A+ Club Lesson Planner & Study Guide

SAT Writing section techniques, strategies & approaches: Difference between revisions

Page Discussion

SAT Writing section techniques, strategies & approaches (view source)

Revision as of 03:27, 27 April 2021

1,073 bytes removed ,  27 April 2021
no edit summary
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
Line 657: Line 657:
* HOWEVER, on the SAT Writing section, students can use elimination techniques to eliminate down to the correct idiomatic expression
* HOWEVER, on the SAT Writing section, students can use elimination techniques to eliminate down to the correct idiomatic expression
* see this video for demonstration of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PV7QK_ex0jQ&list=PLyC6Fj2OdXlpDypu0__dsv5y6EZS5NpmH&index=1&t=4s on elimination techniques with idiomatic & vocabulary questions (by Michael Bromley)]]
* see this video for demonstration of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PV7QK_ex0jQ&list=PLyC6Fj2OdXlpDypu0__dsv5y6EZS5NpmH&index=1&t=4s on elimination techniques with idiomatic & vocabulary questions (by Michael Bromley)]]
=== Synonyms ===
* use for elimination
* if two possible answers do or mean the same thing (i.e., are synonymous)...
** since they can't both be right, they are both wrong
== Emphasis shift==
* SAT measures focused writing
* "emphasis shift" = losing focus, straying from the idea, or emphasizing the wrong clause
** sentence emphasis should be upon the dominant clause
*** i.e.: don't unnecessarily complicate the most important idea in a sentence
* proper sentence construction emphasizes the dominant clause
** while the subordinate clause adds information or details but does not detract from the message of the dominate clause
* emphasis shift when Combining sentences:
** identify the main purpose of the sentence and select that possible answer which most directly states that purpose or includes it in the dominant clause:
*** ex.: “I found a unique vase from the store, which was very cluttered, in the back”
*** vs. the more direct: “I found a unique vase in the back of the cluttered store"


=== Modifiers usage ===
=== Modifiers usage ===
Line 685: Line 668:
* “misplaced modifier” = incorrectly placed modifiers
* “misplaced modifier” = incorrectly placed modifiers
** ex. “Steve badly ripped his shirt” (instead of “Steve ripped his shirt badly”)
** ex. “Steve badly ripped his shirt” (instead of “Steve ripped his shirt badly”)
=== Homophones ===
* homophones = sound alike, different spelling & meaning
** their v. they’re, it’s v. its
** affect v effect
*** affect = a verb meaning "to impact, influence, alter or make a difference"
*** effect = a noun meaning "the result" of something
* note: effect can also be a verb meaning, "to produce a result" BUT
** for the SAT use ''affect'' as a verb, and ''effect''' as a noun
* homonyms = same spelling, different meaning
** ex." dogs bark, trees have bark
** not generally included on the SAT
=== Idiomatic words ===
* "idiomatic" = words, phrases or expresses that have no set rule and exist from common usage
** idiomatic is different from "informal" or colloquial (local, common) language
* By definition idiomatic words have no set rule
* HOWEVER, on the SAT Writing section, students can use elimination techniques to eliminate down to the correct idiomatic expression
* see this video for demonstration of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PV7QK_ex0jQ&list=PLyC6Fj2OdXlpDypu0__dsv5y6EZS5NpmH&index=1&t=4s on elimination techniques with idiomatic & vocabulary questions (by Michael Bromley)]]


=== Synonyms & synonymous sentences ===
=== Synonyms & synonymous sentences ===
* use for elimination:
* use for elimination:
** if two words, phrases, or sentences are synonymous they both can't be correct, so eliminate
** if two words, phrases, or sentences are synonymous they both can't be correct, so eliminate
* see "Transition" words for elimination via synonymous transition words
** if both do the same thing, they are both wrong
* sentences, clauses or phrases can also mark synonymous usage, thus are useful for elimination:
click EXPAND for an example of using this elimination from CB Writing practice test 8, question 35:
click EXPAND for an example of using this elimination from CB Writing practice test 8, question 35:
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
Line 741: Line 708:
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
== Emphasis shift==
* SAT measures focused writing
* "emphasis shift" = losing focus, straying from the idea, or emphasizing the wrong clause
** sentence emphasis should be upon the dominant clause
*** i.e.: don't unnecessarily complicate the most important idea in a sentence
* proper sentence construction emphasizes the dominant clause
** while the subordinate clause adds information or details but does not detract from the message of the dominate clause
* emphasis shift when Combining sentences:
** identify the main purpose of the sentence and select that possible answer which most directly states that purpose or includes it in the dominant clause:
*** ex.: “I found a unique vase from the store, which was very cluttered, in the back”
*** vs. the more direct: “I found a unique vase in the back of the cluttered store"


== Combining sentences ==
== Combining sentences ==
Line 750: Line 729:
*** avoid passive voice & subject -verb inversion (placing the subject after the verb)
*** avoid passive voice & subject -verb inversion (placing the subject after the verb)
** grammar and punctuation errors
** grammar and punctuation errors
== emphasis shift ==
== grammatical and punctuation rules ==
* use relative pronouns (that, which, who, whose, etc.)
* add commas prior to conjunctions ( “, and …”)
* consider combining subjects and verbs
* avoid repetition and unnecessary pronouns
* avoid [[#Emphasis shift]] errors


== "Command of Evidence” questions: adding or deleting text ==
== "Command of Evidence” questions: adding or deleting text ==
Line 771: Line 742:


== Vocabulary ==
== Vocabulary ==
<< to do
== Grammar and punctuation rules ==
<< to fix this section
* use relative pronouns (that, which, who, whose, etc.)
* add commas prior to conjunctions ( “, and …”)
* consider combining subjects and verbs
* avoid repetition and unnecessary pronouns
* avoid [[#Emphasis shift]] errors
Retrieved from "https://school4schools.wiki/wiki/Special:MobileDiff/1036"