Mastering the SAT Writing Test : An in-Depth Writing Workout

by Pivarnik-Nova, Denise

• ISBN13: 9780764598357
• ISBN10: 076459835X
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-09-16
• Publisher: Cliffs Notes

Summary

The new SAT Writing Test is the most dreaded thing since the "facts of life" talk It's a fact of life-SAT reading and writing scores are critical in the college admissions process, and the new writing exam ups the ante! This hands-on workbook walks students through the process of cogent, concise writing and builds their confidence. It includes information on what graders are looking for, three writing tests with model essays and detailed analysis, multiple-choice questions with answers and explanations, and in-depth review chapters on grammar, usage, and style, complete with practice questions and answers. Denise Pivarnik-Nova (Robbinsdale, MN), a high school college preparation and AP English teacher, has served as an item writer for the SAT and the ACT and coordinator of the Minnesota Department of Education's Advanced Placement Incentive Program. SAT is a registered trademark of the College Board, which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this product.

Author Biography

DENISE PIVARNIK-NOVA teaches College Preparation and Advanced Placement English. She has served as an Item Writer for the SAT and ACT; she is an independent consultant for the College Board as well as a Reader of the Advanced Placement English Language and Composition Exam.

Table of Contents

PART I: THE NEW SAT
The New Sat Exam	3	(6)
Changes	4	(1)
Cost of the Exam	5	(1)
Special Circumstances	5	(1)
SAT Writing Section	5	(4)
The Essay	5	(1)
Multiple-choice Questions	6	(3)
The New SAT Writing Section---Diagnostic Test	9	(14)
Identifying Sentence Errors	9	(1)
Improving Sentences	10	(2)
Improving Paragraphs	12	(1)
Answers and Explanations	13	(1)
The Essay (25 minutes)	14	(6)
Explanations and Scoring	17	(1)
Suemee's Response	18	(1)
John's Response	19	(1)
You Finished the Diagnostic--Now What?	20	(3)
PART II: ESSAY AND VERBAL REVIEW
Tactics for Successful SAT Essay Writing	23	(20)
General Writing Skills	23	(1)
Specific Information about the SAT Essay	23	(1)
The SAT Essay Prompt (Question)	24	(1)
Developing Your Essay	24	(3)
Introduction	24	(1)
Suemee's Response	24	(1)
John's Response	24	(1)
Body Paragraphs	25	(1)
Conclusion	26	(1)
Your Turn	27	(12)
Assessing Your Response	30	(1)
Rachel's Response	31	(1)
Kyle's Response	32	(1)
Your Response	32	(2)
One More Time	34	(3)
Eric's Response	37	(1)
Lauren's Response	38	(1)
How Did You Do?	39	(1)
What to Write, What Not to Write, and How to Write It Better	39	(4)
Transition Words and Phrases	39	(2)
Trite Expressions	41	(2)
Improving Sentences	43	(10)
Errors to Anticipate	43	(4)
Run-on Sentences	44	(1)
Sentence Fragments	44	(1)
Faulty Parallelism	44	(1)
Lack of Conciseness	45	(1)
Faulty Coordination and Subordination	45	(1)
Misplaced Modifier	46	(1)
Dangling Modifier	46	(1)
Passive Voice	47	(1)
Practice Questions	47	(1)
Answers and Explanations	48	(1)
Punctuation Patterns	48	(2)
Coordination	48	(1)
Subordination	49	(1)
Practice Exercises	50	(3)
Answers and Explanations	52	(1)
Recognizing Sentence Errors	53	(16)
Find the Error	53	(1)
Common Grammar and Usage Errors	54	(1)
Subject-verb Agreement	54	(1)
Practice Questions	55	(3)
Answers and Explanations	56	(1)
Verbs	56	(2)
Verb Tense Problems	58	(1)
Practice Questions	58	(1)
Answers and Explanations	59	(1)
Idiomatic Expressions: Choosing the Correct Preposition after Certain Verbs	59	(1)
Misused and Confused	60	(1)
Perplexing and Provoking Pronouns	61	(1)
Pronoun Shift	61	(1)
Pronoun Number	62	(1)
Compound Pronoun Structures	62	(1)
Adjectives and Adverbs	62	(1)
Modifying Verbs	62	(1)
Modifying Adjectives	63	(1)
Modifying Adverbs	63	(1)
Faulty Comparisons	63	(1)
Double Negatives	63	(1)
Punctuation Patterns	63	(1)
Coordination	63	(1)
Subordination	64	(1)
Essential and Nonessential Information	64	(1)
Practice Questions	65	(4)
Answers and Explanations	67	(2)
Improving Paragraphs	69	(14)
General Organization of Sentences	69	(1)
Revising Sentences	70	(1)
Combining Sentences	70	(1)
Sentence in Context	70	(1)
Adding or Subtracting Sentences	70	(1)
Practice Questions	70	(13)
Answers and Explanations	76	(7)
PART III: FOUR PRACTICE TESTS
Practice Test I	83	(26)
The Essay	83	(3)
Essay Prompt	83	(3)
Multiple-Choice Questions, Set 1	86	(6)
Improving Sentences	86	(2)
Identifying Sentence Errors	88	(1)
Improving Paragraphs	89	(3)
Multiple Choice Questions, Set 2	92	(3)
Improving Sentences	92	(3)
Answer Key	95	(1)
Set 1	95	(1)
Set 2	95	(1)
Answers and Explanations	96	(8)
The Essay	96	(1)
Essay Prompt	97	(1)
Sheena's Response	97	(1)
David's Response	98	(2)
Multiple-Choice Questions, Set 1	100	(1)
Improving Sentences	100	(1)
Identifying Sentence Errors	101	(1)
Improving Paragraphs	102	(1)
Multiple-Choice Questions, Set 2	103	(1)
Improving Sentences	103	(1)
Rating Your Performance	104	(5)
Essay	104	(1)
Multiple Choice, Set 1	104	(1)
Multiple Choice, Set 2	104	(1)
Wrong Answers (Do Not Count Unanswered Questions)	104	(1)
Conversion Table	105	(4)
Practice Test II	109	(24)
The Essay	109	(3)
Essay Prompt	109	(3)
Multiple-Choice Questions, Set 1	112	(6)
Improving Sentences	112	(2)
Identifying Sentence Errors	114	(2)
Improving Paragraphs	116	(2)
Multiple Choice Questions, Set 2	118	(3)
Improving Sentences	118	(3)
Answer Key	121	(1)
Set 1	121	(1)
Set 2	121	(1)
Answers and Explanations	122	(7)
The Essay	122	(1)
Essay Prompt	123	(1)
Suemee's Response	123	(1)
Sartu's Response	124	(1)
Multiple-Choice Questions, Set 1	125	(1)
Improving Sentences	125	(1)
Identifying Sentence Errors	125	(2)
Improving Paragraphs	127	(1)
Multiple-Choice Questions, Set 2	128	(1)
Improving Sentences	128	(1)
Rating Your Performance	129	(4)
Essay	129	(1)
Multiple Choice, Set 1	129	(1)
Multiple Choice, Set 2	129	(1)
Wrong Answers (Do Not Count Unanswered Questions)	129	(1)
Conversion Table	130	(3)
Practice Test III	133	(28)
The Essay	133	(3)
Essay Prompt	133	(3)
Multiple-Choice Questions, Set 1	136	(7)
Improving Sentences	136	(2)
Identifying Sentence Errors	138	(2)
Improving Paragraphs	140	(3)
Multiple-Choice Questions, Set 2	143	(4)
Improving Sentences	143	(4)
Answer Key	147	(1)
Set 1	147	(1)
Set 2	147	(1)
Answers and Explanations	148	(8)
The Essay	148	(1)
Essay Prompt	149	(1)
Eric's Response	149	(1)
Megan's Response	150	(2)
Multiple-Choice Questions, Set 1	152	(1)
Improving Sentences	152	(1)
Identifying Sentence Errors	152	(1)
Improving Paragraphs	153	(2)
Multiple-Choice Questions, Set 2	155	(1)
Improving Sentences	155	(1)
Rating Your Performance	156	(5)
Essay	156	(1)
Multiple Choice, Set 1	156	(1)
Multiple Choice, Set 2	156	(1)
Wrong Answers (Do Not Count Unanswered Questions)	156	(1)
Conversion Table	157	(4)
Practice Test IV	161	(24)
The Essay	161	(3)
Essay Prompt	161	(3)
Multiple-Choice Questions, Set 1	164	(6)
Improving Sentences	164	(2)
Identifying Sentence Errors	166	(2)
Improving Paragraphs	168	(2)
Multiple-Choice Questions, Set 2	170	(3)
Improving Sentences	170	(3)
Answer Key	173	(1)
Set 1	173	(1)
Set 2	173	(1)
Answers and Explanations	174	(8)
The Essay	174	(1)
Essay Prompt	175	(1)
Marco's Response	175	(1)
Shannon's Response	176	(2)
Multiple-Choice Questions, Set 1	178	(1)
Improving Sentences	178	(1)
Identifying Sentence Errors	178	(1)
Improving Paragraphs	179	(2)
Multiple-Choice Questions, Set 2	181	(1)
Improving Sentences	181	(1)
Rating Your Performance	182	(3)
Essay	182	(1)
Multiple Choice, Set 1	182	(1)
Multiple Choice, Set 2	182	(1)
Wrong Answers (Do Not Count Unanswered Questions)	182	(1)
Conversion Table	183	(2)
Final Thoughts	185