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SAT Writing section techniques, strategies & approaches: Difference between revisions
SAT Writing section techniques, strategies & approaches (view source)
Revision as of 19:06, 17 February 2023
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** if the sentence is grammatically or logically incomplete, the period is wrong | ** if the sentence is grammatically or logically incomplete, the period is wrong | ||
*** i.e., SUBJECT VERB and an object or subject complement if needed to make sense | *** i.e., SUBJECT VERB and an object or subject complement if needed to make sense | ||
* if a period and a semicolon are both possible answers, they are both wrong | |||
---------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------- | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
* note that "interjection" (a quick remark or interruption) or "imperative" (a command) VERBS contain an implied SUBJECT | |||
* so they can create a complete sentence or independent clause: | |||
* ex. | |||
** "Go to the store." = "[you] Go to the store." | |||
** "Stop!" = "[you} Stop!" | |||
* for the SAT the imperative may come in the form of a command to the read, such as: | |||
** "Take this idea, for example." | |||
*** = "[you] Take this idea, for example." << as a sentence or independent clause | |||
==== semicolons ; ==== | ==== semicolons ; ==== | ||
* combine independent clauses for comparison, contrast or some relation between them | * combine independent clauses for comparison, contrast or some relation between them | ||
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** a semicolon may also be used as a "super comma" in order to emphasize separate elements in a list of common examples, usually following a colon: | ** a semicolon may also be used as a "super comma" in order to emphasize separate elements in a list of common examples, usually following a colon: | ||
*** as in, "IC: this; that; the other thing." | *** as in, "IC: this; that; the other thing." | ||
**** ex. "''On our trip, we will visit tons of places: in Africa, Egypt & Morrocco; in Europe, Greece and Italy; and in Asia, Turkey | **** ex. "''On our trip, we will visit tons of places: in Africa, Egypt & Morrocco; in Europe, Greece and Italy; and in Asia, Turkey"'' | ||
*** the "super comma" is rarely used in practice and on the SAT test (see May QAS 2022) | **** the "super comma" does not have to follow a colon, so we could write: | ||
***** ''"On our trip, we will visit tons of places, including in Africa, Egypt & Morrocco; in Europe, Greece and Italy; and in Asia, Turkey"'' | |||
*** the "super comma" is rarely used in practice and on the SAT test (see May QAS 2022 Writing section question no. 35 ) | |||
click EXPAND to see what SEMICOLONS do & how to eliminate using the rule/s: | click EXPAND to see what SEMICOLONS do & how to eliminate using the rule/s: | ||
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"> | <div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"> | ||
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#** ex. "He ate fast, which upset his stomach" = IC, DC | #** ex. "He ate fast, which upset his stomach" = IC, DC | ||
#** ex. "After eating too fast, his stomach was upset" = Phr, IC | #** ex. "After eating too fast, his stomach was upset" = Phr, IC | ||
#*** | #*** = prepositional phrase, independent clause | ||
# combine ICs | # combine ICs | ||
#* ''but only with a coordinating conjunction'' (FANBOYS), i.e., IC, and IC | #* ''but only with a coordinating conjunction'' (FANBOYS), i.e., IC, and IC | ||
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** commas can only separate a S-V or V-O if acting parenthetically (see below for examples) | ** commas can only separate a S-V or V-O if acting parenthetically (see below for examples) | ||
** commas can NOT combine two ICs without a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS) | ** commas can NOT combine two ICs without a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS) | ||
** 1 or more commas can separate multiple subjects, verbs or objects from one another | ** 1 or more commas can separate multiple subjects, verbs or objects from one another (called "compound" subjects, verbs, objects) | ||
*** "Joey, Joella and Josephina jumped for joy" | *** "Joey, Joella and Josephina jumped for joy" | ||
**** = a single comma between the subject "Joey" and its verb "jumped" because the comma creates a list and not a grammatical separation of the subject and verb | **** = a single comma between the subject "Joey" and its verb "jumped" because the comma creates a list and not a grammatical separation of the subject and verb | ||
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#* i.e., a colon MUST be preceded by an IC | #* i.e., a colon MUST be preceded by an IC | ||
#* i.e., colons follow a complete statement with an extended idea or example/s | #* i.e., colons follow a complete statement with an extended idea or example/s | ||
#** ''The prosecutor presented the evidence: a fingerprint, the weapon, and a written confession" = IC: list | #** ''The prosecutor presented the evidence: a fingerprint, the weapon, and a written confession"'' | ||
#*** = IC: list | |||
#* just about any grammatical form can follow a colon, including | #* just about any grammatical form can follow a colon, including | ||
#** an IC, phrase, exclamation, multiple ICs with semicolons or coordinating conjunctions | #** an IC, phrase, exclamation, multiple ICs with semicolons or coordinating conjunctions | ||
#** a direct quotation (if that quotation is a complete sentence and if the colon is preceded by an IC | #** a direct quotation (if that quotation is a complete sentence and if the colon is preceded by an IC | ||
* | #** the exception is that colons are not followed by another colon | ||
* colons <U>DO NOT</u>: | |||
** follow a dependent clause | ** follow a dependent clause | ||
** interrupt a clause or requisite (essential, required) element in a sentence | ** interrupt a clause or requisite (essential, required) element in a sentence | ||