Sentence Improvement Flashcards
Build your knowledge of common errors so you can confidently identify and solve them. This deck takes the mystery and guesswork out of the sentence improvement process.
Reminder from the designer:
In order to use this product effectively, we on the design team want you to understand our approach to a confident selection process for SAT writing.
We created a term called “flag” for any word or phrase that indicates the possible presence of a certain error.
(click to see more)
We are using the Brainscape CBR model to help you identify those “flags” that trigger you to make a specific check.
As you go through the decks, you’ll get faster and faster at linking the “flags” to a process of checklisting for errors.
What are the three types of multiple choice questions in SAT writing?
- sentence improvement
- sentence correction
- paragraph improvement
How can you immediately recognize the sentence improvement portion of the writing section?
Sentence improvement questions have one continuous underline with five choices for suggested improvements.
Holmes had an excellent, if dark, understanding of human nature, it served him well in guiding his suspicions.
How long are the underlined portions of sentence improvement questions?
Sentence improvement questions can have short underlines…
Having come this far, the marathoner dug deep for the final push.
or ones that cover the whole sentence.
Writing over the course of fifteen months, the book was finally finished by the overwrought author.
What are the two ways to approach sentence improvement within SAT writing?
Intuition and analysis
Intuition is a gut response - a sense that something is wrong in some part of the sentence.
Analysis involves identiflying an error and being able to predict an improvement.
How should a student properly use intuition on sentence improvement questions?
Students should use intuition to identify parts of a sentence to which they should apply analysis, but not as a substitute for analysis.
What does your intuition tell you as to whether the following sentence requires improvement?
Higher still above the Alleghany Mountains rolled the white clouds through the sky.
Your intuition probably tells you to improve this sentence, though you might not be able to nail down why.
Inverted construction and unusual usage always sound wrong to our ears, but in this case, the sentence won’t need improvement.
Use your intuition to decide if this sentence has anything in it that needs to be improved.
Glad to find everyone safe and sound, dad’s first thought was to call the security company to repair the system.
If you said “yes”, then you have good intuition.
There is something about the first part of the sentence that needs improvement.
What is the most common type of error in the sentence improvement portion of SAT writing?
Sentence structure errors
What are the two main kinds of errors related to sentence structure?
Run-on sentences and fragments
What are the key components of a sentence?
A sentence must have a subject and a predicate.
What makes a complex sentence?
A complex sentence has two or more pairs of subjects and predicates within clauses that are related to express an idea.
Identify why this sentence is a complex sentence:
Although Washington, D.C. is the seat of government power in the U.S., it would be a mistake to underestimate the powers of the financial and cultural capitals: New York City and Los Angeles.
The sample sentence is complex because the main clause “it would be a mistake”, is subordinated to the clause “Washington… is…seat of power”.
Find the subject/predicate combinations in this sentence.
Nikola Tesla, who might be called the “Father of Alternating Current Electricity,” made bitter enemies in his career.
subject/predicate combos:
who / might be called
Nikola Tesla / made
Remember, “who” is a subject of the internal clause. This is a common construction for sentence fragment errors on the SAT.
Identify the subjects and predicates in the following sentence.
The United Nations has a long history of sanctions against countries that show aggression toward their neighbors.
subject/predicate combos:
United Nations / has
that / show
“That” is a pronoun standing for “countries”.
Identify the subjects and predicates in the following sentence.
The ukulele, which is associated with Hawaiian culture, actually has its origins in Portugal.
subject/predicate combos:
ukulele / has
which / is associated
What is the key to confidently identifying run-ons and fragments in sentence improvement?
The key to confidently identifying these errors lies in finding and associating the subjects with their predicates.
Find the predicates in the following sentence, then ask yourself “who is doing this action?” and find the subject that goes with it.
Many experts with battlefield experience agree that the Powell Doctrine provided a good blueprint for the post-Vietnam American military strategy.
subject/predicate combos:
experts / agree
Powell Doctrine / provided
Find “agree.” Ask “Who is agreeing?” Answer: “Experts”
Then search the “that” clause. Find “provided.” Ask “Who or what provided?” Answer: “Powell Doctrine”
What is the most common type of run-on sentence on the SAT?
comma splice
(comma used incorrectly to separate clauses)
Which of these two sentences contains a comma splice?
(a) Huckleberry Finn pretends not to know his own motive, he puts the snakeskin in Jim’s bed.
(b) Whoever it was who stole the hamster should return it to Ms. Brosky’s room immediately.
(a) either the comma needs a conjunction or a semi-colon should be used
Which sentence contains a comma splice?
(a) Unfortunately, the British pound is not what it once was, and other currencies challenge it in the financial world.
(b) The sequencing of the human genome began in October, 1990, it was completed in only 13 years, a relatively short time.
(b) two clauses are separated incorrectly by the comma
Once you’ve confirmed a run-on sentence, how many ways can it be improved?
There are five different ways to improve a run-on sentence.
Finding and confirming run-ons is sometimes easier than deciding which of the suggested improvements is correct.
(We’re going to show them one at a time.)
What is the simplest way to improve a run-on sentence?
Separate the two clauses into two sentences with a period.
The SAT will not give you this improvement option in the sentence improvement section, but you may see it in the paragraph improvement section.
What is the most common way to improve run-on sentences through punctuation?
SAT students today love studying on their phones, the devices are both convenient and effective.
The semi-colon ( ; ) is another way to improve run-ons through punctuation.
SAT students today love studying on their phones; the devices are both convenient and effective.
How does the SAT use punctuation improvements to trap students so that they confidently choose wrong answers?
Students can acquire tunnel-vision with the semi-colon –missing other usually obvious errors introduced in longer sentence improvement choices.
How can a run-on sentence be improved while maintaining the same punctuation?
We were hungry, we ate.
A run-on sentence can be improved by adding the right conjunction.
We were hungry, so we ate.
Since we were hungry, we ate.
How can a run-on sentence be improved by making one of the clauses subordinated to the other without conjunctions?
The Hoover Dam was dedicated by Franklin D. Roosevelt on September 30, 1935, it cost over 100 lives to construct.
Use an integrated clause (who, which, or that).
The Hoover Dam, which costed over 100 lives to construct, was dedicated by Franklin D. Roosevelt on September 30, 1935.
The clause “which costed over 100 lives to construct” is subordinate because it can not stand alone as a sentence.
“The Hoover Dam was dedicated by Franklin D. Roosevelt on September 30, 1935,” is an independent clause because it can stand alone as a sentence.
How can a run-on sentence be improved without using punctuation or clauses?
Tom Brady has great skills, he is a proven leader on the football field.
Run-ons can be improved by revising the sentence with a compound predicate.
Tom Brady has great skills and is a proven leader on the football field.
What are the five ways run-on sentences can be improved on the SAT?
5 ways to improve run-ons:
- Through punctuation – changing comma to period
- or with a semi-colon
- Through conjunctions (keeping the comma)
- Through integration (using who, that, or which)
- Through compounding the sentence (eliminating the comma and 2nd subject)
What determines the best improvement for a particular run-on sentence?
Having the best product on the market doesn’t necessarily mean success, good marketing, advertising, and promoting often trump it when design is only marginally better.
The context of the sentence and the relationship of the meanings of the two clauses.
Having the best product on the market doesn’t necessarily mean success; good marketing, advertising, and promotion often trump it when design is only marginally better.
or
Having the best product on the market doesn’t necessarily mean success, because good marketing, advertising, and promotion often trump it when design is only marginally better.
Remember: In writing, there is always more than one way to phrase something.
Identify an error. Pick the best way to fix it.
The surrounding lands were too dry and rocky, the settlers couldn’t raise enough food there to sustain a larger population.
(a) dry and rocky, the settlers couldn’t raise enough
(b) dry and rocky; and the settlers couldn’t raise enough
(c) dry and rocky, but the settlers couldn’t raise enough
(d) dry and rocky, so the settlers couldn’t rise enough
(e) dry and rocky, so the settlers couldn’t raise enough
(e) dry and rocky, so the settlers couldn’t raise enough
(b) uses a semicolon with “and”
(c) “but” makes a faulty coordination
(d) “rise” is a wrong word error
(Once you indentify an error, that always eliminates choice “a” which copies the underlined portion.)
Identify an error. Pick the best way to fix it.
The chef understood that quality, locally grown food was the trend, he designed a menu around that concept.
(a) The chef understood that quality, locally grown food was the trend, he designed a menu around that concept.
(b) The chef understood the concept that quality, locally grown food was the trend, which he designed a menu around.
(c) The chef understood the concept that quality, locally grown food was the trend, he designed a menu around it.
(d) The chef understood that quality, locally grown food was the trend; he designs a menu around that concept.
(e) The chef understood that quality, locally grown food was the trend and designed a menu around that concept.
(e) The chef understood that quality, locally grown food was the trend and designed a menu around that concept.
(b) “which” creates faulty subordination
(c) still a run on
(d) “designs” makes a tense error
(Again, choice “a” is eliminated when you identify an error.)
What is a sentence fragment on the SAT?
A sentence fragment on the SAT is when a clause is missing a predicate, or sometimes a subject.
What makes sentence fragments a challenge on the SAT?
Sentence fragments are challenging because they occur in complex sentences and with participles that can be mistaken for predicates.
Participles are verb forms that are used to form tenses. I am going. Mother has spoken. Here “going” and “spoken” are part of the predicate.
However, both can be used in non-verb functions. Going to California, the Joads look upon their home for the last time.* * Spoken in a hushed tone**, those words were not heard by any living soul.
Neither “going” nor “spoken” are in the predicate. “Look” and “were not heard” are the verbs in the predicate here.
Which of these sentences contains a fragment?
(a) Sid Caesar, who was trained on the Vaudeville stage, making a successful transition to television and film.
(b) Going to the farm with her grandmother for the first time, Gretchen was to see a duck slaughtered, scorched, gutted, plucked, and dressed for dinner.
Sentence (a) is a fragment.
The subject, “Sid Caesar”, has no predicate to match with it. The predicate, “was trained”, goes with the pronoun “who”. The participle “making” cannot be a predicate without a form change.
Which of these sentences contains a fragment?
(a) Noticing the clouds, the organizers put a damper on the plans for the late afternoon activities at the fair.
(b) Unable to start, Carl’s practically new car, which seemed great during the test drive, seemingly having a manufacturer’s defect.
Sentence (b) is the fragment.
The subject, “car”, has no active predicate. The predicate “seemed” matches with the pronoun “which” to form a complete clause. The participle “having” does not match with “car”.
