Introduction ix 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.