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

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

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 === Period ===
 * periods mark a full stop between complete sentences
-** see Independent clause (IC) below for what constitutes a complete sentence
+** a complete sentence has a finite verb (subject + verb) and makes a complete thought
-* eliminate periods in possible answers when there is not an IC on both sides of the period.
+* so long as the sentence has a finite verb and a makes a complete thought, even with additional phrases or DCs, the sentence is complete
+** see QID 886dc9f9
 * the SAT will not ask to distinguish between use of other punctuation that separates independent clauses
 ** such as semicolons and commas (+ conjunction)
-*** periods separate complete sentences from each other as distinct thoughts
+** because the choice between a period, semicolon or comma + CC is stylistic and not rules-based
-**** i.e.,  IC << . >> IC
+*** periods separate ideas; semicolons combine them for comparison; commas + CCs combine them as two equal elements in a compound sentence
-*** semicolons juxtapose sentences for comparison
-**** i.e., IC >> ; << IC
+* imperatives (commands) '''are sentences''', even though the subject is implied and not explicitly present
-*** commas + conjunction combine sentences and ideas into a single thought, with each IC weighed equally
+** ''Take this example.''  << is a sentence
-**** i.e., IC <=> , + <=> IC
+*** = ''[You] take this example.''
+**** in the imperative, the "you" subject is implied
+*** so punctuate the imperative as a complete sentence or IC
+Elimination:
+* a sentence must be a complete thought, so do not confuse a DC from a sentence
+** a clause that begins with a SC, such as "by," "since," or "while," will not make a complete thought (see QID ce81d0b7)
+*** (the SC requires additional information to complete the thought)
+* see semicolon entry for elimination of both a period and a semicolon if both are possible answers with the exact same wording
 === Semicolon ===
 * semicolons juxtapose complete sentences as ICs for comparison or emphasis of a relation
 * eliminate semicolons if there are not ICs on both sides of the semicolon
+** be careful about use of phrases or dependent clauses in between two ICs and separated by a semicolon:
+*** IC, DC; DC; IC = correct
+*** IC, Phr; Phr, IC = correct
+*** in these instances, the DC or Phr are modifying the IC and so are not grammatically necessary
+**** so if you remove them, you will see that you have two ICs that are combined by a semicolon.
+**** see QID 89fbc3eb,
+****
 * an exception is use of the semicolon as a "super comma" (see above)
-** rarely used on the SAT
+** rarely used on the SAT (see QID aaa1907f, be37d4ae, aaa1907f)
+* note that the SAT will ask students to decide if a transition word (conjunctive adverb) belongs two the first or second clause, separated by a semicolon (see QID 1ee4485c, be37d4ae, 78b88c04)
+Elimination:
+* if there is no IC on either side of the semicolon, it is incorrect
+** if there are answer options for a semicolon and a period or a comma + CC, and otherwise with the exact same wording, then they are all wrong (see QID ac5536c1, 8f6d6ae, 62120607)
+** UNLESS there is something different about their wording (see QID 73a6603c, which offers
+*** '''A) ; by adding'''  and
+*** '''D) . Adding'''
+**** << note that "; by adding" is not the same as ". Adding", so these possible answers are not doing the same thing).
 === comma ===
 * commas create a pause