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Two 3-Step Methods from Kaplan:

ACT ENGLISH

+Two 3-Step Methods

Step 1: Ask: “Does This Stuff Belong Here?”

Step 2: Ask: “Does This Stuff Make Sense?”

Step 3: Ask: “Does This Stuff Sound Like English?”

Step 1: Read Efficiently

Step 2: Predict and Eliminate

Step 3: Plug-in

Method 1 Method 2

+Method #1:

Questions You Might Ask

Step 1: Ask: “Does This Stuff Belong Here?”

Step 2: Ask: “Does This Stuff Make Sense?”

Step 3: Ask: “Does This Stuff Sound Like English?”

+Method #1: Step 1

“Does This Stuff Belong Here?”

Make sure the underlined phrase makes sense in its location in the sentence and that it is as concise as possible.

Questions you might ask yourself:

-Does the underlined section belong?

-Is it expressed as succinctly as possible?

If the answer is “no,” choose the answer that gets rid of the stuff that doesn’t belong. It the answer is “yes,” move on to Step 2…

+Method #1: Step 2

“Does This Stuff Make Sense?”

Make sure sentences flow together and make logical sense

Question you might ask yourself:

-Does the underlined part of the passage make logical sense?

If the answer is “no,” select the choice that turns nonsense into sense.

If the answer is “yes,” move on to Step 3…

+Method #1: Step 3

“Does This Stuff Sound Like English?”

Grammatical errors will most likely sound wrong to your ear, so trust your instinct! Listen carefully to yourself as you go through the test

-Don’t concentrate solely on the technical rules of grammar and punctuation. REMEMBER: the 1st thing to get rid of is unnecessary or irrelevant words. Only after you have decided that the underlined section is concise, relevant, and logical do you go on to Step 3.

HINT: You won’t necessarily have to go through all 3 steps on every English question—the answer can come at any point in the 3-step method.

+ Method #2Step 1: Read efficiently

Pause at each underlined portionIdentify the issue

Step 2: Predict and eliminateRead the answer choices and any

question stemsRule out choices that don’t address the

issue

Step 3: Plug InSubstitute remaining choicesSelect the best choices

+ Method #2: Step 1 Step 1: Read Efficiently

Stay focused and work quickly Pause at each underlined portion: you will read

enough of each passage to be able to answer each question

Once you’ve answered the questions, you will resume reading where you left off

Occasionally you will read beyond the sentence with an underlined portion to figure out the correct answer

Identify the issue: decide whether the question is asking you to apply a grammatical rule, determine the best stylistic choice, or choose the most appropriate organization

Identifying the problem in the test makes it easy to find the answer choice that best addresses it

+ YOUR TURN Use Step 1 for the selection below.

People often complain that are generation is politically apathetic and depressed. Just 25 years ago, it was common for students to join strikes and anti-war protests.What is the issue?

+ Method #2: Step 2 Step 2: Predict and Eliminate

You may sometimes be able to make predictions (or think of an answer) before reading the choices

Use eliminating to confirm the answer you have chosen is correct or to increase your odds of selecting the correct answer

Read each answer choice and look for a match to your prediction. Its important to read all four choices. Frequently, more than one answer is grammatically correct. Find the BEST answer.

YOUR TURN

Use Step 2 for the question below:

Many students think that choosing (C) when in doubt was a good test-taking strategy, but Ms. Chang taught them more reliable strategies.

A. NO CHANGE Eliminate?

-What is the issue? B. student thinks Eliminate?

-What is your prediction? C. students thinks Eliminate?

D. students thought Eliminate?

+ Method #2: Step 3Step 3: Plug In

Use the context to your advantage

Substitute the remaining choicesOnce you have eliminated any choices

that don’t address the issue, plug in the remaining answers to determine the choice that

works best in the context

Select the BEST choice: choose the one that is clearest and most relevant to the given context

+Your Turn

Use steps 1, 2, and 3 to answer the 2nd question:

People often complain that are generation is politically apathetic and depressed. Just 25 years ago, it was common for students to join strikes and anti-war protests. These days, though, most young people are more likely to be found watching MTV or shopping at the a mall than rallying to support a treasured belief.

Step 1: What is the issue?

Step 2: What’s your prediction? A. NO CHANGE Eliminate? B. apathetic, uninterested, and ignorant of politics

Eliminate? C. apathetic and unhappy Eliminate? D. apathetic Eliminate?

Step 3: ________ is the best answer because _____________.