SAT SUMMARY OF WRITING

SKILLS
1. RELEVANCE

SUMMARY OF WRITING SKILLS

*What to read: the first and last sentence

NOTE: For all relevance questions, do NOT read the (underlined)

sentence in question until you go through the following steps.

1. Identify the type of question so you can pinpoint what to read.

2. Read the necessary sentences (based on the type of question)

and restate to yourself.

3. Read the choices (asking “is this about (state the topic)?” Find
the one with that topic (look for synonyms)

*Do the steps above for all types, reading the following based on the
type:

TYPE 1: Topic / Conclusion to Passage *Key Words in he question:

introduction / main claim to the passage, conclusion to the passage

* What to Read:

-If it’s asking for an introduction, read the rest of the intro.
paragraph AND the last two sentences of the concluding
paragraph.

-If it’s asking for a conclusion, read the introduction paragraph,

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 focusing on the last two sentences.

*Note: The answer should be general, not specific.

TYPE 2: Topic Sentence (First Sentence)

(a) Introduction to paragraph

*Key words in the questions: introduction to the paragraph, or simply

asking about the first sentence of the paragraph. *What to read: the
entire paragraph

(b) Introduction to paragraph, with transition from previous

paragraph:

*Key words in the questions: introduction with a transition from the

previous paragraph.

of the previous paragraph. The second sentence of this paragraph.

*Note: Answer must include mention of topic of previous

paragraph).

TYPE 3: Relevance within a paragraph *Key words in the questions:

any relevance question in a paragraph (besides the first sentence)

*What to read: The entire paragraph. *Notes: If it is the second half

of a sentence, make sure it’s relevant to the first half of the
sentence (it may be a definition or example)

*If it is not related, choose the reason that states it’s off topic (blurs
the main focus, diverts from the main claim..)

*If it’s repeated, choose the answer which says because it is

repeated.
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 TYPE 4: Transitions / set ups to the following information

*Key words in the questions: following, next, what follows.

*What to read:

-If it asks generally for “what follows”, read the rest of the paragraph.

-If it asks for specific sentences that “follow”, read those only.

TYPE 5. Similar example / reason questions

*Key words in the questions: similar example, similar reason.

*What to read: the previous examples or reasons. (1-2 sentences

before) and ask: What are the previous examples / reasons, and
what are they examples of / reasons for?

TYPE 6. Specific topic stated in question

*Key words in the questions: a specific topic will be mentioned in the

question. *What to read: the question only.

2. SENTENCE ORDER

Steps:

1. Read the sentence in question 2. Note the following:

a) topic of the sentence

b) hints (e.g. dates, definition=1st time used, contrasts, etc.

Read the sentences of the paragraph and determine where it

logically belongs.
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 3. TRANSITIONS (memorize) 1. Read sentences before & after the
transition, WITHOUT reading the transition itself.

2.Determine whether continuer,

contradictor, or cause & effect.

3. Eliminate choices with same

meanings.

4. SHORTER IS BETTER.

5. EFFECTIVE COMBINATION OF SENTENCES

Steps:

1. Figure out the reason they want to combine (repetition or

relationship between sentences).

2. Combine in the simplest and shortest way by removing the

repetition or finding a transition to show the

relationship between the sentences. *Notes as you combine:

-Try to maintain the same order the original sentences.

-Try turning one into a clause; do not combine with period,

semicolon, or comma “and”. (however, you may combine with a
colon or comma “but”).

6. IDIOMS

A) General Idioms (English vocabulary) B) Idioms w/ prepositions

(memorize) C) Commonly confused words (memorize list).

D) Register: Eliminate informal speech (those things, a bunch of,

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 really / pretty = very, cool, awesome, stuff, hang out, chill).

7. SENTENCES & FRAGMENTS Sentences

A) Basic Sentence = subject + Verb • Subject= noun, pronoun

• Verb = action or linking (am, is are…) • gerund verb (-ing) must

have a helping verb before it (or else it’s a clause). B) Separating
Sentences:

• Period = Semicolon = Comma + FANBOYS

• Sentence COMMA sentence = Comma splice = WRONG

• Begin w/ FANBOYS = WRONG C) Fragments / Dependent Clauses:

CANNOT stand alone (can be crossed out).

(1) Prepositional Phrase

(2) Adjective clause: who, which, where, that, whose, preposition +

which/whom:

*Separate “who / which” with commas *Do not separate “that” with
comma *Do not use commas if who / which is essential clause
(rare), i.e. (cannot remove who /which or else sentence will not
make sense. E.g. The students who entered the competition
received a participation award

• who, whom = people

• which, that = things

• whose = possession = people & things (3) appositive: definition /

additional info. about a noun.

*Separate with commas

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 (4) subordinating conjunctions (www.asia.buuba-wwwwd) : add
these words to a sentence & it becomes a clause

(5) Gerund / participial (“verb”) clause *Separate with commas

(6) Introductory clause (can be prepositional phrase, appositive,

gerund, subordinating conjunction, etc.)

*Separate with commas

D) Separating Sentences from clauses:

WITH COMMAS

*Note: two dashes may be used instead of two commas to separate

clauses. E) Colon (= 1 Dash)

(1) Before Colon (or dash): full sentence (2) After Colon (or dash):
list or explanation

8. COMMA USES & MISUSES: A) Comma Uses

1. Separate non-essential (NE) clauses from sentence, whether in

the beginning, middle, or end (appositives, who/which, gerund)

*NOTE: 2 commas = 2 dashes = NE clause

2. After introductory clauses / phrases (prepositional phrase,

subordinating conjunction clause, etc)

3. Around transitions (however, therefore) 4. Items on a list (last

comma before and) 5. Separate direct quotations

6. Between 2 adjectives that can be reversed (can put “and” b/w

them). 7. Before or after direct quotation.
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 B) Comma Misuses (WRONG): 1. Before or after prepositions

2. Before or after that

3. Between adjective & noun it describes 4. Between subject & verb

5. Between verb & object

6. Between compound words (2 nouns, adjectives, or verbs joined

by and)

9. MODIFIERS

A) Dangling: Modifier at beginning of sentence.

1. Identify introductory clause (modifier)

2. Identify subject: Ask: What / who (modifier)?

3. The subject placed right after clause (i.e. after the comma).

B) Misplaced: Modifier in middle or end of sentence.

1. Identify modifier (clause)

2. Ask: What / who (modifier)?

3. Subject should be placed right before the modifier (before who,

which, that, etc.)

10. VERB AGREEMENT /

TENSES

*Being = WRONG
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 A) Agreement:

1. Ask: What (did the verb)?

2. Cross out prepositional phrases or clauses before the verb.

3. Circle the subject and restate subject + verb next to each other

4. Choose singular / plural accordingly Note:

- compound subject = plural verb - gerund subject (-ing) = singular

verb - that / what / whether clause = singular verb

Singular pronouns: one, each ,every, any, none, the number, neither
(without nor), either (without or)

Plural pronouns: others, few, some, several, many, most, all, a

number B) Tenses:

1. General rule: match (present or past tense) with surrounding

sentences 2. to have or to do must be followed by past participle

3. since, for over, during, from= have/has + past participle (this is

rare)

11. APOSTROPHES

Steps:

1. Determine if it is possessive or not, and if it is singular or plural.

-NOUN’s = possessive (followed by noun)

-Its, their = possessive (followed by a noun)

-it’s =it is; they’re= they are; there = place - you’re = you are; your =
possessive - who’s = who is; whose = possessive
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 12. PROUNOUN & NOUN AGREEMENT

1. Ask: What/who does (pronoun) refer to? Circle antecedent (noun

it refers to) 2. Choose singular or plural

IMPORTANT: if choice between specific noun or pronoun, choose

SPECIFIC noun

13. PARALLEL STRUCTURE List or two words joined by “and”: (verb,

verb, verb), (noun, noun, noun), (past verb and past verb), etc.

14. COMPARISONS

A) Word pairs (must match)

• as…as

• not only…but (also)

• more / less / -er … than (NOT then) • neither…nor ; either…or

B) Faulty Comparisons:

1. Ask: What is (compared to) what? -possession of noun AND noun

(e.g. painter’s skills and painter) = WRONG 2. possession of noun:
that of for singular; those of for plural

3. Compare verbs (than…did / does)

15. INFOGRAPHICS

1. Read Title, key, x-axis, and y-axis to determine what chart is

showing. 2. Read each choice and determine whether it is accurate.
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