The Official ACT English Guide
Description
Succeed on the English section of the ACT with the only official guide created by the test makers themselves The Official ACT English Guide, 3rd Edition delivers expert-designed preparation directly from the people who wrote the test itself. This comprehensive guide walks students through the grammar, word usage, rhetorical skills, and test-taking strategy they'll need to manage test anxiety and perform at their best on exam day. This edition reflects the latest updates to the ACT English section format and question types. The book is a detailed roadmap to the test combining concept-based instruction with extensive practice opportunities, offering both foundational and advanced coverage of English mechanics and rhetoric. Its systematic approach helps you understand not just what to study, but how to approach each question type so you can complete them quickly and efficiently when you're under time pressure. The Official ACT English Guide also provides access to an online question pool tailored to individual learning needs, while detailed answer explanations reinforce understanding and identify knowledge gaps that require your attention before test day.
You'll find:
- Hundreds of official ACT English questions drawn from actual previous test administrations
- Time-saving strategies and shortcuts designed to maximize efficiency during the timed test
- Complete writing section coverage with scoring rubrics and sample essays at multiple performance levels
- Comprehensive glossary of grammar terminology for quick reference and concept reinforcement
- Systematic approach that builds understanding progressively from basic to advanced topics
Perfect for all high school students preparing for college admissions, pursuing merit scholarships, or aiming to stand out in competitive applicant pools, The Official ACT English Guide is an ideal resource to help you build the skills and confidence you'll need to succeed on the ACT.
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Content
Chapter 1 An Overview of the ACT English and Writing Tests 1
The Structure of the English Test 1
ACT Test Formats: Paper and Online 3
Content of the ACT English Test 4
Conventions of Standard English 4
Production of Writing 4
Knowledge of Language 5
Content of the ACT Writing Test 6
How to Use This Guide 6
Chapter 2 Taking the English Test 7
Approaching the Questions 7
Checking Your Answers 8
Types of Questions 8
Questions Are Multifaceted 9
Sentences in the Context of Paragraphs 9
Adding, Deleting, or Moving Information 10
Moving Information 20
Chapter 3 Conventions of Standard English: Sentence Structure, Formation, and Usage 25
Sentence Structure 26
Verbs and Verb Phrases 26
Indefinite Pronouns 28
Relative Clauses 29
Using the Relative Pronoun "Which" 30
Which versus That 30
Chapter 4 Conventions of Standard English Concepts and Sample Questions: Sentence Structure and Usage 33
Parallel Structure 34
Correlative Conjunctions 36
Sentence Fragments 37
Being 40
Run-on Sentences 41
Run-on Sentence: Fused Sentence 41
Run-on Sentence: Comma Splice 42
Run-on Sentence: Coordinating Conjunction without a Comma 43
Strategy: Watch Out for Conjunctive Adverbs ("Transitions") 44
Modifiers 45
Participial Phrases 45
Misplaced Modifiers 46
Subject-Verb Agreement 49
Plural Indefinite Pronouns 50
Indefinite Pronouns That Can Be Singular or Plural 50
Strategy: Which One Is Different? 50
Pronouns and Antecedents 52
Who versus Whom 54
Possessive Pronouns 57
Frequently Confused Words 58
Chapter 5 Conventions of Standard English and Sample Questions: Punctuation 61
Commas 62
Commas with Appositives 63
Commas with Items in a Series 67
The Oxford Comma 68
Commas with Prepositions 68
Within Sentence Breaks 72
Dashes 72
Colons 74
Semicolons 76
Apostrophes and Possession 77
Chapter 6 Production of Writing 83
Organization, Unity, and Cohesion 83
Transitions between Sentences 83
Transitions within or between Paragraphs 90
Conclusion Questions 98
Paragraph Composition 102
Topic Development 107
Relevance 107
Purpose 109
Chapter 7 Knowledge of Language 119
Concision 119
Wordiness and Redundancy 119
Precision 122
Word Choice 122
Logical Connectors 124
Style 126
Consistency in Style and Tone 126
Effective and Appropriate Stylistic Effects 127
Chapter 8 An Overview of the ACT Writing Test 129
Subject Matter 131
Scoring 132
The Scoring Rubric 132
Chapter 9 The Setup of the Writing Test 135
Introductory Paragraph in the Prompt 137
Perspectives in the Prompt 137
Essay Task Box 138
Planning Page 138
Directions 141
Chapter 10 The Essay 147
Organization 147
The Introduction 147
The Draw 148
The Thesis Statement 149
The Body Paragraphs 149
The Conclusion 150
Clear Transitions 150
Addressing the Counterargument 151
Knowing What Is Expected for the Rubric Categories 152
Ideas and Analysis 152
Development and Support 153
Organization 153
Language Use and Conventions 154
Chapter 11 Preparing to Write Your Essay 155
Purpose and Point of View 156
Personal Pronouns 156
Addressing Perspectives 156
Audience, Tone, and Clarity 156
Prewriting 158
Vocational Education 158
Planning Your Essay 159
Outlining 160
Anecdotal Support 162
Timing During the Actual Test 163
Revising 164
Basic Strategies for Improving Your Writing 164
Revising Your Practice Essays 165
Chapter 12 Strengthen Your Essay with Vocabulary, Writing Mechanics, and Other Strategies 167
Vocabulary 168
Varied Sentence Structures and Punctuation 168
Rhetorical Questions 168
Avoiding Simplistic Thinking 168
Brainstorming about Your Values 169
Building Your Fund of Knowledge 170
Avoid What You Don't Know 171
Chapter 13 Sample Prompts and Essays with Analysis 173
Writing Test: Innovation 174
Writing Test: Students and Sleep 185
Chapter 14 Practice Questions 205
Chapter 15 Answers and Explanations 255
Scoring Key-Practice Test 1-Answer Key 256
Explanatory Answers 257
Scoring Key-Practice Test 2-Answer Key 275
Explanatory Answers 276
Scoring Key-Practice Test 3-Answer Key 293
Explanatory Answers 294
Scoring Key-Practice Test 4-Answer Key 311
Explanatory Answers 322
Appendix: English Test Glossary 329