IMPROVING IMPROVING PARAGRAPHSPARAGRAPHS

SAT PrepSAT Prep Writing SectionWriting Section

Ms. AmorinMs. Amorin

What does the What does the Improving Improving ParagraphsParagraphs section of the SAT section of the SAT consist of?consist of?

There is a reading selection that entailsThere is a reading selection that entails two-fourtwo-four paragraphsparagraphs

Each paragraph contains Each paragraph contains numbered sentencesnumbered sentences

QuestionsQuestions are asked about specific sentences are asked about specific sentences

Students are expected to identify what is Students are expected to identify what is wrongwrong with the sentenceswith the sentences

Strategy Strategy # 1# 1 Quickly skim the reading passageQuickly skim the reading passage

Students do not have to thoroughly read the Students do not have to thoroughly read the paragraphparagraph

Concentration should be on the Concentration should be on the writing writing structurestructure

(Note: There are more errors in the passage than you’ll (Note: There are more errors in the passage than you’ll be asked about)be asked about)

Strategy Strategy # 2# 2

Go directly to the Go directly to the QUESTIONSQUESTIONS

For many of the questions, the sentences For many of the questions, the sentences that need to be fixed might be printed that need to be fixed might be printed under the question, so students won’t under the question, so students won’t necessarily need to go back to the necessarily need to go back to the paragraph to answer the questionsparagraph to answer the questions

Types of Types of QUESTIONSQUESTIONS Revision questionsRevision questions-- Questions that ask you to revise Questions that ask you to revise

sentences or parts of sentences in much the same way sentences or parts of sentences in much the same way as “improving sentences” (grammatical/ sentence as “improving sentences” (grammatical/ sentence structure errors)structure errors)

Combination questionsCombination questions- - These questions ask you to These questions ask you to combine two or more sentences to improve the quality combine two or more sentences to improve the quality and/or flow of the paragraph and/or flow of the paragraph

Content QuestionsContent Questions- - These questions ask you aboutThese questions ask you about

passage content, typically asking passage content, typically asking

you to insert a new sentence or you to insert a new sentence or

paragraphparagraph

RevisionRevision Questions Questions (Revising errors- similar to the “improving sentences” section)(Revising errors- similar to the “improving sentences” section)

Example)Example) In context, which is the best way to revise sentence 6 In context, which is the best way to revise sentence 6

(reproduced below)?(reproduced below)?Part of the problem is my skating, as in I’m not very Part of the problem is my skating, as in I’m not very

good good at it.at it. A.) One of the problems was my limited skating A.) One of the problems was my limited skating

ability.ability. B.) Not skating well was a big problem.B.) Not skating well was a big problem. C.) A problem was that my skating .C.) A problem was that my skating . D.) Of my problems, I would say that my bad skating D.) Of my problems, I would say that my bad skating was the biggest. was the biggest. E.) Skating, I’m not very good at it, was part of my E.) Skating, I’m not very good at it, was part of my problems. problems.

Combination Combination QuestionsQuestions ((CombineCombine two or more sentences to improve quality of paragraph) two or more sentences to improve quality of paragraph)

Example)Example)

Which of the following represents the most effective way to combine Which of the following represents the most effective way to combine sentences 18 and 19 (reproduced below)?sentences 18 and 19 (reproduced below)?

The coaches at the camp really helped me a lot. They told me The coaches at the camp really helped me a lot. They told me exactly what I needed to do to be better.exactly what I needed to do to be better.

A.) The coaches who helped me a lot told me exactly what I A.) The coaches who helped me a lot told me exactly what I needed to be better. needed to be better.

B.) Those coaches at the camp who told me exactly what I B.) Those coaches at the camp who told me exactly what I needed to do to be better were the ones who helped me needed to do to be better were the ones who helped me the the most. most.

C.) Helping me a lot was the coaches, telling me exactly C.) Helping me a lot was the coaches, telling me exactly what I needed to do. what I needed to do.

D.) By telling me exactly what was needed to be done by D.) By telling me exactly what was needed to be done by telling telling me the coaches helped me a lot. me the coaches helped me a lot.

E.) The coaches at the camp really helped me by telling me E.) The coaches at the camp really helped me by telling me exactly what I needed to do to get better. exactly what I needed to do to get better.

Content Content QuestionsQuestions (Questions about content of passage; done (Questions about content of passage; done

occasionally)occasionally)

Such questions may ask:Such questions may ask: Which sentence should be inserted into the Which sentence should be inserted into the

passage?passage? Which sentence should immediately follow or Which sentence should immediately follow or

precede the passage?precede the passage? What is the best description of the passage as a What is the best description of the passage as a

whole?whole?

Content Content QuestionsQuestions (Questions about (Questions about contentcontent of passage; done occasionally) of passage; done occasionally)

Example)Example)Which of the following sentences, if added after sentence 4, Which of the following sentences, if added after sentence 4, would best serve to link the first paragraph to the second would best serve to link the first paragraph to the second paragraph?paragraph?

A.) I found it quite odd that I ended up loving A.) I found it quite odd that I ended up loving hockey. hockey. B.) I wanted to be more than just a passionate hockey B.) I wanted to be more than just a passionate hockey

fan, fan, though. though. C.) My brothers loved baseball, while my sisters were C.) My brothers loved baseball, while my sisters were

bigger fans of football. bigger fans of football. D.) Perhaps it was my uncle, a big hockey fan, who D.) Perhaps it was my uncle, a big hockey fan, who

helped helped me to love the game. me to love the game. E.) Actually, hockey is not a very popular sport in the E.) Actually, hockey is not a very popular sport in the

United United States. States.

Important NOTES!Important NOTES! When looking at When looking at improving paragraphs improving paragraphs questions, questions,

you’re going to see more than grammar rules.you’re going to see more than grammar rules.

Think about what the author is trying to conveyThink about what the author is trying to convey (what (what point is the author trying to get across as clearly as possible)point is the author trying to get across as clearly as possible)

Pay attention to the logic flow of ideasPay attention to the logic flow of ideas (order of ideas (order of ideas presented- logical sequence)presented- logical sequence)

Avoid ambiguity (uncertainness) and wordinessAvoid ambiguity (uncertainness) and wordiness (many (many effective revisions are short and precise- get point across as effective revisions are short and precise- get point across as simply as possible)simply as possible)

SAT Improving SAT Improving ParagraphsParagraphs

Video tutorial (strategies)Video tutorial (strategies)

Click here!- videoClick here!- video

Good luck on Good luck on Improving Improving ParagraphsParagraphs!!

Fortune Favors the Bold.Fortune Favors the Bold. CHS MottoCHS Motto