ACT English: Rhetorical Skills

• The ACT English section is a 45-minute test consisting of 75 multiple-choice questions.
• The section assesses understanding of standard written English, including grammar, punctuation, rhetoric, organization, and style.
• Questions are based on five passages, each representing a different type of writing (e.g., narrative essay, informative article).
• Scoring is based on the number of questions answered correctly; there is no penalty for guessing.

Rhetorical Skills

• Focuses on the purpose and effect of writing, rather than grammatical correctness.
• Strategy involves understanding the overall meaning and intent of the passage.

Development

• Questions concern the passage's main idea, its purpose, and whether it achieves that purpose.
• May ask if a topic is properly introduced, sufficiently explained, or appropriately concluded.
• Questions may address adding or deleting information to better achieve the writer's purpose.
• Look for the choices that most clearly and effectively contribute to the paragraph's or essay's central idea.

Organization

• Questions focus on the logical sequence of ideas within and between paragraphs.
• May ask about the most logical placement of sentences or paragraphs within a passage.
• Transition words and phrases are key to understanding the relationships between ideas.
• Recognizing chronological order, cause-and-effect relationships, and comparison-contrast structures is important.
• Improving flow and coherence are key objectives when answering organization questions.

Style

• Questions address the clarity and precision of word choice, sentence structure, and overall tone.
• Wordiness, redundancy, and ambiguity are common errors tested in this category.
• Maintaining a consistent tone and style throughout the passage is crucial.
• Avoiding jargon, clichés, and overly informal language improves style.
• Choices should be concise, clear, and appropriate for the passage's intended audience and purpose.

Usage and Mechanics

• Focuses on the correct application of grammar rules and conventions of standard written English.
• Includes topics such as subject-verb agreement, pronoun usage, verb tense, and modifier placement.
• Mastery of these rules is essential for achieving a high score on the ACT English section.

Punctuation

• Includes commas, periods, semicolons, colons, apostrophes, quotation marks, dashes, and parentheses.
• Understanding each punctuation mark's specific function is crucial for answering these questions correctly.
• Commas are used to separate items in a series, set off introductory phrases or clauses, and interrupt the flow of a sentence with nonessential information.
• Apostrophes indicate possession or contraction.
• Semicolons connect two independent clauses.
• Colons introduce lists, explanations, or examples.

Grammar and Usage

• Involves understanding the correct forms and functions of words in sentences.

Subject-Verb Agreement

• Verbs must agree in number (singular or plural) with their subjects.
• Compound subjects connected by "and" usually take a plural verb.
• Intervening phrases between the subject and verb do not affect agreement.
• Collective nouns (e.g., team, committee) can be singular or plural depending on the context.

Pronoun Usage

• Pronouns must agree in number, gender, and person with their antecedents (the nouns they refer to).
• Vague or ambiguous pronoun references should be avoided.
• Pronouns should be in the correct case (subjective, objective, or possessive).
• Using the correct subjective (I, he, she, we, they, who) and objective (me, him, her, us, them, whom) pronouns is essential.

Verb Tense

• Verbs must be in the correct tense to indicate the timing of actions or events.
• Consistent tense usage within a passage is important for clarity.
• Watch for shifts in verb tense that may indicate an error.
• Understanding the sequence of tenses is essential for complex sentences.

Modifier Placement

• Modifiers (words or phrases that describe other words) should be placed as close as possible to the words they modify.
• Misplaced modifiers can create confusion or unintended meanings.
• Dangling modifiers do not clearly modify any word in the sentence and must be corrected.
• Pay close attention to the placement of adjectives, adverbs, and prepositional phrases.

Common Grammatical Errors

• Sentence Fragments: Incomplete sentences that lack a subject, verb, or complete thought.
• Run-On Sentences: Two or more independent clauses that are not properly joined.
• Comma Splices: Two independent clauses incorrectly joined by only a comma.
• Faulty Parallelism: Items in a series or list that are not grammatically consistent.
• Illogical Comparisons: Comparing two things that are not comparable.
• Wordiness and Redundancy: Using more words than necessary to express an idea.

Strategies for Success

• Read the entire passage before answering any questions to understand the context and main idea.
• Pay attention to the underlined portions of the passage and the answer choices provided.
• Eliminate answer choices that contain obvious errors in grammar, punctuation, or usage.
• Choose the answer choice that is most clear, concise, and consistent with the tone and style of the passage.
• If unsure of the correct answer, make an educated guess and move on to the next question.
• Manage your time effectively by pacing yourself and not spending too much time on any one question.
• Practice with official ACT English practice tests to become familiar with the format, types of questions, and scoring.
• Review grammar and usage rules regularly to reinforce your knowledge and identify areas for improvement.
• Focus on understanding the underlying principles of grammar and rhetoric rather than memorizing rules.
• Develop a systematic approach to answering questions by breaking them down into smaller, manageable steps.
• Seek feedback from teachers, tutors, or peers to identify areas where you can improve your writing skills.
• Proofread your work carefully to catch any errors that you may have missed.

Additional Tips

• When in doubt, shorter is often better: Many ACT English questions test your ability to be concise. If you can eliminate all other choices, and one choice is noticeably shorter than the others, it is often the correct answer.
• "OMIT" Choice: Many questions offer an "OMIT the underlined portion" choice. Don't be afraid to select this option if the underlined portion is grammatically correct and doesn't add anything meaningful to the sentence.
• Trust Your Ear: While knowing grammar rules is essential, sometimes the correct answer simply "sounds right." If you are unsure, read the sentence aloud with each answer choice plugged in and see which sounds best.
• Consistent Tone: Pay attention to the tone of the passage. A formal essay should not suddenly include slang or overly casual language.
• Consider the Audience: Think about who the intended audience is for the passage. This will help you determine the appropriate level of formality and vocabulary.
• Use Context Clues: Look for clues in the surrounding sentences and paragraphs to help you understand the meaning of unfamiliar words or phrases.
• Be Aware of Common Traps: The ACT English section often includes answer choices that are designed to trick you. Be wary of choices that sound good but contain subtle errors.
• Guessing Strategy: If you are running out of time, don't leave any questions blank. Choose a letter (A, B, C, or D/F, G, H, or J) and fill in all the remaining bubbles with that letter. This will give you a statistically better chance of getting some correct answers.
• Stay Calm: The ACT English section can be challenging, but it is important to stay calm and focused. Take deep breaths, read each question carefully, and trust your instincts.

Rhetorical Strategy

• Understanding the author's intent, audience, and purpose is crucial.
• Questions focus on how the writer achieves their goals.
• Considering the overall effect of the passage on the reader is important.

Analyzing Argument

• Identifying the main claims and supporting evidence is essential.
• Evaluating the strength and validity of the author's reasoning.
• Recognizing logical fallacies and biases in the argument.
• Understanding the author's tone and how it affects the argument.

Purpose and Audience

• Determining the intended audience of the passage.
• Identifying the author's purpose in writing the passage.
• Tailoring your response to the specific audience and purpose.

Tone and Style

• Recognizing the author's attitude toward the subject matter.
• Identifying the overall tone or mood of the passage.
• Choosing words and phrases that are appropriate for the tone.
• Maintaining a consistent style throughout your writing.

Organization and Structure

• Creating a clear and logical organizational structure.
• Using transitions effectively to connect ideas.
• Providing a strong introduction and conclusion.
• Ensuring that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence.

Development of Ideas

• Providing sufficient detail and evidence to support your claims.
• Using examples, anecdotes, and analogies to illustrate your points.
• Considering different perspectives and viewpoints.
• Addressing counterarguments and potential objections.

Concise Language

• Avoiding wordiness and redundancy.
• Using strong verbs and precise nouns.
• Eliminating unnecessary adverbs and adjectives.
• Choosing the most effective words to convey your meaning.

Clarity and Precision

• Avoiding ambiguity and vagueness.
• Using clear and specific language.
• Defining key terms and concepts.
• Providing context for your ideas.

Consistent Point of View

• Maintaining a consistent point of view throughout your writing.
• Avoiding shifts in person, tense, or voice.
• Using pronouns and antecedents correctly.

Sentence Variety

• Varying the length and structure of your sentences.
• Using different types of sentences (simple, compound, complex).
• Avoiding monotony and creating a more engaging reading experience.

Parallel Structure

• Using parallel structure to create rhythm and balance in your writing.
• Ensuring that items in a series or list are grammatically consistent.
• Using parallel structure to emphasize important ideas.

Active Voice

• Using active voice whenever possible to make your writing more direct and concise.
• Avoiding passive voice, which can be weak and unclear.
• Using passive voice strategically when the actor is unknown or unimportant.

Precise Word Choice

• Choosing words that accurately and effectively convey your meaning.
• Avoiding vague or generic words.
• Using a thesaurus to find synonyms and expand your vocabulary.

Avoiding Jargon

• Avoiding technical terms or specialized language that your audience may not understand.
• Using plain language that is accessible to a wide range of readers.
• Defining any technical terms that you must use.

Audience Awareness

• Considering the knowledge, interests, and expectations of your audience.
• Tailoring your writing to the specific needs of your audience.
• Using language and examples that are appropriate for your audience.

Proofreading

• Reviewing your work carefully for errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
• Reading your work aloud to catch mistakes and awkward phrasing.
• Getting feedback from others to identify areas for improvement.