Students will write for a variety of purposes Students will write for a variety of purposes and audiences using the Standard English and audiences using the Standard English conventions of grammar, spelling, conventions of grammar, spelling, capitalization, and punctuation. capitalization, and punctuation.

Students will utilize and demonstrate Students will utilize and demonstrate understanding of ACT English, Writing, and understanding of ACT English, Writing, and Reading strategies by reviewing and Reading strategies by reviewing and applying these strategies to practice ACT applying these strategies to practice ACT tests.tests.

• ACT English and Reading Practice ACT English and Reading Practice TestTest

• Review ACT English RulesReview ACT English Rules• Review ACT Writing Scoring RubricReview ACT Writing Scoring Rubric• ACT-like practice Writing practice ACT-like practice Writing practice

test test

Homework: On-line ACT PracticeHomework: On-line ACT Practice

Report Card Pick-Up: April 22Report Card Pick-Up: April 22

Bell Ringer

Based on your last test results, identify areas of improvement for both English and Reading.

Bell Ringer

Similarly, running may itself be a boring sport, but the other runners, an interesting selection of humanity, can make it fun.

1.F. NO CHANGE G. However, running H. Running J. Furthermore, running

Bell Ringer Bell Ringer Similarly, running may itself be a boring sport, but the other runners, an interesting selection of humanity, can make it fun.

2. A. NO CHANGE B. humanity; can C. humanity. Can D. humanity can

ACT English Rules ACT English Rules

The Two-Pass SystemThe Two-Pass System

What theWhat the Two-Pass System Two-Pass System entails entails for the ACT English is this: for the ACT English is this:

Go through each 15-question passage Go through each 15-question passage once, answering the questions we know once, answering the questions we know how to do right now. These questions are how to do right now. These questions are very specific, usually dealing with very specific, usually dealing with grammar or punctuation issues, and only grammar or punctuation issues, and only involve reading one or two lines of text. involve reading one or two lines of text.

  

Two Pass ContinuedTwo Pass ContinuedAfter we finish these specific questions, we After we finish these specific questions, we should then try to answer the longer, more should then try to answer the longer, more general (and more difficult) rhetorical skills general (and more difficult) rhetorical skills questions. These questions deal with tone, style, questions. These questions deal with tone, style, ordering of sentences and paragraphs; they also ordering of sentences and paragraphs; they also ask questions about the passage as a whole. We ask questions about the passage as a whole. We should answer these questions last (always should answer these questions last (always keeping our eye on the clock), and when our 9 keeping our eye on the clock), and when our 9 minutes is running out, we should bubble in all 15 minutes is running out, we should bubble in all 15 questions and move on. The reason we must questions and move on. The reason we must move on after 9 minutes is that if we spend too move on after 9 minutes is that if we spend too much time on any one question or any one much time on any one question or any one passage, we may not get to some easier passage, we may not get to some easier questions later on in the test. questions later on in the test.

ACT English Rules ACT English Rules

POEPOE POE means process of elimination. If we really POE means process of elimination. If we really want our scores to improve, we must practice POE want our scores to improve, we must practice POE on every single question. For every correct answer, on every single question. For every correct answer, there are three or four incorrect responses. Since there are three or four incorrect responses. Since there are more incorrect answers, it makes sense there are more incorrect answers, it makes sense that it is easier to find an incorrect answer than a that it is easier to find an incorrect answer than a correct answer, thus the nature of POE. Always correct answer, thus the nature of POE. Always look for wrong answers first and cross them out. By look for wrong answers first and cross them out. By eliminating wrong answers first, we greatly improve eliminating wrong answers first, we greatly improve our chances of ultimately finding the right answer. our chances of ultimately finding the right answer.

  

  

Application of English RulesApplication of English RulesHowHow and and WhenWhen the following ACT English Rules the following ACT English Rules should be applied. –Refer to handout.should be applied. –Refer to handout.

1. ACT hates –ING1. ACT hates –ING 6. OMIT the underlined portion 6. OMIT the underlined portion

2. Go Short 7. Look Left!2. Go Short 7. Look Left!

3. The Thumb Rule 8. The One-‘S’ Rule3. The Thumb Rule 8. The One-‘S’ Rule

4. Exaggerate the Pause 9. STOP / GO 4. Exaggerate the Pause 9. STOP / GO

5. Be Active, Not Passive! 10. 3 and 15. Be Active, Not Passive! 10. 3 and 1

  

Reading Passage Reading Passage Passage I Passage II Passage III Passage IV

Prose Fiction Social Science Humanities Natural Science

8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5

X 11 min 11 min 11 min

X 16 min 16 min X

Reading PassageReading Passage

When taking the ACT test, consider When taking the ACT test, consider the following: the following:

Preview the questions and make sure Preview the questions and make sure you understand the question.you understand the question.

Based on the wording of the Based on the wording of the question is the question a Head/Book question is the question a Head/Book answer? Think: QAR answer? Think: QAR

Use context clues to determine the Use context clues to determine the meaning of unknown words.meaning of unknown words.

Reading PassageReading Passage

Trigger Words: Head answers are Trigger Words: Head answers are implied answers and you can only implied answers and you can only use the text as a reference. Reread use the text as a reference. Reread the text if you have to, but draw a the text if you have to, but draw a logical conclusion. logical conclusion.

Main idea Best statesMain idea Best states

Most nearly means Best describesMost nearly means Best describes

The author suggests The author suggests

The author’s purpose Main pointThe author’s purpose Main point

Exit TicketExit Ticket

Identify two English Act Rules you Identify two English Act Rules you can utilize when taking the ACT can utilize when taking the ACT English test.English test.

Identify two reading strategies you Identify two reading strategies you can utilize when taking the ACT can utilize when taking the ACT Reading test.Reading test.

Writing PromptWriting PromptEducators debate extending high school to five Educators debate extending high school to five years because of increasing demands on students years because of increasing demands on students from employers and colleges to participate in from employers and colleges to participate in extracurricular activities and community service extracurricular activities and community service in addition to having high grades. Some in addition to having high grades. Some educators support extending high school to five educators support extending high school to five years because they think students need more years because they think students need more time to achieve all that is expected of them. time to achieve all that is expected of them. Other educators to not support extending high Other educators to not support extending high school to five years because they think students school to five years because they think students would lose interest in school and attendance would lose interest in school and attendance would drop in the fifth year. In your opinion, would drop in the fifth year. In your opinion, should high school be extended to five years?should high school be extended to five years?

Writing Prompt Grading CriteriaWriting Prompt Grading Criteria

Writing score will be based upon the Writing score will be based upon the following:following:

• Brief OutlineBrief Outline• Clear PositionClear Position• Content/FocusContent/Focus• OrganizationOrganization• SupportSupport• Grammar/MechanicsGrammar/Mechanics