESTION TYPES: IDENTIFYING SENTENCE ERRORS / SPOTTING THE MISTAKE (PG. 92) IMPROVING SENTENCES / SENTENCE CORRECTION (PG. 93) IMPROVING PARAGRAPHS / REVISION FOR CLARITY AND PRECISION (PG. 94)

COMMON WRITING ERRORS AGREEMENT ERRORS (pp. 98—99) PRONOUN ERRORS (pp. 99—102) VERB ERRORS (pp. 103—105) DICTION / IDIOM ERRORS (pp. 105—107) MODIFIER ERRORS (pp. 107—108) SENTENCE STRUCTURE / PUNCTUATION ERRORS (pp. 108—110)

MULTIPLE-CHOICE WRITING Sample test #1—5 (Identifying Sentence Errors) #12—19 (Improving Sentences) #30—32 (Improving Passages) Correct

You Can Do It! GOOD LUCK ON THE SAT EXAM!