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English Know the ACT
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Test Basics: English 75 items are on the test.
The items are grouped into five passages. This is the first section on the test, and you have 45 minutes to complete it. Do the math: at most, how many minutes per item?
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Test Basics: English 75 items are on the test.
The items are grouped into five passages. This is the first section on the test, and you have 45 minutes to complete it. Do the math: at most, how many minutes per item? 45 minutes / 75 items 36 seconds per item
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Test Specifics: English
Usage and Mechanics: Punctuation (10-15% of test; 7-12 questions) Periods, commas, apostrophes, dashes, colons, and semicolons Grammar and usage (15-20% of test; questions) Subject/verb agreement, pronouns, modifiers, verb forms, comparatives/superlatives
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Test Specifics: English
Usage and Mechanics: Sentence Structure (20-25% of test; questions) Clear, correct sentences
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Test Specifics: English
Rhetorical Skills: Strategy (15-20% of test; questions) Clarity of argument (asks for adding/deleting material) Organization (10-15% of test; 7-12 questions) Transitions, introduction/conclusion sentences Style (15-20% of test; questions) strengthening tone
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ACT English Question Strategies
Pay attention to sentence structure— NO run-ons; NO fragments
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ACT English Question Strategies
Pay attention to sentence structure— NO run-ons; NO fragments Skills to Master: Combining sentences with FANBOYS; Ensuring sentences contain a complete thought; Combining sentences with semicolons; Recognizing preference for simplicity!
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Sentence structure example:
Text credit: ACT.org
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Sentence structure question:
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA Text credit: ACT.org
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ACT English Question Strategies
Pay attention to sentence structure— NO run-ons; NO fragments Pick the exact right word, especially transition words and phrases
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ACT English Question Strategies
Pay attention to sentence structure— NO run-ons; NO fragments Pick the exact right word, especially transition words and phrases Skills to Master: Recognizing relationships between ideas; Recognizing three main families of transitions (but, and, so).
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Exact right word example:
Text credit: ACT.org
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Exact right word example:
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA Text credit: ACT.org
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Exact right word example (2):
Text credit: ACT.org
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Exact right word example (2):
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA Text credit: ACT.org
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ACT English Question Strategies
Pay attention to sentence structure— NO run-ons; NO fragments Pick the exact right word, especially transition words and phrases Eliminate wordy expressions and redundancy---- Shorter is better!
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ACT English Question Strategies
Pay attention to sentence structure— NO run-ons; NO fragments Pick the exact right word, especially transition words and phrases Eliminate wordy expressions and redundancy---- Shorter is better! Skills to Master: Recognizing redundancy; Recognizing unnecessary words that just sound fancier.
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Wordy expressions example:
Text credit: ACT.org
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Wordy expressions example:
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA Text credit: ACT.org
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ACT English Question Strategies
Pay attention to sentence structure— NO run-ons; NO fragments Pick the exact right word, especially transition words and phrases Eliminate wordy expressions and redundancy---- Shorter is better! Sound out contractions (it’s, who’s, they’re, you’re)
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ACT English Question Strategies
Pay attention to sentence structure— NO run-ons; NO fragments Pick the exact right word, especially transition words and phrases Eliminate wordy expressions and redundancy---- Shorter is better! Sound out contractions (it’s, who’s, they’re, you’re) Skills to Master: Recognizing what fits in the sentence!
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Contractions example:
Text credit: ACT.org
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Contractions example:
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA Text credit: ACT.org
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ACT English Question Strategies
Pay attention to sentence structure— NO run-ons; NO fragments Pick the exact right word, especially transition words and phrases Eliminate wordy expressions and redundancy---- Shorter is better! Comma = Pause Sound out contractions (it’s, who’s, they’re, you’re)
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ACT English Question Strategies
Pay attention to sentence structure— NO run-ons; NO fragments Pick the exact right word, especially transition words and phrases Eliminate wordy expressions and redundancy---- Shorter is better! Comma = Pause Sound out contractions (it’s, who’s, they’re, you’re) Skills to Master: ACT is only testing this rule of thumb, NOT all comma rules!
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Comma Rules example: Text credit: ACT.org
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Comma Rules example: Text credit: ACT.org
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA Text credit: ACT.org
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ACT English Question Strategies
Pay attention to sentence structure— NO run-ons; NO fragments Pick the exact right word, especially transition words and phrases Eliminate wordy expressions and redundancy---- Shorter is better! Comma = Pause Sound out contractions (it’s, who’s, they’re, you’re) Make subjects/verbs and pronouns/antecedents agree
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ACT English Question Strategies
Pay attention to sentence structure— NO run-ons; NO fragments Pick the exact right word, especially transition words and phrases Eliminate wordy expressions and redundancy---- Shorter is better! Comma = Pause Sound out contractions (it’s, who’s, they’re, you’re) Skills to Master: Following the verb or pronoun to its subject or antecedent! Make subjects/verbs and pronouns/antecedents agree
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Agreement example: Text credit: ACT.org
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Agreement example: Text credit: ACT.org
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA Text credit: ACT.org
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ACT English Question Strategies
Pay attention to sentence structure— NO run-ons; NO fragments Pick the exact right word, especially transition words and phrases Eliminate wordy expressions and redundancy---- Shorter is better! Comma = Pause Follow directions precisely Sound out contractions (it’s, who’s, they’re, you’re) Make subjects/verbs and pronouns/antecedents agree
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ACT English Question Strategies
Pay attention to sentence structure— NO run-ons; NO fragments Pick the exact right word, especially transition words and phrases Eliminate wordy expressions and redundancy---- Shorter is better! Comma = Pause Follow directions precisely Sound out contractions (it’s, who’s, they’re, you’re) Make subjects/verbs and pronouns/antecedents agree
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Following directions example:
Text credit: ACT.org
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Following directions example:
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA Text credit: ACT.org
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Following directions example:
Text credit: ACT.org
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Following directions example:
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA Text credit: ACT.org
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Kahoot #1: Kahoot #2: ACT English Review:
Sources: Dr. Ben Phillips of Union University / Jane Ross Tutoring ACT.org
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