WRITING QUESTIONS WRITING QUESTIONS Part 5 Notes SAT Preparation Mrs. Erdman Part 5 Notes SAT Preparation Mrs. Erdman

1. Multiple-choice writing items fall into three different categories. 1. Multiple-choice writing items fall into three different categories. / Identifying Sentence Errors / Improving Sentences / Improving Paragraphs / Identifying Sentence Errors / Improving Sentences / Improving Paragraphs

2. Basic 5-step plan for answering multiple-choice questions.

#1 Read sentence and/or paragraphs to get sense of its meaning

#2 Anticipate the answer. Determine how to best revise. #3 Read ALL 5 choices. Check each in context.

#4 If you have to guess: A. Eliminate choices that don’t make sense B. Go for answer that creates most direct, less complicated sentence C. Understand why you made choice you did D. If you can eliminate even one, guess

#5 Check answer by reading entire sentence or passage with your revision

3. What two things must every sentence have? Subject & Predicate (noun/pronoun & verb/verb phrase) and express a complete thought

4. What are the two types of clauses? Independent Clause Dependent Clause

5. Define the two types of clauses. A. independent - contain a subject/verb and express a complete thought (sentence) B. dependent - contain a subject/verb and does not express a complete thought (fragment)

6. Four basic sentence types: A. Simple B. Compound C. Complex D. Compound-Complex

7. Sentence Types: Definitions and Samples

#1 Simple - 1 independent clause (1 subject/1 verb) I went to the store. #2 Compound - 2 or more independent clauses I went to the store, and I bought cookies. I went to the store; I bought cookies.

#3 Complex - 1 independent clause & at least 1 dependent clause I went to the store because I needed milk. #4 Compound-Complex - at least 2 independent clauses & at least 1 dependent clause While I was at the store, my daughter called me, and she said to buy milk.

8. Run-on Sentence Two incorrectly joined independent clauses I went to the store I bought milk I had to get bread too. Two incorrectly joined independent clauses I went to the store I bought milk I had to get bread too.

9. Comma Splice Run-on sentence with commas connecting two independent clauses I went to the store, I bought milk, I had to get bread too. Run-on sentence with commas connecting two independent clauses I went to the store, I bought milk, I had to get bread too.

10. Correcting a Run-On A. Make 2 sentences B. Add a word (conjunction) between 2 independent clauses (comma before the conjunction) C. Add a subordinating conjunction to create a complex sentence D. Use a semicolon A. Make 2 sentences B. Add a word (conjunction) between 2 independent clauses (comma before the conjunction) C. Add a subordinating conjunction to create a complex sentence D. Use a semicolon

11/12. Fragments A group of word that doesn’t express a complete thought Phrase: to go to the store Clause: Because I need milk A group of word that doesn’t express a complete thought Phrase: to go to the store Clause: Because I need milk

13. Modification / Adverb modifying a verb - I carefully removed the bullet from the gun. / Adverb modifying an adjective - I was an incredibly tight race. / Adverb modifying an adverb - He won very convincingly. / Adverb modifying a verb - I carefully removed the bullet from the gun. / Adverb modifying an adjective - I was an incredibly tight race. / Adverb modifying an adverb - He won very convincingly.

14. Comparative Degree / Used to compare two things / She studied longer than I did. / Used to compare two things / She studied longer than I did.

15. Superlative Form / Used to compare MORE than two things. / This is the best pizza. / Used to compare MORE than two things. / This is the best pizza.

16. What “case” is used for the subject of a sentence? Nominative

17. What “case” is used to show ownership? Possessive

18. What “case” is used to show that a noun or pronoun receives the action? Objective

19. What is the difference between the active and passive voice in writing? Active - subject performs the action named by the verb The dog chewed the bone. Passive - subject receives the action The bone was chewed by the dog. Active - subject performs the action named by the verb The dog chewed the bone. Passive - subject receives the action The bone was chewed by the dog.

20. Why is active voice preferred? Less Wordy

21. Parallel Structure (Words) I watch TV, people, and birds. (all nouns) I watch TV, people, and birds. (all nouns)

22. Parallel Structure (Phrases) I like eating Oreos, drinking milk, and brushing my teeth. (all gerund phrases) I like eating Oreos, drinking milk, and brushing my teeth. (all gerund phrases)

23. Dangling Modifiers Word or phrase that describes something left out of the sentence

24. Misplaced Modifiers Word or phrase that describes a word placed too far away from the noun it’s modifying - doesn’t make sense

25. How to Improve Paragraph Questions A. Understand the passage - read several times B. Look for relationships among ideas A. Understand the passage - read several times B. Look for relationships among ideas

26. Types of Errors A. Unclear pronoun reference B. Tense (verb) shift [present/past/future] A. Unclear pronoun reference B. Tense (verb) shift [present/past/future]

27. Steps to take to determine what sentence would logically follow another in a paragraph (conclude). A. Identify writer’s main idea (topic sentence or infer from details) B. Identify writer’s slant (what is writer’s opinion?) C. See what choice best fits with main idea & writer’s opinion A. Identify writer’s main idea (topic sentence or infer from details) B. Identify writer’s slant (what is writer’s opinion?) C. See what choice best fits with main idea & writer’s opinion

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