1. SAT Test Prep Lesson #4 – Writing
Source: AVID Coordinator’s Training on February 6, 2014 by Study Smart Tutors

2. “To succeed, we must first
believe that we can.”
-Michael Korda

3. Writing Quick Facts
This section discusses error ID and improving sentences and paragraphs
All sections, except paragraph improvement, increase in difficulty
The grammar section has a lot of traps since test takers usually respond based on what “sounds good” and not what is actually correct
Grammar tests: 25 minutes, 35 minutes, 10 minutes

4. Error ID Questions There is never more than one error in a sentence
One answer will be easy to eliminate
The non-underlined part is never wrong
“No Error” will occur about 20% of the time

5. Improving Sentences You must identify & correct the error
Answer (A) always repeats the question
If there is something wrong, eliminate (A)
There can be multiple errors in a sentence (unlike error ID questions)
Shorter revisions are best

6. Using Answers as a Guide
When questions are challenging, use the answer choices for guidance.

7. Periods & Semicolons
Periods should only be at the end of complete sentences.
Semicolons (;) are used when two sentences are closely related
Semicolons are also used with conjunctive adverbs such as therefore and however
Semicolons can also be used in lists following a colon

8. Semicolon Example #1 Question:
Why does the sentence “I’m going to the grocery store; I need to buy food for the party” have a semicolon?
Answer:
The two statements “I’m going to the grocery store” and “I need to buy food for the party” are related. They are also two separate independent clauses that could otherwise be separated by a period.

9. Semicolon Example #2 Question:
Why does the sentence “I wanted to play golf today; however, I have to go to school” have a semicolon?
Answer:
The sentence uses the conjunctive adverb, however. Using a semicolon before the adverb and a comma after helps unite the two sentence parts.

10. Semicolon Example #3 Question:
Why does the sentence “My road trip will take me to the following places: Istanbul, Turkey; Rome, Italy; and Paris, France” have a semicolon?
Answer:
The sentence has a list of places that relate to a single trip. The places are independent and therefore separated by semicolons.

11. The Apostrophe Apostrophes are used to signal possession
Apostrophes can also be used to replace letters that are removed in contractions

12. Apostrophes Example #1 Question:
Jeff ’s hat is very ugly. Sarah’s paper is quite interesting.
Answer:
Apostrophes are used to show that Jeff owns the hat and Sarah wrote the paper.

13. Apostrophes Example #2 Question: Don’t, let’s, wouldn’t, couldn’t
Answer:
Each word represents a contraction between two words, so an apostrophe is used.

14. The Colon
The colon is used in two situations. Both need independent clauses, or complete sentences, before the colon
Colons are used to 1.) introduce lists, 2.) introduce an explanation or example

15. Colon Example #1 Question:
After four days, the jury made its decision: the defendant was guilty.
Answer:
The colon separates a complete sentence from a single example decision.

16. Colon Example #2 Question:
Why is the use of a colon in the sentence “My favorite places to eat are: Burger Pit, Pizza palace and at home” incorrect?
Answer:
The colon is used incorrectly because the first half of the sentence is not preceded by a complete sentence.

17. Noun Agreement
Nouns must agree with other nouns and verbs in the sentence
Make sure the noun is consistently singular or plural

18. Noun Agreement Example #1
Question:
Many students suffer from a guilty conscience immediately after cheating on a difficult exam.
a) Many students suffer from a guilty conscience
b) Many student suffer from a guilty conscience
c) Many students suffer from guilty conscious’
d) Many students suffer from guilty consciences
e) Many students suffer from guilt conscience’s
Answer:
The correct answer is letter d because if there are many students, a plural noun, they must have many consciences, another plural term.

19. Noun Agreement Example #2
Question:
High school students who play sports are more likely to become a successful college student.
a) Are more likely to become a successful college student
b) Are more likely to become successful college students
c) Is more likely to be a successful college student
d) Is more likely to be successful in college
e) Are more likely to succeed when going to college
Answer:
Letter b is correct because there are many students who play many sports, both are plural terms. The result, all nouns must be consistently plural, so the final word “student” must be changed to be plural, “students”

20. Subject/Verb Agreement
Singular subjects must take singular verbs and plural subjects must take plural verbs

21. Subject/Verb Agreement Example #1

22. Subject/Verb Agreement Example #2

23. And vs. Or Subjects joined by “and” are always plural
Subjects joined by “or” can be singular or plural. If the last noun is singular, it takes a singular verb. If the last noun is plural, it takes the plural verb

24. And vs. Or Examples

25. Additional Practice
With any remaining class time, choose one or more of the categories to practice online:
Improving Sentences
Identifying Sentence Errors
Improving Paragraphs