ACT Prep: ENGLISH Mrs. Buehler - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

ACT Prep: ENGLISH

Mrs. Buehler

English Dept., NHHSSlide2

General ACT Information

Test is all multiple choice

Score from 1-36

Benchmark score for ENGLISH:

18

Benchmark score for READING:

20 (22)

English test is 75 questions in 45 minutes

Reading test is 40 questions in 35 minutesSlide3

Tips for ACT Success

Answer the easiest questions first

Never leave any question blank – you are only scored on the number of questions you get right

Write all over the test booklet!

Use process of elimination

Go with your first instinctSlide4

English Test: General Info

Common errors featured on the test include:

Sentence fragments

Run-on sentences

Misplaced modifiers

Lack of parallelism

May see some questions on redundancy; if a sentence appears awkward or verbose, it probably isSlide5

Test Breakdown

Usage/Mechanics

:

40 questions

Punctuation:

10

Basic

Grammar and

Usage:

12

Sentence Structure:

18

Rhetorical

Skills:

35 questions

Strategy:

12

Organization:

11

Style:

12

TOTAL: 75Slide6

TIPS BY SECTION: English

The

English Subject Test (75 Questions, 45 Minutes)

Speed is a huge element in the ACT overall, but particularly in the English section.

With

an average of only

36 seconds

per question, you must have a good feel for the pace going into the exam (yet another reason

practice tests

are so important!)

Y

ou

will be primarily tested on grammar and style. The test contains 5 passages with 15

questions each

.

For

some students, underlining on this section (in addition to the reading and science sections) can

be helpful

.

Do

not forget the strategy of skipping extremely difficult questions rather than wasting your time

.

Source: Hughes Tutoring, LLCSlide7

Grammar Rule 1: Apostrophes

Use in possessive nouns

Mary’s paper; the dog’s bowl

Don’t use in possessive personal pronouns

The problem is hers (not her’s)

Use them in contractions

“It’s time to go”

“You’re the one”

Its vs. It’s – most common error

It’s

been a pleasure to meet you.

The business must report

its

earnings.Slide8

Grammar Rule 2: Commas

Separate two independent clauses with coordinating conjunction

The ride was busy, so we had to wait.

My mom bought a new car, and I am not allowed to drive it.

Use a semicolon or a period, NOT a comma, to separate two independent clauses not separated by a coordinating conjunction

That test was so difficult; I feel as though I failed.

He drove us to the game, we got there early enough to get good seats.Slide9

Commas, cont’d.

Conjunctive adverbs signal the relationship between the point(s) made in the material before their sentence and the material of that sentence.

When you begin an independent clause with a conjunctive adverb or when you use it in the middle of a sentence, set it off with a comma.

The jury, consequently, has not come to a decision and must be sequestered

.

Moreover, the panel of judges needs to consider the magnitude of talent present in this room.Slide10

Commas, Cont’d.

Use a comma to separate two independent clauses connected by a coordinating conjunction

unless

the two independent clauses are short and simple:

Correct

: The sunlight helped the flowers to grow, but they require frequent watering in order to stay alive.

Correct

: Yours is timely and mine is late. Slide11

Grammar Rule 3: References

A

referent

is a word or phrase that refers to something else (an antecedent). Problems with referents can cause confusion and, sometimes, unintended humor.

Problems

with references occur

primarily:

when

sentences have more than one possible antecedent (often caused by placing the referent too far from the intended

antecedent)

when

the antecedent is only

impliedSlide12

Grammar Rule 3: References

To prevent children from sucking their thumbs, some parents soak

them

in

Tabasco

sauce.

[

Do the parents soak the children or the thumbs?]

The corporate officers had failed to disclose the serious conflicts of interest caused by their ownership of several of T&J's suppliers. The possibility of a bankruptcy was a disaster for

them

.

[

Was the possibility a disaster for the officers, the conflicts, or the suppliers?] Slide13

Grammar Rule 4: Agreement

The following indefinite pronouns are singular and take a singular verb:

anyone

Anyone

is welcome.

each

Each

is an expert.

either

Either

supports the argument.

everyone

Everyone

has problems.

neither

Neither

sings in tune. Slide14

Grammar Rule 4: Agreement

The singular verb is correct even when the indefinite pronoun is followed by a

prepositional phrase

with a plural noun:

Each

of these peaceful alternatives

was [not "were"] ignored.

Either

of the twins

is [not "are"] available. Slide15

Grammar Rule 4: Agreement

The

following indefinite pronouns are either singular or plural, depending on the nouns or pronouns they refer to:

all

any

none

some

For example:

All

singers

are

permitted . . . .

All of the

money

is counted . . . .

None of

them

are satisfied . . . .

None of the

royalty

was present . . . . Slide16

Grammar Rule 4: Agreement

Watch for both verb agreement and pronoun agreement when a singular subject is modified by a phrase or clause containing a plural noun:

The confidence of several families was [

not

were

] attained.

Each of the groups agrees [

not

agree

] to resolve the problem peacefully.

Every student who had already taken both courses is [

not

are

] excused from this requirement. Slide17

Grammar Rule 5: Parallel Structure

Where possible, similar ideas should be expressed in a similar (parallel) structure and grammatical form.

Parallelism

makes for easier reading and clearer meanings.

It

also improves sentence rhythm and cuts down on verbiage. Slide18

Grammar Rule 5: Parallel Structure

Non-parallel structure:

Problems occur

when the business conceals

relevant documents

or by deluging

the auditors with irrelevant documents.

A

parallel structure would be:

Problems occur

when the business conceals

relevant documents or

when

it deluges

the auditors

with irrelevant documents.

Now that the structure is parallel, extra words can go:

Problems occur when

the business

conceals

relevant documents or

deluges

the auditors with irrelevant documents. Slide19

Grammar Rule 5: Parallel Structure

Parallel structure is especially important in a list

.

When the new commander arrived at the post, he immediately posted a new list of orders: no leaves were to be granted, and no leniency was to be given.

The teacher gave us our syllabus, handed out the textbook guides, and reviewed the school rules with us.Slide20

What questions do you have?