English Know the ACT

Test Basics: English 75 items are on the test. The items are grouped into five passages. This is the first section on the test, and you have 45 minutes to complete it. Do the math: at most, how many minutes per item?

Test Basics: English 75 items are on the test. The items are grouped into five passages. This is the first section on the test, and you have 45 minutes to complete it. Do the math: at most, how many minutes per item? 45 minutes / 75 items ------------------ 36 seconds per item

Test Specifics: English Usage and Mechanics: Punctuation (10-15% of test; 7-12 questions) Periods, commas, apostrophes, dashes, colons, and semicolons Grammar and usage (15-20% of test; 12-15 questions) Subject/verb agreement, pronouns, modifiers, verb forms, comparatives/superlatives

Test Specifics: English Usage and Mechanics: Sentence Structure (20-25% of test; 12-15 questions) Clear, correct sentences

Test Specifics: English Rhetorical Skills: Strategy (15-20% of test; 12-15 questions) Clarity of argument (asks for adding/deleting material) Organization (10-15% of test; 7-12 questions) Transitions, introduction/conclusion sentences Style (15-20% of test; 12-15 questions) strengthening tone

ACT English Question Strategies Pay attention to sentence structure— NO run-ons; NO fragments

ACT English Question Strategies Pay attention to sentence structure— NO run-ons; NO fragments Skills to Master: Combining sentences with FANBOYS; Ensuring sentences contain a complete thought; Combining sentences with semicolons; Recognizing preference for simplicity!

Sentence structure example: Text credit: ACT.org

Sentence structure question: This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA Text credit: ACT.org

ACT English Question Strategies Pay attention to sentence structure— NO run-ons; NO fragments Pick the exact right word, especially transition words and phrases

ACT English Question Strategies Pay attention to sentence structure— NO run-ons; NO fragments Pick the exact right word, especially transition words and phrases Skills to Master: Recognizing relationships between ideas; Recognizing three main families of transitions (but, and, so).

Exact right word example: Text credit: ACT.org

Exact right word example: This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA Text credit: ACT.org

Exact right word example (2): Text credit: ACT.org

Exact right word example (2): This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA Text credit: ACT.org

ACT English Question Strategies Pay attention to sentence structure— NO run-ons; NO fragments Pick the exact right word, especially transition words and phrases Eliminate wordy expressions and redundancy---- Shorter is better!

ACT English Question Strategies Pay attention to sentence structure— NO run-ons; NO fragments Pick the exact right word, especially transition words and phrases Eliminate wordy expressions and redundancy---- Shorter is better! Skills to Master: Recognizing redundancy; Recognizing unnecessary words that just sound fancier.

Wordy expressions example: Text credit: ACT.org

Wordy expressions example: This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA Text credit: ACT.org

ACT English Question Strategies Pay attention to sentence structure— NO run-ons; NO fragments Pick the exact right word, especially transition words and phrases Eliminate wordy expressions and redundancy---- Shorter is better! Sound out contractions (it’s, who’s, they’re, you’re)

ACT English Question Strategies Pay attention to sentence structure— NO run-ons; NO fragments Pick the exact right word, especially transition words and phrases Eliminate wordy expressions and redundancy---- Shorter is better! Sound out contractions (it’s, who’s, they’re, you’re) Skills to Master: Recognizing what fits in the sentence!

Contractions example: Text credit: ACT.org

Contractions example: This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA Text credit: ACT.org

ACT English Question Strategies Pay attention to sentence structure— NO run-ons; NO fragments Pick the exact right word, especially transition words and phrases Eliminate wordy expressions and redundancy---- Shorter is better! Comma = Pause Sound out contractions (it’s, who’s, they’re, you’re)

ACT English Question Strategies Pay attention to sentence structure— NO run-ons; NO fragments Pick the exact right word, especially transition words and phrases Eliminate wordy expressions and redundancy---- Shorter is better! Comma = Pause Sound out contractions (it’s, who’s, they’re, you’re) Skills to Master: ACT is only testing this rule of thumb, NOT all comma rules!

Comma Rules example: Text credit: ACT.org

Comma Rules example: Text credit: ACT.org This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA Text credit: ACT.org

ACT English Question Strategies Pay attention to sentence structure— NO run-ons; NO fragments Pick the exact right word, especially transition words and phrases Eliminate wordy expressions and redundancy---- Shorter is better! Comma = Pause Sound out contractions (it’s, who’s, they’re, you’re) Make subjects/verbs and pronouns/antecedents agree

ACT English Question Strategies Pay attention to sentence structure— NO run-ons; NO fragments Pick the exact right word, especially transition words and phrases Eliminate wordy expressions and redundancy---- Shorter is better! Comma = Pause Sound out contractions (it’s, who’s, they’re, you’re) Skills to Master: Following the verb or pronoun to its subject or antecedent! Make subjects/verbs and pronouns/antecedents agree

Agreement example: Text credit: ACT.org

Agreement example: Text credit: ACT.org This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA Text credit: ACT.org

ACT English Question Strategies Pay attention to sentence structure— NO run-ons; NO fragments Pick the exact right word, especially transition words and phrases Eliminate wordy expressions and redundancy---- Shorter is better! Comma = Pause Follow directions precisely Sound out contractions (it’s, who’s, they’re, you’re) Make subjects/verbs and pronouns/antecedents agree

ACT English Question Strategies Pay attention to sentence structure— NO run-ons; NO fragments Pick the exact right word, especially transition words and phrases Eliminate wordy expressions and redundancy---- Shorter is better! Comma = Pause Follow directions precisely Sound out contractions (it’s, who’s, they’re, you’re) Make subjects/verbs and pronouns/antecedents agree

Following directions example: Text credit: ACT.org

Following directions example: This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA Text credit: ACT.org

Following directions example: Text credit: ACT.org

Following directions example: This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA Text credit: ACT.org

Kahoot #1: Kahoot #2: ACT English Review: Sources: Dr. Ben Phillips of Union University / Jane Ross Tutoring ACT.org