english act prep rhetorical skills. the english test is a 75-question, 45-minute test, covering:...
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English ACT Prep
Rhetorical Skills
The English test is a 75-question, 45-minute test, covering:
Usage/Mechanics(53% - 40 questions)
• Punctuation (13%)• Grammar and usage (16%) • Sentence structure (24%)
Rhetorical Skills(47% or 35 questions)• Strategy (16%)• Organization (15%)• Style (16%)
The English test is a 75-question, 45-minute test, covering:
Usage/Mechanics(53% - 40 questions)
• Punctuation (13%)• Grammar and usage (16%) • Sentence structure (24%)
Rhetorical Skills(47% or 35 questions)• Strategy (16%)• Organization (15%)• Style (16%)
Rhetorical Skills
The ACT writers break rhetorical skills down into three subcategories:
1. Strategy2. Organization3. Style
Strategy
Strategy
Transitions
Strategy
Transitions
A transition is sometimes needed at the beginning of a clause, sentence, or paragraph, as a writer attempts to move smoothly from one thought to another.
Strategy
Transitions
There are really only three main kinds of sentence connectors in the (English speaking) world:
• But • Also• Thus
Strategy
Transitions
Fred and Sue were looking forward to going to dinner at a Chinese restaurant with their friends, _____ their friends wanted to go to an Italian restaurant.
Strategy
Transitions
Fred and Sue were looking forward to going to dinner at a Chinese restaurant with their friends, but their friends wanted to go to an Italian restaurant.
Strategy
Transitions
When European children hear the word “Chicago,” the first thing they think of is gangsters; _____ it must be a disappointment to them when they get off the plane and see that no one is wearing spats or carrying a tommy gun.
Strategy
Transitions
When European children hear the word “Chicago,” the first thing they think of is gangsters; thus it must be a disappointment to them when they get off the plane and see that no one is wearing spats or carrying a tommy gun.
Strategy
Transitions
The campers were very tired. _____ they were very hungry.
Strategy
Transitions
The campers were very tired. Also, they were very hungry.
Strategy
Transitions
Of course there are many ways to say but, thus and also…
But…(contradiction)
• however• quite the contrary• despite• rather• notwithstanding
• contrarily• on the other hand• on the contrary• although• yet• nevertheless
thus…(cause and effect)
• hence• and so• therefore• consequently
• for example• because of• finally• in conclusion
also…(in addition)
• in addition• for example• furthermore• another• and• first • second
• moreover• by the same token• besides• so too• in addition• similarly
Strategy
Funds provided by the Stafford program are not considered scholarships; so too, they are part of the extended student loan system.
A. NO CHANGEB. in addition,C. rather,D. moreover
Here’s an example:
Strategy
Funds provided by the Stafford program are not considered scholarships; so too, they are part of the extended student loan system.
A. NO CHANGEB. in addition,C. rather,D. moreover
Here’s an example:
Strategy
Other strategy questions include:
• Which of the following best summarizes the main point of the passage?
• Is the use of formal English appropriate in the context of this passage?
• If the passage were revised to present conflicting viewpoints, which of the following changes would best represent the other side of the author’s argument?
Organization
Organization
Two types of organization questions:
1. The first asks you to reorder sentences within a paragraph.
2. The second asks you to reorder paragraphs within the passage as a whole.
Organization
[1] Van Gogh, particularly in his later paintings, creates thick swirls of paint which perhaps mirror the emotional storm raging within. [2] DuFevre piles the paint onto the canvas in thick swatches which rise off the canvas by a good half inch at times. [3] Perhaps the most telling similarity between Van Gogh and DuFevre, the little-known modern surrealist, lies in their use of brushstrokes. [4] It is almost as if he is challenging Van Gogh to a contest to determine who was more emotionally disturbed.
A. NO CHANGEB. 1, 3, 2, 4C. 1, 4, 3, 2D. 3, 1, 2, 4
Here’s an example:
Organization
[1] Van Gogh, particularly in his later paintings, creates thick swirls of paint which perhaps mirror the emotional storm raging within. [2] DuFevre piles the paint onto the canvas in thick swatches which rise off the canvas by a good half inch at times. [3] Perhaps the most telling similarity between Van Gogh and DuFevre, the little-known modern surrealist, lies in their use of brushstrokes. [4] It is almost as if he is challenging Van Gogh to a contest to determine who was more emotionally disturbed.
A. NO CHANGEB. 1, 3, 2, 4C. 1, 4, 3, 2D. 3, 1, 2, 4
Here’s an example:
Organization
Ordering whole paragraphs…
Style
Style
The largest number of style errors stems from redundancy. Put simply, redundancy means saying the same thing twice.
Cheap and inexpensive gifts can be found in the shopping district.
Style
The largest number of style errors stems from redundancy. Put simply, redundancy means saying the same thing twice.
Cheap and inexpensive gifts can be found in the shopping district.
Style
The largest number of style errors stems from redundancy. Put simply, redundancy means saying the same thing twice.
Cheap gifts can be found in the shopping district.
Style
The largest number of style errors stems from redundancy. Put simply, redundancy means saying the same thing twice.
Weak and without strength, the old car could not make it.
Style
The largest number of style errors stems from redundancy. Put simply, redundancy means saying the same thing twice.
Weak and without strength, the old car could not make it.
Style
The largest number of style errors stems from redundancy. Put simply, redundancy means saying the same thing twice.
The weak, old car could not make it.
Style
The largest number of style errors stems from redundancy. Put simply, redundancy means saying the same thing twice.
After birth, the newborn babies are weighed by a nurse.
Style
The largest number of style errors stems from redundancy. Put simply, redundancy means saying the same thing twice.
After birth, the newborn babies are weighed by a nurse.
Style
The largest number of style errors stems from redundancy. Put simply, redundancy means saying the same thing twice.
After birth, the babies are weighed by a nurse.
Style
The Vietnam veterans were recently memorialized by a memorial sculpture in Washington.
A. NO CHANGEB. memorialized by aC. memorialized with a
new memoriaD. memorialized in a
recent
Here’s an example:
Style
The Vietnam veterans were recently memorialized by a memorial sculpture in Washington.
A. NO CHANGEB. memorialized by aC. memorialized with a
new memoriaD. memorialized in a
recent
Here’s an example:
The End…