ACT Prep Class Notes -- Week 12 (April 7)

 Greetings!

We started this week's class with a discussion of a sample college application essay that had a first draft and then was revised for a better second draft.  As we read and discussed it, we considered whether or not "Chuck D" would be a suitable student for college.  Reminding ourselves that he wasn't applying to be our friend, we felt that he would be a hard-working student, but he might be more competitive and ruthless than we'd like.

This week we continued 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 last week and this week we covered Chapter 22:  The Basic Approach.  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.

When we return to CHAT after Easter break, students should bring to class one of their college application essays.  We'll be doing peer edits, which means that we'll take turns reading one another's essays

A reminder -- No CHAT next week.  Have a blessed Easter!

Assignments for Next Week

• Read Chapter 22

• Basic Approach Drill 1 on p. 335

• Basic Approach Drill 2 on p. 336

• Basic Approach Drill 3 on p. 337

• (Check Answers in Ch. 25 on p. 399 – 402)

• Finish and bring one of your college applications to class for a Peer Review
• College Application #1
• College Application #2

Links for This Week

ACT Prep Class Notes -- Week 12 (April 7)

Sample Application Essay -- Chuck D

ACT Prep Week 12 Slides (Ch. 22)

3 Strategies for the Science Test (SuperTutor)

Top 10 Hints from M)goosh

Best 3-Step Strategies for the Science Test

Twelve College Essay Examples

Top College Essays

The Common Application Prompts & Examples

Have a great weekend!

Blessings,

Mrs. Prichard

Tamera M. Prichard

Writing Instructor at CHAT

Writing 1, Writing 2, Writing 3

ACT Prep, British Literature

ACT Prep & College Essay Writing Class Notes -- Week 13 (April 29)

Greetings!

We had a good class today.  We've gotten to the end of our chapters on the various aspects of the English, Math, Reading, Science, and Writing tests.  

As we near the end of the semester, many of the approaches, and steps, and strategies that we cover are repeats of those from other tests.  For all of the tests, we use the answer choices themselves to answer the question.  We rely heavily on process of elimination and our personal order of difficulty.  

The last test, with the exception of the essay portion, is the Science Test.  It's a 35 minute test with 45 questions.  There are three sections of this test:  Charts & Graphs, Experiments, and Fighting Scientists.  This week we worked through Chapter 22:  The Basic Approach to learn 3 steps for working through the Charts & Graphs section.

• Step 1:  Work the Figures (charts, tables, graphs)
• Step 2:  Work the Answers
• Step 3:  Work the Questions

Today we walked through the last section of the Science test, "the Fighting Scientists."  The Science test has one section in which the perspectives of 2 or more scientists are presented, and students will answer questions about each of the perspectives and will compare and contrast the perspectives.  Here are the steps for the Fighting Scientists passages:

• Step 1:  Preview & map the questions
• Step 2:  Do one step at a time
• Step 3:  Do the other side
• Step 4:  Compare & Contrast

For our final 2 weeks of class, we'll take time in class doing practice tests.  For next week, May 6, Students should come to class ready to take a test from their books, and I suggested that they choose the test that they think they will have the hardest time taking.  For May 13, I suggest they come prepared to take a test that will be the easiest for them to take.  

We did not talk about the College Application essays. Next week we will do some peer reviews of our essays.  (Note:  Note everyone has both essays in, so that would should get done.)

Assignments for Next Week

-- Read Chapter 23 -- Fighting Scientists

-- Fighting Scientists Drills 1, 2, and 3

     -- Note:  Drill 1 was done in class

-- Finish College Application #1 and College Application #2

We're nearing the end of the school year, so I hope you can all find the energy to stay engaged in school until we're done.

Blessings,

Mrs. Prichard

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 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