+ Two 3-Step Methods from Kaplan: ACT ENGLISH

+ Two 3-Step Methods Step 1: Ask: “Does This Stuff Belong Here?” Step 2: Ask: “Does This Stuff Make Sense?” Step 3: Ask: “Does This Stuff Sound Like English?” Step 1: Read Efficiently Step 2: Predict and Eliminate Step 3: Plug-in Method 1Method 2

+ Method #1: Questions You Might Ask Step 1: Ask: “Does This Stuff Belong Here?” Step 2: Ask: “Does This Stuff Make Sense?” Step 3: Ask: “Does This Stuff Sound Like English?”

+ Method #1: Step 1 “ Does This Stuff Belong Here?” Make sure the underlined phrase makes sense in its location in the sentence and that it is as concise as possible. Questions you might ask yourself: -Does the underlined section belong? -Is it expressed as succinctly as possible? If the answer is “no,” choose the answer that gets rid of the stuff that doesn’t belong. It the answer is “yes,” move on to Step 2…

+ Method #1: Step 2 “Does This Stuff Make Sense?” Make sure sentences flow together and make logical sense Question you might ask yourself: -Does the underlined part of the passage make logical sense? If the answer is “no,” select the choice that turns nonsense into sense. If the answer is “yes,” move on to Step 3…

+ Method #1: Step 3 “Does This Stuff Sound Like English?” Grammatical errors will most likely sound wrong to your ear, so trust your instinct! Listen carefully to yourself as you go through the test -Don’t concentrate solely on the technical rules of grammar and punctuation. REMEMBER: the 1 st thing to get rid of is unnecessary or irrelevant words. Only after you have decided that the underlined section is concise, relevant, and logical do you go on to Step 3. HINT: You won’t necessarily have to go through all 3 steps on every English question—the answer can come at any point in the 3-step method.

+ Method #2 Step 1: Read efficiently Pause at each underlined portion Identify the issue Step 2: Predict and eliminate Read the answer choices and any question stems Rule out choices that don’t address the issue Step 3: Plug In Substitute remaining choices Select the best choices

+ Method #2: Step 1 Step 1: Read Efficiently Stay focused and work quickly Pause at each underlined portion: you will read enough of each passage to be able to answer each question Once you’ve answered the questions, you will resume reading where you left off Occasionally you will read beyond the sentence with an underlined portion to figure out the correct answer Identify the issue: decide whether the question is asking you to apply a grammatical rule, determine the best stylistic choice, or choose the most appropriate organization Identifying the problem in the test makes it easy to find the answer choice that best addresses it

+ YOUR TURN Use Step 1 for the selection below. People often complain that are generation is politically apathetic and depressed. Just 25 years ago, it was common for students to join strikes and anti-war protests. What is the issue?

+ Method #2: Step 2 Step 2: Predict and Eliminate You may sometimes be able to make predictions (or think of an answer) before reading the choices Use eliminating to confirm the answer you have chosen is correct or to increase your odds of selecting the correct answer Read each answer choice and look for a match to your prediction. Its important to read all four choices. Frequently, more than one answer is grammatically correct. Find the BEST answer. YOUR TURN Use Step 2 for the question below: Many students think that choosing (C) when in doubt was a good test- taking strategy, but Ms. Chang taught them more reliable strategies. A. NO CHANGE Eliminate? -What is the issue?B. student thinks Eliminate? -What is your prediction?C. students thinks Eliminate? D. students thought Eliminate?

+ Method #2: Step 3 Step 3: Plug In Use the context to your advantage Substitute the remaining choices Once you have eliminated any choices that don’t address the issue, plug in the remaining answers to determine the choice that works best in the context Select the BEST choice: choose the one that is clearest and most relevant to the given context

+ Your Turn Use steps 1, 2, and 3 to answer the 2nd question: People often complain that are generation is politically apathetic and depressed. Just 25 years ago, it was common for students to join strikes and anti-war protests. These days, though, most young people are more likely to be found watching MTV or shopping at the a mall than rallying to support a treasured belief. Step 1: What is the issue? Step 2: What’s your prediction? A. NO CHANGE Eliminate? B. apathetic, uninterested, and ignorant of politics Eliminate? C. apathetic and unhappy Eliminate? D. apathetic Eliminate? Step 3: ________ is the best answer because _____________.