1. Effective Language Use
Adapted from Kaplan
SAT Premier 2017
Chapter 22

2. Precision
It is defined as the exactness and accuracy of the author’s word choice (diction).
Precision questions will ask you to revise a text to make a vague word more precise or to change a word or phrase so that it makes sense with the rest of the content.
Precision questions mostly test your knowledge of correct word choice in context.
These questions don’t ask about the definition or implication of a word, but about the correctness of it-is it the right word to convey the author’s meaning?

3. Concision
Answers must not only be correct, but also concise (use the least amount of words).
Concision questions require you to revise text to improve the economy of word choice by eliminating wordiness and redundancy.
Questions present you with unnecessarily long and complex structures or redundant usage---or sometimes both!
The shortest answer is often but not always the correct one, however, it must also be grammatically correct and retain the intended meaning!

4. More About Concision
Very long sentences, although often grammatically correct, often imply an incorrect answer.
Not all long sentences lack concision.
When a long sentence is underlined, you should ask,
“Are all of these words necessary? Is there a more concise way to say the same thing?”
Redundancy is another form of poor concision.
Two words in the sentence have the same meaning in context or…
The meaning of one word is implicit (implied) in the meaning of another.

5. Style and Tone Word choice Rhetorical devices Sentence structure
Informal tone as if for a friendly audience
Academic tone is for an expert audience
Forceful tone is used to impose point of view
Questions focus on consistent style and tone
You may need to read an entire passage to determine overall tone

6. Syntax
Syntax is the arrangement of words and phrases within a sentence.
Syntax questions ask you to assess whether different sentence structures accomplish an author’s rhetorical purpose.
In narratives or prose, syntax can enhance the intended meaning and contribute to tone.
Academic texts use varied kinds of syntax.
There are four sentence types. Review these on page 495 of your text with your teacher.

7. Go to pages of the text.
Review the techniques from this presentation to answer the questions.
Discuss the process and answers with your teacher.
Complete the exercises on pages as if it is Test Day.
Review the answers with your teacher.