1. Top 10 rules of effective writing
How to master the sat & act exams
SAT II SUCCESS: WRITING BY Margaret Moran, w. Frances Holder

2. Rule #1: use action verbs and the active voice
USE ACTION VERBS - Action verbs in the active voice make your sentences vivid and easy to understand.
Change an important noun in a sentence into an action verb when necessary.
Verb to be: The use of leaf blowers before 8 a.m. is a violation of local noise abatement laws.
Action Verb: The use of leaf blowers before 8 a.m. violates local noise abatement laws.
Substituting a verb that has a meaning similar to that of one of the important nouns or adjectives in the sentence.
Verb to be: The quarterback’s wretched performance was a disgrace to his team.
Action Verb: The quarterback’s wretched performance disgraced his team.
Rephrasing your sentence if you can think of no related verbs.
Verb to be: Jamie was happy to be a part of the all-star soccer team.
Action Verb: Being a part of the all-star soccer team thrilled Jamie.

3. A trivia question: what are the forms of the “to be” verb?
is am are was were be being been

4. Rule #1: use action verbs and the active voice
CHOOSE THE ACTIVE VOICE. A verb is in the active voice when its subject performs the action.
Passive Voice: The main idea for my essay was stated as the first sentence in the first paragraph.
Active Voice: I stated the main idea of my essay in the first sentence in the paragraph.
Passive Voice: Money for the new recreation building was raised quickly.
Active Voice: The recreation committee quickly raised money for the new building.

5. Rule #1 practice
Rewrite each sentence, using an action verb in the active voice.
The completion of the homework assignment was immensely pleasing to Tori.
Tori completed the homework assignment, to her immense pleasure.
Laughing and joking was heard from the sailors as they scrubbed the decks of the ship.
The sailors laughed and joked as they scrubbed the decks of the ship.
A study of the life cycles of various south American monkeys was made by the zoologists.
The zoologists studied the life cycles of various South American monkeys.
Since Liz was pursuing her goal to be a physician, all her spare time was spent studying.
Liz pursued her goal to be a physician by spending all her spare time studying.
The sounds that were made by the ghosts in the haunted house were frightening to me.
The sounds of the ghosts in the haunted house frightened me.

6. Rule #2: use precise words
Replace overly general words with specific images
Use specific nouns, verbs, and modifiers.
General: Tom got into his car and drove off.
Specific: Tom leaped into his SUV and roared off.
Substitute specific nouns to clarify your thoughts.
General: My coach illustrates the point about playing fairly.
Specific: My basketball coach, Ms. Berry, illustrates the essayist’s point about playing fairly.
Use well-chosen, vivid adjectives and adverbs.
General: The Star Wars saga is an interesting group of movies.
Specific: The Star Wars saga is a memorable series of films, filled with amazing aliens and notable heroes.
Do not use vague modifiers, such as interesting and good.
General: I thought the essay was well-written and interesting.
Specific: I thought the writer effectively organized her essay to move from the specific to the general.

7. Rule #2: choose the right connotation
The denotation of a word is its literal meaning, whereas the connotation is a broader area of meanings that a word suggests.
Choose the word with the best connotation for your essay.
Claire was crafty, and she would distract her mother, allowing her dog to sneak snacks off the dinner table. (Crafty has the negative connotation of deception.)
Claire was shrewd, and she would distract her mother, allowing her dog to sneak snacks off the dinner table. (Shrewd can also have a negative connotation, but it can also mean skill in practical matters.)
Claire was clever, and she would distract her mother, allowing her dog to sneak snacks off the dinner table. (Clever has a more positive connotation than the other words. It suggests Claire’s actions are harmless and playful instead of secretive and deceptive.)

8. Rule #2 practice
Rewrite each sentence, using more specific verbs, nouns, and modifiers.
The soccer players worked hard for a goal.
The soccer team fought hard to score the deciding goal.
I enjoyed my United States history class because Ms. Lim made it interesting.
I enjoyed my U.S. history class because Ms. Lim made history come alive for me.
Tom brought the huge fish over the side of the boat.
With a mighty effort, Tom hauled the huge silvery sailfish over the side of the heaving boat.