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

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=== Period ===  
=== Period ===  
* periods mark a full stop between complete sentences
* periods mark a full stop between complete sentences
** a complete sentence has a finite verb (subject + verb) and makes a complete thought
** see Independent clause (IC) below for what constitutes a complete sentence
* 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
* eliminate periods in possible answers when there is not an IC on both sides of the period.
** (see QID 886dc9f9, aab74a3b)
* the SAT will not ask to distinguish between use of other punctuation that separates independent clauses
* the SAT will not ask to distinguish between use of other punctuation that separates independent clauses
** such as semicolons and commas (+ conjunction)
** such as semicolons and commas (+ conjunction)
** because the choice between a period, semicolon or comma + CC is stylistic and not rules-based
*** periods separate complete sentences from each other as distinct thoughts
*** periods separate ideas; semicolons combine them for comparison; commas + CCs combine them as two equal elements in a compound sentence
**** i.e., IC << . >> IC
 
*** semicolons juxtapose sentences for comparison
* imperatives (commands) '''are sentences''', even though the subject is implied and not explicitly present
**** i.e., IC >> ; << IC
** ''Take this example.'' << is a sentence
*** commas + conjunction combine sentences and ideas into a single thought, with each IC weighed equally
*** = ''[You] take this example.''
**** i.e., IC <=> , + <=> IC
**** 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 ===  
=== Semicolon ===  
* semicolons juxtapose complete sentences as ICs for comparison or emphasis of a relation  
* 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
* 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)
* an exception is use of the semicolon as a "super comma" (see above)
** rarely used on the SAT (see QID aaa1907f, be37d4ae, aaa1907f)
** rarely used on the SAT
* 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 ===
=== comma ===
* commas create a pause
* commas create a pause