1. ACT English Preparation University of Illinois-Chicago Curriculum Framework Project Spring 2011

2. Schedule of Lessons Introduction to Test Strategies General Commas/Punctuation Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Adjective vs Adverb

3. Lesson #5 Introduction to Test Strategies General Commas/Punctuation Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Adjective vs Adverb

4. TWO MORE IMPORTANT CONCEPTS: The SEMICOLON and The APOSTROPHE  Know how to use a semicolon. It is a simple rule that will help you answer some questions.  Know the basics of apostrophes. COMMAS/PUNCTUATION PT. 3

5. THE SEMICOLON  A semicolon is used to combine two complete sentences.  Let’s look at three ways this is done. COMMAS/PUNCTUATION PT. 3

6. THE SEMICOLON  Sentence #1 I like to read.  Sentence #2 The library is my favorite place to visit. We can combine these to make one sentence by using a semicolon. I like to read; the library is my favorite place to visit. COMMAS/PUNCTUATION PT. 3

7. THE SEMICOLON  A semicolon can replace a comma and FANBOYS I like to read, so the library is my favorite place to visit. Drop the comma and the FANBOYS, replace with a semicolon COMMAS/PUNCTUATION PT. 3

8. THE SEMICOLON  A semicolon can combine two sentences with a connector word in between. In this case, you will need a comma too. I like to read; therefore, the library is my favorite place to visit. COMMAS/PUNCTUATION PT. 3 SEMICOLON CONNECTOR WORD COMMA

9. THE SEMICOLON  The important thing to remember with a semicolon— Look to the left of the semicolon. There should be a complete sentence. Look to the right. Another complete sentence. If one of these isn’t true, the use of a semicolon is WRONG. COMMAS/PUNCTUATION PT. 3

10. PUNCTUATION PLEASE REFER TO YOUR PRACTICE PASSAGES TEST 0556A (next 11 slides)

11. Examples from Practice Test 0556A ANSWERS 6. F. NO CHANGE G. over, the family had returned home, H. over the family had returned home, J. over the family had returned home; Text from Passage The evening church service was over, the family had returned home; and everyone was sitting around in the living room.

12. Examples from Practice Test 0556A ANSWERS 6. F. NO CHANGE G. over, the family had returned home, H. over the family had returned home, J. over the family had returned home; Text from Passage The evening church service was over, the family had returned home; and everyone was sitting around in the living room. F is wrong. Look to the left. “The evening church service was over, the family had returned home” is NOT a sentence by itself, it is TWO sentences with a comma between them. We know we have to change it

13. Examples from Practice Test 0556A ANSWERS 6. F. NO CHANGE G. over, the family had returned home, H. over the family had returned home, J. over the family had returned home; Text from Passage The evening church service was over, the family had returned home; and everyone was sitting around in the living room. J is wrong. It takes out the comma and makes the two sentences to the left into one that doesn’t make sense– it is still two sentences. So, this choice is WRONG.

14. Examples from Practice Test 0556A ANSWERS 6. F. NO CHANGE G. over, the family had returned home, H. over the family had returned home, J. over the family had returned home; Text from Passage The evening church service was over, the family had returned home; and everyone was sitting around in the living room. H is wrong. It takes out the comma and makes the two sentences to the left into one that doesn’t make sense– it is still two sentences, so taking out the comma doesn’t fix the problem. So, this choice is WRONG.

15. Examples from Practice Test 0556A ANSWERS 6. F. NO CHANGE G. over, the family had returned home, H. over the family had returned home, J. over the family had returned home; Text from Passage The evening church service was over, the family had returned home; and everyone was sitting around in the living room. G is CORRECT. It takes out the semicolon and makes it a comma. Now we have a list. IF you know semicolons, you know it doesn’t belong anywhere in this sentence. F and J are automatically WRONG.

16. Examples from Practice Test 0556A ANSWERS 24. F. NO CHANGE G. Granny; however, H. Granny, however, J. Granny, however Text from Passage Tiny’s Granny however; is very fond of her burqua because she has found a variety of innovative uses for it.

17. Examples from Practice Test 0556A ANSWERS 24. F. NO CHANGE G. Granny; however, H. Granny, however, J. Granny, however Text from Passage Tiny’s Granny however; is very fond of her burqua because she has found a variety of innovative uses for it. F is WRONG. Look to the left of the semicolon in the sentence. “Tiny’s Granny however” is NOT a complete sentence. If you know semicolon rule, you know that you can’t have that.

18. Examples from Practice Test 0556A ANSWERS 24. F. NO CHANGE G. Granny; however, H. Granny, however, J. Granny, however Text from Passage Tiny’s Granny however; is very fond of her burqua because she has found a variety of innovative uses for it. G is WRONG. Look to the left of the semicolon with this answer. “Tiny’s Granny” is NOT a complete sentence. If you know semicolon rule, you know that you can’t have that.

19. Examples from Practice Test 0556A ANSWERS 24. F. NO CHANGE G. Granny; however, H. Granny, however, J. Granny, however Text from Passage Tiny’s Granny however; is very fond of her burqua because she has found a variety of innovative uses for it. J is WRONG. Remember nonessentials? “however” interrupts the sentence. NONESSENTIALS have to be surrounded by commas. This choice only puts in one.

20. Examples from Practice Test 0556A ANSWERS 24. F. NO CHANGE G. Granny; however, H. Granny, however, J. Granny, however Text from Passage Tiny’s Granny however; is very fond of her burqua because she has found a variety of innovative uses for it. H is CORRECT. NONESSENTIALS have to be surrounded by commas. This choice puts in both. Again, if you know SEMICOLON Rule, you know automatically that F and G are WRONG.

21. Examples from Practice Test 0556A Look at QUESTIONS #28, 32, 40, 59, AND 69. EACH question has a choice using a semicolon. If you know the semicolon rule, you know to eliminate the choices that put one in. They put these answers in to distract you… cross them off and you have a better chance of getting it right.