ACT EnglishACT English

When in Doubt,When in Doubt,

Take it outTake it out

The ACT English test includes:The ACT English test includes:

10 punctuation questions10 punctuation questions

12 grammar and usage questions12 grammar and usage questions

18 sentence structure questions18 sentence structure questions

12 strategy questions12 strategy questions

11 organization questions11 organization questions

12 style questions12 style questions

More than 20 questions test your More than 20 questions test your awareness of:awareness of:

RedundancyRedundancy

VerbosityVerbosity

RelevanceRelevance

RedundancyRedundancy

The wrong answers make the passage say The wrong answers make the passage say the same thing twicethe same thing twice

The ACT is very strict about redundancy: The ACT is very strict about redundancy: Never let the text in a sentence repeat itselfNever let the text in a sentence repeat itself

VerbosityVerbosity

The wrong answers force the reader to read more words, The wrong answers force the reader to read more words, but they are no clearer than the short answers, and they but they are no clearer than the short answers, and they don’t add meaning.don’t add meaning.

ACT rule: The best way to write something is the shortest ACT rule: The best way to write something is the shortest way, AS LONG AS it doesn’t violate any rules of grammar way, AS LONG AS it doesn’t violate any rules of grammar or punctuation.or punctuation.

RelevanceRelevance

What is the paragraph about?What is the paragraph about?

Omit ideas that are not directly tied in with Omit ideas that are not directly tied in with the purpose of the passage.the purpose of the passage.

When in Doubt …When in Doubt …

The shortest answer is correct with great The shortest answer is correct with great frequency.frequency.

If you’re not sure whether an idea is redundant, If you’re not sure whether an idea is redundant, it probably is, so TAKE IT OUT.it probably is, so TAKE IT OUT.

If you’re not sure whether a certain way to say If you’re not sure whether a certain way to say something is too verbose, it probably is, so something is too verbose, it probably is, so TAKE IT OUT.TAKE IT OUT.

If you’re not sure whether an idea is relevant, it If you’re not sure whether an idea is relevant, it probably isn’t, so TAKE IT OUTprobably isn’t, so TAKE IT OUT

Skimming English QuestionsSkimming English Questions

Skim one paragraph, then do the Skim one paragraph, then do the questions it contains, then skim the next questions it contains, then skim the next paragraph, do the questions that one paragraph, do the questions that one contains, etc.contains, etc.

Read carefully when tackling the questionsRead carefully when tackling the questions

Step 1: Does this stuff belong Step 1: Does this stuff belong here?here?

Does the underlined section belong?Does the underlined section belong?

Is it expressed as succinctly as possible?Is it expressed as succinctly as possible?

If the answer is no:If the answer is no: Choose the answer that gets rid of the stuff Choose the answer that gets rid of the stuff

that doesn’t belongthat doesn’t belong

If the answer is yes:If the answer is yes: Move on to Step 2 …Move on to Step 2 …

Step 2: Does this stuff make Step 2: Does this stuff make sense?sense?

Does the underlined portion make logical Does the underlined portion make logical sense?sense?

If not, choose the answer that turns If not, choose the answer that turns nonsense into sensenonsense into sense

If yes, move on to Step 3 …If yes, move on to Step 3 …

Step 3: Does this stuff sound like Step 3: Does this stuff sound like English?English?

Many grammar errors will sound wrong to Many grammar errors will sound wrong to your ear.your ear.

Create your own personal “RED FLAG” list Create your own personal “RED FLAG” list of the grammar rules that you struggle of the grammar rules that you struggle with.with.