actenglishblogs

1. http://actenglish.edublogs.org Log in to the computer Go to the above website Open Word

2. Reading

3. Reading Passages • Each passage should have 10 questions • 35 minutes to read 4 passages • Each passage is about 750 words • The passages cover • Prose fiction • Humanities • Social sciences • Natural sciences

4. Level of Difficulty • The passages start with the easiest* and progress to the hardest. • The questions for each passage start with the easiest* and progress to the hardest for each passage.

5. Prose Fiction • Form: novel excerpt or short story

6. Humanities • Many topics may be covered (culture, the arts, literature, music, architecture, dance, or even history) • Usually, the writer is interpreting something (ex: The writer may discuss the meaning of a painting). • It will NOT say “I think” or “According to me” • It will present opinions as fact. • You MUST figure out the writer’s perspective!!

8. Social Sciences • Many topics may be covered (economics, history, political science, anthropology, sociology and psychology) • How is it different from the Humanities? The SS passage will not have a ‘perspective.’ It will be more impersonal, detached, or scientific. • The writing will be to report observations, then analyze patterns and trends.

10. Natural Sciences • Possible topics (astronomy, biology, botany, chemistry, geology, medicine, physics) • Issue: this passage is where you will run in to unknown words. • The test makers expect you to use context clues.

12. Read the Passage • Read ACTIVELY • Stop while reading just long enough to make sure you understand what you have read. • Underline, write notes as you read, summarize, ask questions

13. Let’s Look at an example

14. Example Passage • Paragraph 1 – author gives a problem • What is the problem? • Many native Australian animals are dying off. • Often, after the intro of a problem, a possible solution will be given – Paragraph 2 • What is the solution? • One man: endangered species should be kept as pets.

15. Example Passage • What is the purpose of paragraph 3? • To explain that the views are controversial; there are two groups opposed to the idea. • What is the purpose of paragraph 4? • Give counterclaims to the groups against the idea. • What is the purpose of paragraph 5? • To explain the important NEED to agree to the pet plan.

16. Example Passage • In the last paragraph, the argument is deepened by adding a second piece: foreign species (like cats and dogs) need to be removed from Australia.

17. Structure of the Passage • Introduce a problem • Propose a solution • State objections to the proposed solution • Refute objections • Reassert the workability of the proposed solution • Present a second layer of the proposed solution

18. #1 What is the main argument of this passage? • Native Australian animals make better pets than European pets like cats and dogs. • Native Australian animals make better pets for Australians than European pets like cats and dogs. • Adopting rare native Australian animals as house pets will ensure that these endangered species do not die out. • Cats do more harm than good in Australia.

19. #2 According to the passage, all of the following factors contribute to the decline of native Australian species EXCEPT: • The proliferation of predatory cats brought over by the Europeans. • The transmission of toxoplasmosis to marsupials. • Human indifference to the fate of native species. • Destruction by pollution and urban expansion of native species' natural habitats.

20. #3 Michael Archer would be most likely to agree with which of the following statements: • Because of their smell, cat litter boxes are unpleasant to have in one's home. • The arrival of Europeans in Australia marked a serious downturn for Australian culture. • Australian animals would have done far less damage to the European environment than cats have done to the Australian landscape. • Humans are responsible for reversing the harm they have done to the environment.

21. For questions that ask you to infer: • Remove answers that ONLY state what is directly in the passage. • Remove answers that contradict the info in the passage. • Remember that the answer must still be supported by the passage.

22. Stylistic Devices • Some questions will ask about the style used to write the passage. • These may ask about anecdotes, rhetorical questions, similes, metaphors, generalizations, hyperboles, determining the meaning of a word, etc. • !!!! BE CAREFUL WHEN ASKED TO DETERMINE THE MEANING OF A WORD!!!! • Remember that words have multiple meanings. • Sometimes a familiar word is used in an unfamiliar way.

23. #4 A sugar glider is most likely: Look at paragraph 2 of the example passage. • A poisonous snake. • A small arboreal possum. • A rare marsupial the size of a cow. • A model plane.

24. Critical Reading Strategies • Pace yourself – Remember that the passages and questions get harder; allow more time for the more difficult sections. • If the last few questions of a passage are too difficult, skip to the next passage.

25. Most Important • Stay with the text. • I know it is boring; I know it isn’t fun, but read it like it is the most interesting thing you’ve ever read! • Stay focused!

26. BEWARE OF DISTRACTORS • Distractors on a test are ANSWER choices that may be true about life but NOT true about the text. • Be sure that the TEXT says it! • Ex: You read a text about pollution; it never mentioned global warming. One answer choice is “global warming has recently become a concern.” Could it be the right answer?

27. Critical Reading Strategies • READ, READ, READ • The more you read, the better – and faster – you’ll get. • A cereal box or Twitter doesn’t count! • A cereal box and Twitter don’t count! GRAMMAR AND STYLE (English section is next) 

28. English Section

29. Timing • 45 minutes, 75 questions • 40 questions Usage/Mechanics • 35 questions Rhetorical skills • conventions of standard written English (punctuation, grammar and usage, and sentence structure) • rhetorical skills (strategy, organization, and style) • 5 essays or passages

30. What does the section look like? • PDF - ACT Test prep book p. 12

31. Check First • Relationship between phrases • Punctuation • Pronouns • Verbs (subject/verb agreement)

32. Writing

33. Assignment Prompt: It will present two points of view about a topic, and then ask you a question. MAKE SURE YOU ADDRESS THE QUESTION!!!! Assignment: It will always follow the prompt with the following: In your essay, take a position on this question. You may write about either one of the two points of view given, or you may present a different point of view on this question. Use specific reasons and examples to support your position.

34. PLAN!! And Pace yourself! • STEP 1:Understand the prompt and take a position.--1 MINUTE • STEP 2:Brainstorm examples.-- 4 MINUTES • STEP 3:Create an outline.--5 MINUTES • STEP 4:Write the essay.--15 MINUTES • STEP 5:Proof the essay.--5 MINUTES

35. Be Organized and Specific • Have reasons for your point of view. • These reasons should be the main ideas of your paragraphs. • Have specific examples to support each reason. (Not just “some people”) • Remove: things, stuff, I believe, In my opinion, My next reason is, etc.

36. Example Prompts Prompt #1 & #2

37. Explore & Practice Work on some of the example ACT found in the pdf file. OR Go to number2.com – you can sign up to practice and get more tips for each section.