ACT Prep Class Notes -- Week 8 (March 10)

 Greetings!

We are officially over half way through the Spring semester.  I don't know about you, but once we hit daylight savings time and the days get longer, the days also seem to fly by more quickly!

We have finished the Math section of the Princeton Review's Cracking the ACT!  For students who are currently taking a math class, it might feel a little unfair to be doing so much more math.  We've reviewed basic math principles, algebra, plane geometry, coordinate geometry, and word problems.  I use the sample questions in the book that especially highlight one of the strategies to keep it from being to overwhelming.  This week I covered graphing and coordinate geometry.  I also gave a short nod to the advanced topics.  In the list of links below are some videos that will help students practice the strategies and to review the math skills.  (Note:  When watching the videos, feel free to speed up or slow down the speaker using the playback settings.)

We have shifted from practice writing the ACT Essay Exam to writing some college application essays.  For this unit, we'll explore personal interests, brainstorm topics, read some sample essays, and write essays that can be used for applications.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Blessings,

Mrs. Prichard

Assignments for Next Week:

• Read Chapters 14, 15, and 16  (Remember to be active!)

• Flag or write questions about topics that need further review

• Review graphing calculator functions

• Graphing and Coordinate Geometry Drill on p. 203 (Answers in Ch. 25 on p. 391 - 392)

• Read Summary on p. 204

• Extra Credit: Trigonometry Drill on p. 217 (Answers in Ch. 25 on p. 392 - 393)

• Read Summary on p. 218

• Extra Credit: Advanced Math Drill on p. 227 (Answers in Ch. 25 on p. 393)

• Practice ACT Math Test (60 minutes) p. 430 - 449

• Correct your test and read explanations for missed test questions (p. 495 – 511)

• Finding Your Hook

Links for this Week:

ACT Prep Class Notes -- Week 8 (March 10)

Week 8 Assignments & Resources

Practice Math Exam Breakdown -- 

          this video walks students through an entire practice math test and explains each and every question.  It's long (about 90 min.), but I think it's helpful.

The 52 Math Skills in the ACT 

Week 8 -- Helpful Math Videos for Advanced Math

Tamera M. Prichard

Writing Instructor at CHAT

Writing 1, Writing 2, Writing 3

ACT Prep, British Literature 

ACT Prep & College Writing Class Notes -- Week 11 (April 15)

 Greetings!

We covered a lot of ground in class today.  In fact, we've covered a lot this semester.  We are now in the 4th section of the ACT Test -- the Science test.

Like the English and Reading tests, the Science test is passage-based.  It's 35 minutes long, and the students will answer 45 questions for the 6 - 7 passages.  We talked for a lot about how and what they learn in science classes and how this Science test is different.  Students don't need to have loads of information memorized, but they do need to know how to read charts, graphs, and tables.  They also need to be able to draw conclusions from data given in those tables and charts.

Today I introduced the test and gave an overview.  Next week we will walk through the basic approach to handling the test questions.

The first college application essay is due this week, and I've assigned a second essay.  When they finish this this class, they will have 2 potential essays that they can use for college applications.

Have a beautiful weekend!

Blessings,

Mrs. Prichard

Assignments

• Read Chapters 20 & 21 (p. 299 – 322)

• Read Summary on p. 307

• Read Summary on p. 322

• College Application Essay #2 (due 4/29)

Links for This Week

Class Notes

Quick Write (4/15)

Tamera M. Prichard

Writing Instructor at CHAT

Writing 1, Writing 2, Writing 3

ACT Prep, British Literature

ACT Prep & College Writing Class Notes -- Week 7 (March 11)

 Greetings!

Just a quick note about this week's online class.  For beginners, I made the class more challenging by accidentally turning OFF the ability for students to unmute themselves, to turn their cameras on, and to make comments in the CHAT. Thankfully, with the help of the students, I realized the problem, fixed it, and then could go on with the class.

For the ACT Prep section of the class, we are still in the Math section of the test.  I give this section more time so that students can figure out what they need to review before taking the test.  I also feel that having more time to practice the strategies helps be more prepared for those Math topics about which they are not as knowledgeable.  Next week we will cover coordinate geometry and then be done with the Math section.

For the College Writing section of the test, I reminded students to do the second Practice ACT Essay Exam, and then I talked about why the College Application Essay is important.  My hope is that doing a practice application essay in this class will either give the students something they can use in a college application or give the students a springboard for an even better essay.

Have a great weekend!  Enjoy our spring weather!

Blessings,

Mrs. Prichard

Assignments for Next Week:

• Read through Chapter 13

• Be an active reader and highlight important tips and/or information

• Flag or write questions about topics that need further review

• Word Problems Drill on p. 187 (Answers in Ch. 25 on p. 390)

• Read the Summary on 188

• Practice ACT Essay Exam #2

Tamera M. Prichard

Writing Instructor at CHAT

Writing 1, Writing 2, Writing 3

ACT Prep, British Literature

ACT Prep & College Writing Class Notes -- Week 12 (Nov. 14)

Greetings!

This week we started reviewing the final section of the ACT test -- the Science section.  This fourth test is a 35 minute long test with 45 questions.  It's divided into 3 sections:  Charts & Graphs, Experiments, and Fighting Scientists.  The purpose of the Science section is not necessarily to find out how much students learned and remembered but to assess their reasoning skills, their abilities to understand charts & graphs, and their ability to draw conclusions from data.  Knowing certain topics will be helpful because the familiarity will help students understand more quickly how data and conclusions connect.   They had an overview of Chapters 20 & 21.  For homework they should read through these chapters.  When they encounter sample questions, they shouldn't just read to find the answer and then move on.  They should also read the explanations.  These sample problems are used to explain strategies.

I've listed some videos below that are helpful with the Science Test.

There was some misunderstanding and technical difficulties regarding about the rough drafts for the college application essay, so we decided that next week we will do peer edits of our application essays.  In the list of links below are some websites with sample essays.  Students shouldn't try to mimic another essay because they will lose their authentic voice.  However, reading samples can lead to inspiration.  The should bring a copy to class and to send a copy to me by Wednesday so that I can print a copy for myself.  If there are printing issues at home, I can print the copies, but I need to know that by Wednesday noon.  (I have Wednesday commitments and go to bed early   )

Assignments for Next Week

--  Read Ch. 20 & 21  (No Drills)

-- Finish the Common Application Essay (Bring a copy to class and send one to me.)

Links for This Week

Class Notes

Student Notes

3 Strategies for the Science Test (SuperTutor)

Top 10 Hints from Magoosh

Best 3-Step Strategies for the Science Test

How to Quickly Interpret Data

Twelve College Essay Examples

Top College Essays

The Common Application Prompts & Examples

Have a great weekend!

Blessings,

Mrs. Prichard

60 College Application Prompts

1. What can you do that no one else can do? 
2. List your top 10 favorite places. 
3. Name a family tradition and explain why it is significant to you. 
4. If you could have a dinner date with anyone, who would it be, why would you choose that person, and where would you go? 
5. Tell your favorite joke and explain why you think it’s funny. 
6. In what novel would you like to be a character?  Why? 
7. What sets your heart on fire? 
8. What makes you really angry? 
9. Would you rather go to an orchestra concert or an art museum?  Why? 
10. Give your name as an acronym so that it reflects who you are. 
11. Your assignment:  give away $1,000.  Where would you give it?  Why? 
12. Describe in complete sensory details your favorite meal. 
13. Your house is on fire, and you can only grab 3 items.  What would they be?  Why? 
14. You are a brilliant and forward thinking inventor.  What would you invent? 
15. How is your family different from any other family? 
16. Describe your favorite childhood memory. 
17. If you could re-live any day, what day would that be? 
18. What have you learned from your grandparents? 
19. You are suddenly invisible.  What would you do?  Where would you go? 
20. List 20 things that you don’t do well. 
21. What do you NEVER want to do again?  Why? 
22. Describe a day without technology. 
23. Tell about a time when you were disappointed by an adult.  What happened?  What did it feel like? 
24. Why did you come to school at Arcadia?  Was it a good decision? 
25. You’ve been given a 10- day, all expenses paid trip.  Where would you go?  Why? 
26. What holiday is most meaningful to you?  Why? 
27. What is your favorite school subject?  Why? 
28. Describe something you do really well. 
29. What is the hardest thing you’ve ever had to do?  What made it hard?  
30. Describe yourself in 140 characters – the length of a tweet. 
31. Write 20 adjectives that describe you. 
32. Do you make decisions quickly or slowly?  Describe the process of making decisions. 
33. Describe what is boring to you. 
34. Describe what is exciting to you. 
35. Describe how you are “quirky.”  What makes you just a little odd? 
36. List your top 10 weaknesses. 
37. You’ve been grounded for 10 days.  What did you do and how will you spend your time at home? 
38. When you are a parent, what will you do the same as your parents and what will you do differently? 
39. A group is hotly discussing a political issue.  Will you join in, quietly listen, or walk away?  Why? 
40. If you were a door to door salesperson, what would you be able to sell?   
41. What place have you been to that you could go back to over and over again? 
42. What is your least favorite school subject?  Why? 
43. Create for yourself a personal motto.  Explain it. 
44. Describe a time in the last 3 years when you change your mind.  What prompted the change? 
45. You can travel back in time.  When and where would you go? 
46. Write a radio ad to “sell” yourself.   
47. Tell about a time when you volunteered for an organization. 
48. What causes are you passionate about?  Why? 
49. How would you like to change the world? 
50. What is wrong with our world today? 
51. What is best about your life? 
52. What is worst about your life? 
53. What is right about our world today? 
54. Would you rather wash the dishes, mow the lawn, or babysit a toddler?  Why? 
55. Would you rather write a paper, take a math test, or give a speech?  Why? 
56. Would you rather go to church or go to a political rally?  Why? 
57. Would you rather help at a homeless shelter, clean up garbage in a park, or work a political phone bank? 
58. Describe yourself as a learner.   
59. You’ve inherited a library.  How do you feel?  What will you do? 
60. If you could be 2 people, what would the other “you” be like?   

Common Application 2019/2020 Prompts

The Common Application Announces 2019-2020 Essay Prompts 

The Common Application has announced that the 2019 - 2020 personal essay writing prompts will be the same as the seven 2018 - 2019 essay prompts. By conducting a review process every other year, rather than annually, we can hear from admissions officers, as well as applicants, parents, and counselors, about the effectiveness of the essay prompts.   

2019 - 2020 Common Application Essay Prompts 

 1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.   2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?   3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?   4. Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma - anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.   5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.   6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?  

7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.