SAT Prep Course English: Mrs. Lowe & Mr. Sorensen Math: Ms. Gilman

SAT Overview

 Check now.  Check again prior to taking the SAT for the first time and any subsequent times. Find out if the colleges you’re applying to require the essay!

Scoring *Within reading, writing, and math, there are also cross-test scores and subscores.

SAT Overview

 You have to move quickly. Ex: Reading – 52 questions in 65 minutes You have an average of 1 minute and 15 seconds to answer each question, BUT THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE TIME IT TAKES YOU TO READ THE PASSAGE(S). Moral of the Story

 1. Triaging the Test  2. Elimination  3. Guessing Test-Taking Strategies

 You do not need to complete the test in order.  First do all of the easy questions you can quickly work through, and then attempt more difficult questions and/or passages.  Remember, you can skip around within each section, but you can’t work on a section other than the one you’ve been instructed to work on. Triaging

 Cross out the answers that you know are incorrect. Elimination

 Pretty self explanatory  There is no penalty for guessing.  Do not leave any answers blank. Guess

 Annotate as you read. This becomes a “passage map” that will lead you to the correct answers.  Identify the key words and phrases in the question. Ex: The main purpose of the passage is to Ex: According to the passage, Hale received a commission in  Predict the answer before reading the choices: “Predict before you peek.” Remember: The SAT is an open-book test! How to Tackle the Reading Section

 U.S. and World Literature – 1 passage; 9 questions  History/Social Studies – 2 passages OR 1 passage and 1 paired-passage set; questions each  Science – 2 passages or 1 passage or 1 paired-passage set; 9-10 questions each Types of Passages on the SAT

 Characters – Ask: What do they want? What are they doing? What adjectives describe them? What are their opinions of each other and themselves? Do they like or dislike each other?  Notice indirect and direct characterization.  Notice character motivation.  Themes: What are the turning points? Is there a moral to the story? U.S. and World Literature Passage – One on SAT When annotating:

 Turn to page 447 Model

 1. Identify topic and intention (usually in first paragraph).  2. Identify topic sentence of each paragraph – what does it accomplish?  3. Summarize purpose – to inform, refute, promote, explore, etc. *There will be at least one primary source passage that used old-fashioned language. History/Social Studies Passages – 2-3 on SAT When annotating:

 Turn to page 449 Model

 Notice jargon and technical terms (think science lab). -Terms are often defined within the passage or in a footnote.  Remember all answers are in passage(s); no outside knowledge needed. Science Passage 2-3 on SAT When annotating:

 1. Locate central idea in first paragraph  2. How does each paragraph relate to the central idea? -Explain -Support -Refute -Summarize? Science Passages cont’d When annotating:

 Turn to page 452 Model

 Remember steps to answering questions: 1. Annotate 2. Identify key words in question 3. “Predict before you peek.”  Remember strategies: 1. Triage 2. Elimination 3. Guess  Check your answers beginning on pg Look for patterns in your missed answers. Practice – pgs

 Break down questions within literature/history/social studies/science into types of questions and how to tackle each type of question Tomorrow

“Types” of Questions on the Reading Section  Detail  Inference: Implicit Meaning  Inference: Analogical Reasoning  Global  Command of Evidence  Inference: Explicit Relationships  Vocab-in-Context  Rhetoric: Analyzing Purpose  Rhetoric: Analyzing POV  Rhetoric: Analyzing Word Choice  Rhetoric: Analyzing Text Structure  Rhetoric: Analyzing Arguments

 Ask about a specific part of the passage – normally include line references  1. Read around the cited lines to understand the context – a little before and after  2. Predict by rephrasing into own words  3. Eliminate choices that don’t match prediction  Don’t be tricked my misused details in answers. Detail Questions

 Turn to pg. 470 Model

 Implicit = implied  Answer not directly in passage – you must read between the lines.  Specific part of passage vs. passage as whole “In lines xx-xx, the author implies that” vs. “With which of the following statements would the author most likely agree?” Inference Questions: Implicit Meanings

 Turn to pg. 469 Model

 Analogy = comparison of two things based on being alike in some way  Asked to choose an analogy that best parallels the ideas found in the passage that are reffered to in the question. “The situation described in line x is most comparable to”  Eliminate choices that include only of the parts, or have the parts in reverse order. Inference Questions: Analogical Reasoning

 Turn to pg. 470 Model

 Pg. 476 and 477  You have 6 minutes to read the passage and complete the questions  When finished, label questions with type of question  Check answers on pg Practice With These Three Types of Questions

 Global = whole world = applying to the whole  Typically do not reference line #’s or parts of the passage.  Must identify the central idea or theme OR choose a correct summary of the passage  Central idea or theme often found in the italicized portion at the beginning of the passage  Helpful to identify thesis statements in non- fiction passages Global Questions

 Turn to pg. 489 Model

 Rely on your answer to the question that precedes it “Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question?’  Go back to the previous question and “retrace your steps.” Command of Evidence Questions

 Turn to pg. 490 Model

 Pgs  Give yourself 5 minutes to read the passage and answer the questions.  Label the Global and Command of Evidence questions.  Answers on pg Practice

 Of the types of questions we covered today, which types do you find most difficult?  Detail  Inference: Implicit Meaning  Inference: Analogical Reasoning  Global  Command of Evidence Which types of questions are most challenging?

 Explicit = very clear; fully revealed; openly shown  Ask how two things are connected. Types: Cause-and-Effect – keywords = caused by, results in, because, therefore Compare-and-Contrast – keywords = similar, different, despite, like Sequential – keywords = first, second, following, after  The wording of the correct answer will be very similar to the wording in the passage. Inference Questions: Explicit Relationships

 Turn to pg. 509 Model

 Also ask how two things are connected BUT may not be directly stated in the passage.  Implicit = implied = read between the lines  Describe the relationship being tested by using keywords like although, because, in order to Inference Questions: Implicit Relationships

 Turn to pg. 510 Model

 Keywords = ________ most nearly means  Rely on “Predict before you peek” Pretend the word is blank in the sentence. Predict what word could be substituted in the blank. Select the answer choice that best matches your prediction. Vocab-in-Context Questions

 Remember to: Go to the line(s) referenced in the question. Read a little before and after to gain context. Vocab-in-Context Questions Cont’d

 Turn to pg. 509 Model

 Pgs  Answers on pg  Remember to notice patterns in missed questions. Practice