ACT Writing

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ACT Writing

• Please take out your NEW ACT prep booklet. Turn
  to page 58.

2
Take it or not?

• Many colleges require it, some dont.
• Take it if youre not sure about yours
• If you end up having to go back and take it
  later, you have to pay for the whole test all
  over again. ?
• Cant hurt, might help.

3
Whats it like?

• After rest of the test is over
• Short break in between
• 30 minutes of writing
• Formal essay, not journal, not short story, etc.
  Intro, thesis, body paragraphs, conclusion.

4
What are the prompts about?

• Usually ask for your opinion about something, and
  reasons for that opinion.
• Easy to understand without background knowledge,
  something most people could easily come up with
  an opinion about.
• Usually relevant to HS students
• No right side

5
Instructions always the same

• In your essay, take a position on this question.
  You may write about either one of the two points
  of view given, or you may present a different
  point of view on this question. Use specific
  reasons and examples to support your position.

6
Instructions always the same

• In your essay, take a position on this question.
  You may write about either one of the two points
  of view given, or you may present a different
  point of view on this question. Use specific
  reasons and examples to support your position.
• You have to have an opinion. You cant just
  talk about it neutrallyyou have to take a
  position.

7
Instructions always the same

• In your essay, take a position on this question.
  You may write about either one of the two points
  of view given, or you may present a different
  point of view on this question. Use specific
  reasons and examples to support your position.
• You dont have to use one of the two positions
  they give you. You can make up your own, better
  solution and explain why its better.

8
Instructions always the same

• In your essay, take a position on this question.
  You may write about either one of the two points
  of view given, or you may present a different
  point of view on this question. Use specific
  reasons and examples to support your position.
• You have to have reasons and examples to back up
  your opinion. Cant be random, cant be missing.

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Sample Prompts

• Educators debate extending high school to five
  years because of increasing demands on students
  from employers and colleges to participate in
  extracurricular activities and community service
  in addition to having high grades. Some educators
  support extending high school to five years
  because they think students need more time to
  achieve all that is expected of them. Other
  educators do not support extending high school to
  five years because they think students would lose
  interest in school and attendance would drop in
  the fifth year. In your opinion, should high
  school be extended to five years?

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• In this country, most people see and hear
  advertising for many different products every
  day. Some people think advertising is useful
  because it provides important information about
  many different products. Other people think
  advertising is not useful because it tries to
  persuade people to buy products they do not
  really need. In your opinion, does advertising
  serve a useful purpose in our society?
• Source 2005 ACT Educator Workshops

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• In some high schools, students are required to
  complete a certain number of community service
  hours prior to graduation. Some people think
  community service is a good requirement because
  they think students will benefit from this
  experience. Other people think schools should not
  require community service because students will
  resent the requirement and, as a result, will not
  benefit from the experience. In your opinion,
  should high schools require students to complete
  a certain number of hours of community service?
• Source The Real ACT Prep Guide, 2005

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Tips Before

• Read prompt at least twice to make sure you
  understand what theyre asking you to write
  about.
• PREWRITE!!! Take about 5 of the 30 minutes to
  write a thesis and outline. Doesnt have to be
  formal, just organized.
• Avoid writing complete sentences when you
  prewrite, and then having to rewrite them into
  your essay booklet. Takes too much time.
• Avoid spending too much or too little time
  prewriting. 5 min is just about right for most
  people. 2 is too little, 8 is too long.

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Tips During

• Your writing should be clear, and
  straightforward. Flair is okay, but you dont
  have to sound smart to do well.
• I is okay for this essay.
• Every once in a while, glance back at your
  prewriting. Are you following your outline, or
  did you get off track?
• Write a conclusion, but dont spend all day on
  it.
• (AP kidsthis is 10 min. less than you get on AP
  essays, so make sure to pay attention to your
  time)

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Tips After

• At the end, leave yourself time to check
• Is my position clear at the beginning? Does it
  stay clear?
• Did I use examples and support my opinion?
• Does my organization make sense?
• Are there any spelling or grammatical errors I
  can correct?
• Could I rewrite my thesis to make more sense?
• Okay to cross things out neatly, draw arrows to
  move sections around, draw stars or carets to
  insert sentences.

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How is it scored?

• By English teachers and professors
• They assume its a first draft
• Holistic scoringmistakes wont count against
  you, but many mistakes will leave a less
  favorable impression
• Scored against other ACT essays, not against
  polished or professional writing
• 6 point scale

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How can I practice?

• Best way to practice timed writing is to do timed
  writing. Very different feeling than untimed.
• In your ACT prep booklet, they include sample
  essays and why they scored the way they did.
  Super helpful to read! Pages 66-71
• Search ACT Writing Sample Prompts in
  Googleyoull find a ton of example prompts and
  essays. Read them, do them. Time yourself.
• ACT suggests reading newspapers and news
  magazines, keeping up with current events.