From Practice to Mastery

by Sussman, Barbara D.; Villar-Smith, Maria; Lengel, Carolyn

• ISBN13: 9780312419080
• ISBN10: 0312419082
• Edition: 15th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-12-08
• Publisher: Bedford/St. Martin's

Summary

Full of practical instruction and plenty of examples, this handy book gives students all the resources they need to practice for and pass the Florida College Basic Skills Exit Tests on reading and writing.

Table of Contents

PART 1. DIAGNOSTIC PRE-TESTS: READING AND WRITING
    
PART 2. MASTERING THE READING TEST
    
    2.1. Main Idea, Support, and Purpose
    2.1A Identifying the Main Idea
    2.1B Identifying Supporting Details
    2.1C Identifying the Author's Purpose
    
    2.2. Structure and Organization
    2.2A Identifying Patterns of Organization
    2.2B Understanding Connections Within and Between Sentences
    
    2.3. Language Use
    2.3A Identifying Word Meaning Based on Context Clues
    2.3B Identifying Biased Language
    2.3C Identifying Tone
    
    2.4. Reasoning
    2.4A Distinguishing Fact from Opinion
    2.4B Drawing Inferences and Conclusions
    2.4C Assessing Support for Reasoning
    
PART 3. MASTERING THE WRITING TEST
    
    3.1. Main Idea, Support, and Structure
    3.1A Identifying Thesis Statements and Topic Sentences
    3.1B Identifying Adequate and Relevant Support
    3.1C Arranging Ideas in a Logical Pattern
    3.1D Using Effective Transitional Devices
    
    3.2. Language Use
    3.2A Choosing Appropriate Words or Expressions
    3.2B Identifying Confused or Misused Words
    
    3.3. Sentence Structure
    3.3A Using Modifiers Correctly
    3.3B Using Coordination and Subordination Correctly
    3.3C Understanding Parallel Structure
    3.3D Avoiding Fragments
    3.3E Avoiding Comma Splices and Fused Sentences
    
    3.4. Grammar, Spelling, Punctuation, and Capitalization
    3.4A Using Standard Verb Forms
    3.4B Avoiding Inappropriate Shifts in Verb Tense
    3.4C Making Subjects and Verbs Agree
    3.4D Making Pronouns and Antecedents Agree
    3.4E Avoiding Pronoun Shifts in Person
    3.4F Maintaining Clear Pronoun References
    3.4G Using Proper Case Forms of Pronouns
    3.4H Using Adjectives and Adverbs Correctly
    3.4I Using Appropriate Degree (Comparative and Superlative) Forms for Adjectives and Adverbs
    3.4J Using Standard Spelling
    3.4K Using Standard Punctuation
    3.4L Using Standard Capitalization
    
PART 4. SELF-CHECK POST-TESTS: READING AND WRITING
    
  Appendix: Succeeding on the Writing Sample
    
  Answer Keys and Forms