1. Choosing the Better Sentence on Standardized Tests Time4Writing provides these teachers materials to teachers and parents at no cost. More presentations, handouts, interactive online exercises, and video lessons are freely available at Time4Writing.com. Consider linking to these resources from your school, teacher, or homeschool educational site. The rules: These materials must maintain the visibility of the Time4Writing trademark and copyright information. They can be copied and used for educational purposes. They are not for resale. Want to give us feedback? We'd like to hear your views: info@time4writing.com Copyright 2012 www.time4writing.com/free-writing-resources Copyright 2012

2. Standardized tests, particularly the SAT, require students to identify the better sentence of two given sentences. Sometimes it is easy to tell which is better: A)He is the one that was at the game. B)He is the one that at the game was. Answer: A But sometimes it can be tricky... Copyright 2012 www.time4writing.com/free-writing-resources Copyright 2012

3. The answer here is not so obvious: A)I made pizza using the dough that I made in a bread machine. B)Using dough from a bread machine, I made pizza. Which do you think the better sentence is? TIP: Say each sentence slowly, either in your head or out loud. Which sounds more clear and concise? Copyright 2012 www.time4writing.com/free-writing-resources Copyright 2012

4. Did you choose B? If so, you were right! What was wrong with A? I made pizza using the dough that I made in a bread machine. It is repetitive to use the verb "made" twice. Then there is a third verb, "using". This makes it a loose sentence with too many clauses. B is much clearer: Using dough from a bread machine, I made pizza. Copyright 2012 www.time4writing.com/free-writing-resources Copyright 2012

5. When you are given two sentences and asked to choose the better one, identify and eliminate: Sentence fragments o missing a subject or verb Run-on sentences (comma splices or fused sentences) o missing a conjunction Loose sentences o too many subordinate clauses piled in Choppy sentences o too short and blunt Copyright 2012 www.time4writing.com/free-writing-resources Copyright 2012

6. Sometimes, neither of the sentences will have any grammatical or mechanical errors. Look for the sentence that has problems with its structure. Read each sentence to sense which flows better and conveys information more directly. Copyright 2012 www.time4writing.com/free-writing-resources Copyright 2012

7. Let's try another one. Identify the better sentence: A)We went to a restaurant to celebrate her birthday last night. B)Last night, to celebrate her birthday, we went to a restaurant. Which do you think is the better sentence? Copyright 2012 www.time4writing.com/free-writing-resources Copyright 2012

8. Did you choose A? If so, great job! Why is B not a good choice? B) Last night, to celebrate her birthday, we went to a restaurant. Sentence B is not as direct as the first. It is better to start off the sentence saying who did what. Sentence A flows better: A)We celebrated her birthday at a restaurant last night. Copyright 2012 www.time4writing.com/free-writing-resources Copyright 2012

9. The end. More free SAT WRITING resources: identifying sentence errors editing & revising paragraphs improving sentences writing the SAT essay - characteristics of effective writing Eight-week WRITING courses: elementary school middle school high school Copyright 2012 www.time4writing.com/free-writing-resources Copyright 2012