SAT Digital Reading and Writing Test quick start guide: Difference between revisions

tightening language
(tightening language)
Line 39: Line 39:
=== Identify sentence core Subject-Verb match ===
=== Identify sentence core Subject-Verb match ===
* every sentence has a Subject and Verb that establish the basis of the sentence's Independent Clause (s)
* every sentence has a Subject and Verb that establish the basis of the sentence's Independent Clause (s)
* the subject indicates the perspective or "person" of the sentence
** the '''subject''' indicates the perspective or "person" of the sentence
* the verb contains a verb that matches the subject
** the '''verb''' creates a '''predicate''' which expresses the "idea" of the sentence
** and indicates the "idea" of the sentence (what the subject "is" or "does")
*** i.e., what the subject "is" or "does"
* by identifying the core Subject-Verb the student will identify the basic perspective and idea of the sentence
* the verb "matches" the subject in terms of tense and "person"
** all other sentence parts add information to the Subject-Verb core
** ie. ''It goes'' v ''They go''
* since it matches to a subject the verb is "'''finite'''"
** "finite verbs" have a subject
** "finite verbs" create clauses (i.e., sentence parts that contain a Subject-Verb
 
* '''by identifying the core Subject-Verb the student will identify the basic perspective and idea of the sentence'''
** all other sentence parts add information to the Subject-Verb/Predicate core
=== Get rid of the noise" ===  
=== Get rid of the noise" ===  
* identify the sentence core
* identify the sentence core
Line 921: Line 927:
== Period . ==
== Period . ==
*'''periods''' separate sentences
*'''periods''' separate sentences
*periods do '''ONE''' thing =
'''periods do ONE thing ='''
# separate grammatically correct and complete thoughts that are distinct sentences
# separate grammatically correct and complete thoughts that are distinct sentences <u>(note</u>: a sentence contains a finitve verb and makes a complete thought)


=== What PERIODS do & how to eliminate using the rule: ===
=== What PERIODS do & how to eliminate using the rule: ===
Line 943: Line 949:
*combine independent clauses for comparison, contrast or some relation between them     
*combine independent clauses for comparison, contrast or some relation between them     
**as opposed to periods which completely separate the ideas/ thoughts
**as opposed to periods which completely separate the ideas/ thoughts
*semicolons do '''TWO''' things:
'''semicolons do TWO things:'''


<span style="margin-left:15px";>1. combine ICs (independent clauses)</span>
<span style="margin-left:15px";>1. combine ICs (independent clauses)</span>
Line 994: Line 1,000:
== Comma , ==
== Comma , ==
* commas create a pause
* commas create a pause
** thereby we employ commas to distinguish -- but not separate -- grammatical parts or ideas
** we use commas to distinguish -- but not separate -- grammatical parts or ideas
* so instead of separating, as a period or a semicolon, commas combine those distinct sentence parts
** i.e., create a pause between them ("let the reader breathe")
* commas do '''FIVE''' things:
* instead of separating, as a period or a semicolon, commas combine those distinct sentence parts
'''commas do FIVE things:'''
 
<u>commas</u>:     
<u>commas</u>:     
#combine IC, DC, or DC, IC
#combine IC, DC, or DC, IC
Line 1,026: Line 1,034:
== Colon : ==
== Colon : ==
*distinguish additional information following an IC, usually a list, explanation, or example to clarify or extend the idea presented in the IC
*distinguish additional information following an IC, usually a list, explanation, or example to clarify or extend the idea presented in the IC
*colons = do '''ONE''' thing:
'''colons do ONE thing:'''
#extend or provide examples in support of a prior IC  
#extend or provide examples in support of a prior IC  
#*i.e., a colon MUST be preceded by an IC
#*i.e., a colon MUST be preceded by an IC
Line 1,066: Line 1,074:
== Dash -- ==
== Dash -- ==
*separate ideas within a sentence, either parenthetically or like a colon
*separate ideas within a sentence, either parenthetically or like a colon
*dashes do '''TWO''' things:
'''dashes do TWO things:'''
#act like a colon
#act like a colon
# act like parentheses (...) = -...-
# act like parentheses (...) = -...-
Line 1,084: Line 1,092:


== Apostrophe quick start guide ==
== Apostrophe quick start guide ==
*'''apostrophes''' do two things:
apostrophe is a single hash mark that either combines words or indicates possession
**create contractions ("it's" from "it is" or "can't" from "can not")
 
**show possession  
'''apostrophes do TWO things:'''
***nouns possess nouns and nouns can only possess nouns (not verbs)
*create contractions ("it's" from "it is" or "can't" from "can not")
***punctuation can NOT separate the possessor noun from the possessed noun
*show possession  
***adjectives may separate the two nouns, as in "The cowboy's fast horse"
**nouns possess nouns and nouns can only possess nouns (not verbs)
**possessive apostrophes singular v plural:   
**punctuation can NOT separate the possessor noun from the possessed noun
***''''s''' for singular nouns ("that dog's toys") and '''s'''' for plural nouns ("those dogs' toys")
**adjectives may separate the two nouns, as in "The cowboy's fast horse"
*possessive apostrophes singular v plural:   
**''''s''' for singular nouns ("that dog's toys") and '''s'''' for plural nouns ("those dogs' toys")
 
* elimination:
* elimination:
**if punctuation or a verb follow the possessor noun, eliminate (see examples below)
**if punctuation or a verb follow the possessor noun, eliminate (see examples below)