Strategies for both exams Writing the essays Strategies for both exams

Comparison: Content SAT ACT Last section Optional 50 min Rhetorical analysis prompt Essay task requires you to read and analyze a non-fiction passage All grammar and style rules apply First person should be used sparingly Last section Optional 40 min Persuasive prompt Essay task requires you to evaluate 3 opinions on a topic, then construct your own opinion All grammar and style rules apply First person is fine

Comparison: Scoring SAT ACT 2 readers using a rubric and anchors 3 subscores of 1-4 in Reading, Analysis, and Writing Score of 3-24 reported separately 2 readers using a rubric and anchors 1 holistic score of 1-6 Essay score is reported as part of an English/Writing composite score (see next slide)

Time management Prompt and Plan <10 min Read/analyze article. Step Time Tasks: SAT Tasks: ACT Prompt and Plan <10 min Read/analyze article. Write a brief outline. Read/evaluate perspectives. Write a brief outline Produce 38 min (SAT) 28 min (ACT) Write! Stick to your outline Focus on one idea per paragraph Make transitions between ideas Feel free to “overexplain” Concrete > Abstract Proofread 2 min Make corrections neatly

Decode the prompt: SAT As you read the passage below, consider how Jimmy Carter uses • evidence, such as facts or examples, to support claims. • reasoning to develop ideas and to connect claims and evidence. • stylistic or persuasive elements, such as word choice or appeals to emotion, to add power to the ideas expressed. Write an essay in which you explain how Jimmy Carter builds an argument to persuade his audience that the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge should not be developed for industry. In your essay, analyze how Carter uses one or more of the features listed in the box above (or features of your own choice) to strengthen the logic and persuasiveness of his argument. Be sure that your analysis focuses on the most relevant features of the passage. Your essay should not explain whether you agree with Carter’s claims, but rather explain how Carter builds an argument to persuade his audience.

Decode the prompt:ACT

Manage the clock! Before the test: During the test: Practice, practice practice During the test: Don’t skip the planning step Fill the space you’re given: More paragraphs = good Detailed paragraphs = better There’s always more to say Connect all the dots Remember your “slow” friend Speed is essential, but don’t sacrifice legibility Reserve time for proofreading Correcting an error = not making an error in the first place