Paragraph Improvement Flashcards
This deck provides orientation and intruction for doing the paragraph improvement section of SAT writing. This section will give you what you need to get all of these questions.
What does the paragraph improvement portion of SAT writing look like – and where is it found?
Paragraph improvement begins with a student essay of about 250 words in three paragraphs followed by 6 questions. It is the last section of the 25-minute multiple choice section.
What are you instructed to do on the paragraph improvement portion of the SAT?
In a text box introducing the section, the test identifies an “early draft” of an essay to follow that needs to be “rewritten”.
Then, it advises you to “read the passage” in order to “select the best answer for each question that follows.”
Then, it gives you an idea of the type of questions to follow. Some are about “organization and development”; others are about “sentence structure, wording, and word choice” within individual sentences.
What is the strategy for getting the best result on paragraph improvement?
Improve your speed through the other sections of the test with good time management. You may need the time for this section.
Review common errors from sentence improvement and sentence correction so that those questions can be handled efficiently.
Practice test samples once you’ve improved your knowledge of the process and the questions to expect.
What process should you follow for paragraph improvement?
Check time going into the section. You should need about 4 minutes.
If you have that much time, scan the essay marking errors that you see. Then, read and identify each type of question to predict an answer. Search and eliminate. If a question takes more than 30 seconds, move on and come back if you have time.
What should you do if you don’t have 4 minutes to do the paragraph improvement section?
Skip the scanning of the paragraphs. Read and identify each question type; then do the questions related to sentence correction and wording first.
(As time runs out, for the others, you may try to eliminate a few distractor answer choices before you have to guess.)
What types of questions does paragraph improvement ask?
PI questions deal with:
- General organization (involving adding sentences, moving sentences and deleting sentences to improve coherency and the flow of ideas)
- Revising sentences (including improving word order, word choice, and grammar)
- Combining sentences
What kinds of general organization questions will you see in paragraph improvement?
General organization questions:
- Questions that give a choice about a proposed added sentence
- Questions that ask where a new sentence would be best added
- Questions that ask where a sentence within the passage would be better placed (including deleting it)
How can you identify, at a glance, questions on general organization?
General organization questions will use phrases such as “which sentence”, “add”, “insert”, or “delete”.
If you’re running out of time, skip these until last. They take the longest.
What is the key to quickly deciding where a sentence belongs in the paragraphs?
Decide if the sentence is an opinion or a detail supporting an opinion.
Opinions will be located at or near the first sentence of a paragraph.
Details will come in a reasonable order thereafter.
Decide whether this sentence is an opinion or a supporting detail.
The jumbotron with its instant replay, “Kiss Cam”, “Dancing Hats”, and trivia questions fills the gaps in the action.
This is a detail, supporting some point about stadium entertainment.
Details support opinions. So, look for a lower placement within the paragraph.
Decide whether this sentence is an opinion or a supporting detail.
Most audience members do not realize the number of practice hours that go into one classical orchestral performance.
This is an opinion, looking for details about preparation to become a musician.
Opinions usually start paragraphs of this type. So, look for that placement.
How would you begin to answer this question?
Which of the following sentences, if inserted after sentence 2, would most improve the paragraph?
(1) The Olympic Games show the duality of competition. (2) They bring well-trained athletes together to push the envelope of human ability.
Analyze the paragraph identifying sentence types and keywords.
Sentence (1) is an opinion. Sentence (2) is a detail supporting opinion.
You should predict another supporting opinion.
In order to choose the right detail sentence, what do you have to recognize in the opinion sentence?
Which of the following sentences, if inserted after sentence 2, would most improve the paragraph?
(1) The Olympic Games show the duality of competition. (2) They bring well-trained athletes together to push the envelope of human ability.
In this case, you have to recognize the keyword “duality,” which means two opposing qualities.
Since only one sentence follows, the next sentence must give a meaning that is in opposition to sentence (2) to complete the “duality”.
Answer the question based upon the context within the keyword “duality”.
Which of the following sentences, if inserted after sentence 2, would most improve the paragraph?
(1) The Olympic Games show the duality of competition. (2) They bring well-trained athletes together to push the envelope of human ability.
(a) The athletes follow a challenging regimen of diet and exercise to reach this peak of performance.
(b) However, they also tempt these athletes to risk damaging their bodies with performance enhancing drugs.
(c) They provide an opportunity for national unity and inspiration.
(d) They give an economic boost to a region of the world.
(e) They give an opportunity for those athletes specializing in less popular sports to be known.
(b) shows a negative side of the Olympics, which connects back to the keyword “duality.”
How should you approach the paragraph improvement section when you have over 4 minutes?
Read the essay quickly to identify the overall context.
Almost every question on this section references context.
If you’ve practiced the other sections, you WILL have more than enough time to read this passage.