1. English ACT Prep
Rhetorical Skills

2. The English test is a 75-question, 45-minute test, covering:
Usage/Mechanics
(53% - 40 questions)
Punctuation (13%)
Grammar and usage (16%)
Sentence structure (24%)
Rhetorical Skills
(47% or 35 questions)
Strategy (16%)
Organization (15%)
Style (16%)
Based on research
The college readiness benchmarks on the ACT
Used for placement by some colleges and universities
Predict success in freshman level course
Students have a 50% chance of getting a B or higher
Students have a 75% chance of getting a C or higher 2

3. The English test is a 75-question, 45-minute test, covering:
Usage/Mechanics
(53% - 40 questions)
Punctuation (13%)
Grammar and usage (16%)
Sentence structure (24%)
Rhetorical Skills
(47% or 35 questions)
Strategy (16%)
Organization (15%)
Style (16%)
Based on research
The college readiness benchmarks on the ACT
Used for placement by some colleges and universities
Predict success in freshman level course
Students have a 50% chance of getting a B or higher
Students have a 75% chance of getting a C or higher 3

4. Rhetorical Skills
The ACT writers break rhetorical skills down into three subcategories:
Strategy
Organization
Style

5. Strategy

6. Strategy
Transitions

7. Strategy
Transitions A transition is sometimes needed at the beginning of a clause, sentence, or paragraph, as a writer attempts to move smoothly from one thought to another.

8. Strategy
Transitions
There are really only three main kinds of sentence connectors in the (English speaking) world:
But
Also
Thus

9. Strategy
Transitions Fred and Sue were looking forward to going to dinner at a Chinese restaurant with their friends, _____ their friends wanted to go to an Italian restaurant.

10. Strategy
Transitions Fred and Sue were looking forward to going to dinner at a Chinese restaurant with their friends, but their friends wanted to go to an Italian restaurant.

11. Strategy
Transitions When European children hear the word “Chicago,” the first thing they think of is gangsters; _____ it must be a disappointment to them when they get off the plane and see that no one is wearing spats or carrying a tommy gun.

12. Strategy
Transitions When European children hear the word “Chicago,” the first thing they think of is gangsters; thus it must be a disappointment to them when they get off the plane and see that no one is wearing spats or carrying a tommy gun.

13. Transitions The campers were very tired. _____ they were very hungry.
Strategy
Transitions The campers were very tired. _____ they were very hungry.

14. Transitions The campers were very tired. Also, they were very hungry.
Strategy
Transitions The campers were very tired. Also, they were very hungry.

15. Transitions Of course there are many ways to say but, thus and also…
Strategy
Transitions Of course there are many ways to say but, thus and also…

16. But… (contradiction) however quite the contrary despite rather
notwithstanding
contrarily
on the other hand
on the contrary
although
yet
nevertheless

17. thus… (cause and effect)
hence
and so
therefore
consequently
for example
because of
finally
in conclusion

18. also… (in addition) in addition for example furthermore another and
first
second
moreover
by the same token
besides
so too
in addition
similarly

19. Strategy Here’s an example: NO CHANGE in addition, rather, moreover
Funds provided by the Stafford program are not considered scholarships; so too, they are part of the extended student loan system.
NO CHANGE
in addition,
rather,
moreover

20. Strategy Here’s an example: NO CHANGE in addition, rather, moreover
Funds provided by the Stafford program are not considered scholarships; so too, they are part of the extended student loan system.
NO CHANGE
in addition,
rather,
moreover

21. Strategy Other strategy questions include:
Which of the following best summarizes the main point of the passage?
Is the use of formal English appropriate in the context of this passage?
If the passage were revised to present conflicting viewpoints, which of the following changes would best represent the other side of the author’s argument?

22. Organization

23. Organization Two types of organization questions:
The first asks you to reorder sentences within a paragraph.
The second asks you to reorder paragraphs within the passage as a whole.

24. Organization Here’s an example:
[1] Van Gogh, particularly in his later paintings, creates thick swirls of paint which perhaps mirror the emotional storm raging within. [2] DuFevre piles the paint onto the canvas in thick swatches which rise off the canvas by a good half inch at times. [3] Perhaps the most telling similarity between Van Gogh and DuFevre, the little-known modern surrealist, lies in their use of brushstrokes. [4] It is almost as if he is challenging Van Gogh to a contest to determine who was more emotionally disturbed.
NO CHANGE
1, 3, 2, 4
1, 4, 3, 2
3, 1, 2, 4

25. Organization Here’s an example:
[1] Van Gogh, particularly in his later paintings, creates thick swirls of paint which perhaps mirror the emotional storm raging within. [2] DuFevre piles the paint onto the canvas in thick swatches which rise off the canvas by a good half inch at times. [3] Perhaps the most telling similarity between Van Gogh and DuFevre, the little-known modern surrealist, lies in their use of brushstrokes. [4] It is almost as if he is challenging Van Gogh to a contest to determine who was more emotionally disturbed.
NO CHANGE
1, 3, 2, 4
1, 4, 3, 2
3, 1, 2, 4

26. Ordering whole paragraphs…
Organization
Ordering whole paragraphs…

27. Style

28. Style
The largest number of style errors stems from redundancy. Put simply, redundancy means saying the same thing twice. Cheap and inexpensive gifts can be found in the shopping district.

29. Style
The largest number of style errors stems from redundancy. Put simply, redundancy means saying the same thing twice. Cheap and inexpensive gifts can be found in the shopping district.

30. Style
The largest number of style errors stems from redundancy. Put simply, redundancy means saying the same thing twice. Cheap gifts can be found in the shopping district.

31. Style
The largest number of style errors stems from redundancy. Put simply, redundancy means saying the same thing twice. Weak and without strength, the old car could not make it.

32. Style
The largest number of style errors stems from redundancy. Put simply, redundancy means saying the same thing twice. Weak and without strength, the old car could not make it.

33. Style
The largest number of style errors stems from redundancy. Put simply, redundancy means saying the same thing twice. The weak, old car could not make it.

34. Style
The largest number of style errors stems from redundancy. Put simply, redundancy means saying the same thing twice. After birth, the newborn babies are weighed by a nurse.

35. Style
The largest number of style errors stems from redundancy. Put simply, redundancy means saying the same thing twice. After birth, the newborn babies are weighed by a nurse.

36. Style
The largest number of style errors stems from redundancy. Put simply, redundancy means saying the same thing twice. After birth, the babies are weighed by a nurse.

37. Style Here’s an example: NO CHANGE memorialized by a
The Vietnam veterans were recently memorialized by a memorial sculpture in Washington.
NO CHANGE
memorialized by a
memorialized with a new memoria
memorialized in a recent

38. Style Here’s an example: NO CHANGE memorialized by a
The Vietnam veterans were recently memorialized by a memorial sculpture in Washington.
NO CHANGE
memorialized by a
memorialized with a new memoria
memorialized in a recent

39. The End…