The English, Reading, and Writing ACT Preparation course is designed for juniors and seniors who want to improve specific test subject scores. This semester-long course utilizes multiple practice tests and the subsequent data to determine course content relevant to individual students.
Students will: Recognize and practice universal test-taking Strategies for the ACT. o Estimate and modify pace to most efficiently complete each portion of the ACT. o Utilize guessing strategies. o Identify patterns, key words, and concepts from questions to assess passages. Evaluate prose and nonfiction passages for content and style and assess information found in the Reading section of the ACT. o Infer and apply summarization strategies to identify an authors main idea and approach in prose and nonfiction passages. o Interpret the overall meaning of a passage in order to distinguish important details that support a specific point or argument. o Identify cause and effect patterns as well as sequential and comparative relationships to interpret prose and nonfiction passages. o Assess context to determine the meaning of words used in prose or nonfiction passages. o Formulate conclusions and construct generalizations using supporting details from prose and nonfiction passages. Assess grammar, punctuation, and rhetorical mode as they contribute to the style, organization, and focus of a given passage in the English section of the ACT. o Distinguish an authors focus and purpose in order to add or delete phrases and/or sentences that support a given topic. o Interpret the organization, unity, and coherence of an essay and its syntax to determine the need for revision. o Assess and revise word choice to improve consistency in style, tone, and clarity, and to ensure economy in a given passage. o Critique sentence formation, maintaining consistent verb tense and avoiding faulty syntax in a given passage. o Assess and revise proper noun, pronoun, and verb usage in a selected passage. o Assess and revise proper punctuation usage in a selected passage. Apply written communication concepts to create a thesis-driven argument based upon a given prompt from the Writing section of the ACT. o Construct a framework for understanding a given prompt and expressing judgment concerning the complex issue therein. o Create a unified thesis which determines the focus of an argument in response to a given prompt. o Analyze various perspectives on a given issue to create a unified position pertaining to a given prompt. o Formulate an effective introduction and conclusion while citing evidence appropriate to the organizational flow of a persuasive argument pertaining to the given prompt. o Apply the concepts of written English conventions to effectively utilize language to communicate arguments in response to a given prompt. Class Rules
NO STUDENTS BEHIND MY DESK OR ON MY COMPUTER EVER!
Be Kind Do not call people names, belittle, bully, disrespect, etc. Dont test me on this one or youll find yourself cleaning my classroom after school.
All Handbook Rules Apply You must follow the rules of the Student Handbook in my classroom.
Do Your Homework! NO LATES ACCEPTED I will never accept late homework unless you have an excused absence from the office. Your homework will be marked as a zero until you show me an excused pass. You must, however, make up all practice tests during class time the day following an absence. Unfortunately, this means you will likely miss the days scheduled activity/lesson. Make every effort to be in class every day.
What to Do When Absent If you are absent, please do not disturb the class by coming up and asking me for your missed handouts. At the end of every day, I will place the handouts in a folder for your class in a designated area. Look in the folder for the day you missed to find what you need. In addition, I will not tell you that you missed anything; this includes tests, quizzes, homework, project assignment sheets, or general papers. Look at the board to see the weeks agenda and to see what you missed. You must make up missed activities within the amount of time allotted by the Student Handbook. It is your responsibility to make up what you missed.
No Cheating Especially in an ACT prep class, youre only cheating yourself. If you dont want to do the work to improve your score, ask to have your schedule changed so someone else can have your spot. Cell Phones We all have phones, and we all are annoyed by people who are rude and disrespectful with their phones. Dont be that person. Ill tell you when you can have your phones out. If I dont tell you, explicitly, then you must have your phone off and put away. If your phone disrupts class or you use it for any reason during any assessment, I will take it and you will receive a zero for the assignment.
Ask for Help I love English, which also means I am pretty good at it! Please ask for help if you find yourself struggling at any time. I want to help! Unless I have a meeting to attend, I am available every day after school for tutoring. You may also contact me via email TSchauwecker@lakeflyers.org BE SURE TO SPELL IT CORRECTLY!
Grades You will have a variety of chances to keep your A in this class through the completion of homework, discussions, quizzes, tests, papers / writing, and projects
Materials 3 ring binder with dividers (can be the same one from English class.) Colored pen (other than blue or black) College ruled notebook paper Highlighters The Real ACT Prep Guide Available at Walmart, Meijer, Target or online **You MUST have this book by the second week of class, or you will be removed and switched to study hall!
Technology We will use a variety of technology in this class, as it is an integral part of our society and workforce. If you are already in one of my English classes, you will have additional assignments. Be sure to keep up with the work. www.NoRedInk.com Grammar practice for the ACT www.Quizlet.com Vocabulary practice www.sparknotes.com/testprep/books/act/
Contact Information Tonya Schauwecker TSchauwecker@lakeflyers.org 419-661-6640 ext. 3819