ACT Prep & College Writing Class Notes -- Week 3 (February 4)

 Greetings!

We had a different class this week because 1/2 of our students were attending via Zoom due to the weather.  Unfortunately for those in the classroom, they were the ones who had to answer all of the questions for our sample problems.

This week we worked through Chapters 7 & 8, which are primarily reviews of common grammar topics found in the ACT and examples of some of the rhetorical questions that they will encounter in the English section of the test.  These topics included verbs, passive voice, pronouns, possessive, and contractions.  We used the 5-Step Basic Approach as we worked through the sample problems in the book:

• 5-Step Basic Approach

• Step 1:  Identify the Topic (see p. 35)

• Step 2:  Use POE

• Step 3:  Use the context

• Step 4: Trust your ear, but verify

• Step 5: Don't fix what isn't broken.

Another important set of guidelines to remember when taking the English Test are the 4 Cs:  Complete, consistent, clear, and concise.

The end of the class was devoted to an introduction to the ACT Essay Exam.  As we work through the chapters of our book, Cracking the ACT, we will simultaneously be doing some writing.  Since the essay portion of the exam is a little more demanding than the multiple choice section of the other tests, we will take sufficient time throughout the semester to brainstorm possible responses and to do practice essay exams.

Assignments for Next Week:

• Read through Chapters 7 & 8  (Be an active reader!)

• Especially read the practice/example questions & explanations

• Review the Summary

• English Drill 2 on p. 70 - 71.  (Answers in Ch. 25, p. 385)

• Rhetorical Skills Drill on p. 84 - 85 (Answers in Ch. 25, p. 387 - 388)

• Review the following topics as needed:  

• Verbs, indefinite pronouns, prepositional phrases, apostrophes, transitions, and concision 

• Bring to class questions about troublesome sections or topics

• Practice English Test (45 minutes) p. 416 – 429

• Correct your test and read explanations for missed test questions (p. 477 - 495)

Links for This Week:

Class Notes

Chapter 7 & 8 Slides

ACT Related Videos

3 Must Know Tips for English Test
4 Major Rules for Commas for the ACT
Number 1 Tip for the English Test
10 Quick Hints for the English Test
ACT Grammar Top Punctuation Rules

ACT Grammar Tips -- Comma Rules

ACT Multiple Choice Strategies

Have a great weekend!  Stay warm!

Blessings,

Mrs. Prichard

Tamera M. Prichard

Writing Instructor at CHAT

Writing 1, Writing 2, Writing 3

ACT Prep, British Literature