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 Great site for preparing for the ACT English Test if you need a grammar review.  Commas are tricky and tested heavily on the ACT.

Number2 Use this site to prepare for the ACT BUT it is best for expanding your vocabulary! New Users: Click here!

ACT Exam Success This sidebar contains links to valuable information! Ignore the ACTOnlinePrep link.

ACT Exam Success The Writing Test is a requirement in Michigan, nor an option.

English Test English Test Overview  On the ACT English Test, you will have 45 minutes to read five prose passages and answer 75 multiple choice questions.  These questions test two types of English skills: Your understanding of the conventions of standard written English (“Usage and Mechanics”) Your knowledge of rhetorical strategies and techniques (“Rhetorical Skills”).

Continued English Test Continued The 40 questions about usage and mechanics cover: – – punctuation (13%), – – grammar and usage (16%) – – sentence structure (24%). The 35 questions about rhetorical skills address: – – general writing strategies (16%) – – organizational techniques (15%), – – style (16%).

Reading Test Overview   The ACT Reading Test assesses your ability to read and understand what ACT considers college freshman level material.   The test is 35 minutes long and includes 40 questions.   There are four passages on the test, each of which is followed by ten multiple-choice questions.

Reading Test Continued The passages (each around 800 words) are identified by a heading that will tell you what type of text you are about to read (fiction, for example), who the author is, the date it was written, and might also give you more information to help you understand the passage. The lines of the passage are numbered to identify sections of the text in the questions that follow.

Understanding the ACT Writing Prompt The ACT Writing Test The ACT Writing Test Prompts used for the ACT Writing Test Prompts used for the ACT Writing Test Sample ACT Essay Prompt Sample ACT Essay Prompt Anchor #1 Anchor #1 Anchor #2 - #4 Anchor #2 - #4

Combined English/Writing Scale Scores Complete these steps to calculate your Combined English/Writing Score Find your scale score for the English Test in the left column. Find your scale score for the English Test in the left column. Find your Writing Test subscore at the top of the table. Find your Writing Test subscore at the top of the table. Follow the English Test score row across and the Writing Test subscore column down until the two meet. Follow the English Test score row across and the Writing Test subscore column down until the two meet. The Combined score is found where the row and column meet. The Combined score is found where the row and column meet.

The Metaphor Graphic Organizer F-G G-H H-I

ACT and the Persuasive Essay The Fast Food Essay The Metaphor Graphic Organizer The Metaphor Graphic Organizer F-G G-H H-I

FAST FOOD Graphic Organizer for your Essay Know Your Customers (B-C) Know Your Customers (B-C) –Do/Don’t –Scorer’s Instruction Know Your Ingredients (D-M) Know Your Ingredients (D-M) Know How to Put the Ingredients Together (N) Know How to Put the Ingredients Together (N)

KNOW YOUR INGREDIENTS 1. POSITIONING (D) The student’s essay must take a position on the question –Show students how to rephrase the prompt –Select a position 2. EXAMPLES (E) Students must include excellent examples –Strong examples include specific events, dates, or measurable changes over time –Students must write about things that have happened in detail –Varity of examples is important too…how much ground students cover

KNOW YOUR INGREDIENTS CONTINUED 3. ORGANIZATION (F) No matter what topics students decide to write upon the organization should be the same. No matter what topics students decide to write upon the organization should be the same. The Top Bun: Introduction Paragraph #1 The introduction to an ACT essay The introduction to an ACT essay has to do 3 things : Grab the scorer’s attention Grab the scorer’s attention Explain your position on the topic clearly and concisely Explain your position on the topic clearly and concisely Acknowledge the counter argument to the student’s position Acknowledge the counter argument to the student’s position Transition the scores smoothly into your three examples Transition the scores smoothly into your three examples

KNOW YOUR INGREDIENTS CONTINUED Transition between Meat Paragraphs Transition between Meat Paragraphs (paragraphs #2–3 and #3-4) The first meat paragraph dives right into its topic sentence, but the second and third meat paragraphs need transitions. Help student with transition words like another or finally. Help student with transition words like another or finally. 3. ORGANIZATION (H)

KNOW YOUR INGREDIENTS CONTINUED 3. ORGANIZATION (H-I) No matter what topics students decide to write upon the organization should be the same. No matter what topics students decide to write upon the organization should be the same. The Bottom Bun: Conclusion (Paragraph #5) The conclusion of a student essay should accomplish 2 things : The conclusion of a student essay should accomplish 2 things : Recap the student’s argument Recap the student’s argument Expand the student’s position and look to the future Expand the student’s position and look to the future

KNOW YOUR INGREDIENTS CONTINUED COMMAND OF LANGUAGE (K-M) 4. COMMAND OF LANGUAGE (K-M) An ACT essay with a clear position and strong examples will not get a perfect score without the Special Sauce, so work with students to pay close attention to these 3 facets of their essay: An ACT essay with a clear position and strong examples will not get a perfect score without the Special Sauce, so work with students to pay close attention to these 3 facets of their essay: –Variation in Sentence Structure –Word Choice –Grammar and Spelling

KNOW HOW TO PUT YOUR INGREDIENTS TOGETHER Process and Pacing Chart STEP 1: Understand the prompt and take a position. 1 MINUTE STEP 2: Brainstorm examples. 4–5 MINUTES STEP 3: Create an outline. 5–6 MINUTES STEP 4: Write the essay. 15 MINUTES STEP 5: Proof the essay. 3 MINUTES

On Demand Persuasive Writing IDEA ORGANIZER IDEA ORGANIZER My position is... My counter argument is... Reason #1 Support... Reason #2 Support... Reason #3 Support...

ACT Persuasive Writing Scoring Guidelines Student will use a 6 point, Persuasive Essay holistic rubric on the day of the test Student will use a 6 point, Persuasive Essay holistic rubric on the day of the test Teachers can use a 6 point, Persuasive Essay analytic rubric instructionally with students before the test date Teachers can use a 6 point, Persuasive Essay analytic rubric instructionally with students before the test date Student friendly rubric Student friendly rubric

ACT Writing Comment and Condition Codes COMMENT CODES Make and Articulate Judgment Make and Articulate Judgment Develop Ideas Develop Ideas Sustain Focus Sustain Focus Organize and Present Ideas Organize and Present Ideas Communicate Clearly Communicate Clearly CONDITION CODES Passage submitted cannot be scored Passage submitted cannot be scored No valid English score No valid English score

Setting ACT Score Goals English Test + English Test + Mathematics Test + Mathematics Test + Reading Test + Reading Test + Science Reasoning Test Science Reasoning Test + =Total Score Goal divided by 4 =Total Score Goal divided by 4 =Composite Score Goal =Composite Score Goal

College Readiness Standards English Scores English Scores Mathematics Scores Mathematics Scores Reading Scores Reading Scores Science Reasoning Scores Science Reasoning Scores –Life Science/Biology –Physical Science/Chemistry/Physics –Earth Science/Space ACT Writing ACT Writing