1. ACT PREP English

2. Follow Their Tips

3. Pace Yourself You have 45 minutes + 75 Questions= 1 ½ minutes to look over each passage before you respond. Then 30 seconds to answer each question. If possible, spend less time on each question to leave time for checking over answers at the end. Mark ones that were most difficult and re-check those first (in book not on answer sheet).

4. Think About What is the writing STYLE of the passage? Informative? Persuasive? Personal Narrative? Expository? Formal/Informal?

5. While Skimming Identify the style Look at the topic sentences and underlined portions…summarize to yourself what the passage is about.

6. How does it fit in? For each question, take a look at the context. Look at the sentences around the passage you are looking at to make sure you understand the context.

7. Check it. Reread the sentence using your selected answer.

8. Read ALL of the answers Which one is MOST correct? Do the different options give you a clue? How does each answer DIFFER from the others? Don’t select an answer that fixes one error but causes another.

9. Questions about the WHOLE Piece Located at the end of the section Have a box that tells you that it’s about the section as a whole.

10. CONTENT: ENGLISH

11. Usage/Mechanics

12. Punctuation Emphasis: internal and end of sentence punctuation emphasis on how punctuation affects meaning

13. Item Analysis We’ll Cover: Question Numbers 2 9 26 33 49 Review: commas, apostrophes, semicolons

14. WRITING HOME: COMMA RULES

15. Resources Commas: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/692/01/ http://owlet.letu.edu/grammarlinks/punctuation/punct1.html Apostrophes: http://www.wisc- online.com/Objects/ViewObject.aspx?ID=ABC601 http://www.wisc- online.com/Objects/ViewObject.aspx?ID=ABC601 http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/621/01/ Semicolons: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_D3f_1ZA6Y&safe =active http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_D3f_1ZA6Y&safe =active

16. Grammar and Usage Emphasis: Subject/verb agreement Pronoun/antecedent agreement Modifiers Verb formation Pronoun case Comparative/superlative adjectives and adverbs Use of idioms

17. Item Analysis We’ll Cover: Item Numbers 29 34 47 48

18. Sentence Structure Emphasis: Show understanding of relationships between and among clauses, placement of modifiers, and shifts in construction.

19. Item Analysis We’ll Cover: Item Numbers 8 18 21* 23 27 31 39 40 41 43 44

20. Rhetorical Skills Understanding of the use of strategy, organization, and style in writing

21. Organization We’ll Cover: Item Numbers 5 17 25 30 36 50

22. Strategy We’ll Cover: Item Numbers 16 46

23. Style We’ll Cover: Item Numbers 4 10 24 28 45

24. Other Resources: Wiscareers: Need your username and password Use this site to take 3 full length practice tests, access flashcards and tips on ACT test-taking strategies. http://wiscareers.wisc.edu/Default.asp Specific Tips Regarding ACT English: http://www.answerexplanations.com/act/study-materials/basic-strategy- outline/english/ http://www.answerexplanations.com/act/study-materials/basic-strategy- outline/english/ Resource for Refreshing Grammar/Writing Skills: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/http://owl.english.purdue.edu/ Grammar/Punctuation Exercises and Rules: http://www.chompchomp.com/