sat prep syllabus

7/29/2019 Sat Prep Syllabus

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SAT PREP SYLLABUS

2012-13

INSTRUCTOR: Mrs. Robertson

Room #[email protected]

Website- http://www.proofreadoutloud.com/

PURPOSE OF COURSE: This class is recommended for college-bound juniors and seniors

planning to take the SAT. Almost all undergraduate colleges and universities require that

prospective students take the SAT. Taking this course will prepare students for all question

types found on the exam. We will analyze each of the test question areas and give special

consideration to verbal refreshers and techniques aimed at relieving test-taking anxiety.

Topics include sentence completions and reading comprehension for the reading section, and

grammar and essay writing for the writing section.

FORMAT OF CLASS: The course will be broken down into nine units covering all concepts

on the SAT. Each unit will take approximately two weeks to cover in class.

GRADES: In general, I use a point system. They are calculated as follows: a weekly

grammar and vocabulary packet (worth 50 points), computer lab assignments (worth 10

points), group assignments (worth 25 points), essays and projects (worth 75 points), quizzes

(worth 50 points), and tests (worth 100 points). The final exam will be 20% of a students

final nine weeks grade.

COURSE OUTLINE:

Unit One:

Go over course rules/syllabus/honor policy/parent letter

Measure reading rate

Take SAT Practice #1

in The Real ACT Guide- p. 152-154 (#1-15); p. 180-182 (#1-10)

in The Official SAT Study Guide- p. 88 (#1-10)

Punctuation Focus: Commas, Apostrophes (p. 263-266, p. 277-278)

Vocabulary Focus: Roots, Prefixes, Suffixes (p. 293-296) Computer Lab Focus: www.collegeboard.com Junior Action Plan or Senior Action

Plan

-Read excerpts from The Overachievers: The Secret Lives of Driven

Kids by Alexandra Robbins, complete questions, activity, discuss

-Critical Skills Quiz #1

Unit Two:


in The Real ACT Guide- p. 182-185 (#11-30)

Punctuation Focus: Colons, Semicolons, Dashes, Periods, Question Marks,
mailto:[email protected]://www.proofreadoutloud.com/http://www.proofreadoutloud.com/mailto:[email protected]


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Vocabulary Focus: Words from Mythology (1), Social Sciences, From Sunny

Spain, Time on Our Hands, Short but Challenging

Computer Lab Focus: www.actstudent.org

- Read additional excerpts from The Overachievers: The Secret Lives of

Driven Kids by Alexandra Robbins, complete questions, activity, discuss

Critical Skills Quiz #2

Unit Three:


in The Official SAT Study Guide- p. 189, p. 390

Grammar Focus: Subject and verb agreement (p. 155-158; p. 163-164;

p. 169-170)

Vocabulary Focus: Words from Medical Science, Animal World, Numbers, Legal

Language, Appearances and Attitudes (2)

Computer Lab Focus: Vocabulary Building

Read excerpt from Triple Your Reading Speedby Wade E. Cutler, completequestions, activity, discuss

Formal Essay #1- Students will complete an essay question similar to one found

on the SAT


Unit Four:



Grammar Focus: Verb forms; Pronoun forms and cases (p. 145-148; p. 183-186; p.

191)

Vocabulary Focus: Words from Mystery and the Occult, Size and Shape (1),

with Tales Attached, Of Loves and Fears and Hates, Science

Computer Lab Focus: Test Anxiety

Read Look! Up in the Sky! Its a Bird! Its a Plane! ItsSupermom! by Amanda

Robb, answer questions, activity, discuss


Unit Five:

Take SAT Practice #5 in The Official SAT Study Guide- p. 401-406 Grammar Focus: Comparative and

superlative modifiers, Idioms (p. 61-62; p. 195-198)

Vocabulary Focus: Words from Appearances and Attitudes (3), Legal Language (2),

Foreign Terms (1), French, Crossword Puzzles

Computer Lab Focus: Choosing four colleges that are right for you

Read excerpt fromFriday Night Lights by H.G. Bissinger, do questions,

activity, discuss


Unit Six:



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Grammar Focus: Use of subordinate and dependent clauses (p. 101-108)

Vocabulary Focus: Words from Mythology (2), Appearances and Attitudes

(4), Foreign Terms (2), Appearances and Attiudes (5), Size and Shape (2)

Computer Lab Focus: Downloading and completing four college applications

Read excerpt from They Say, I Say: The Moves That Matter in Academic WritingbyGerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein, do questions, activity, discuss


Unit Seven:


in The Official SAT Study Guide- p. 413-414 (#1-11); p. 419-422 (#1-19)

Writing Focus: Errors to avoid in sentence structure, such as run-ons, comma splices

pronouns (p. 109, fragments, misplace modifiers, shifts in verb tense or voice, shifts

in -114; p. 117-188)

Vocabulary Focus: Words from Language, Speech, History and Government(1),Travel, Foods and Taste

Computer Lab Focus: Scholarships (go to www.fafsa.ed.gov)

Read excerpt fromHow to Read Literature Like a Professorby Thomas C. Foster, do

questions, activity, discuss

Formal Essay #2- Student will complete one essay question found on one

college application


Unit Eight:



Writing Focus: Understanding writing strategies (p. 311-314)

Vocabulary Focus: Words from Fun and Frolic, History and Government (2), Legal

Language (3), Philosophy and Logic, Beliefs and Religion

Computer Lab Focus: Now That Youre AcceptedFinancial Mistakes to Avoid as a

College Student; Planning Your Future Beyond College

Read exerpt fromEverythings An Argumentby Andrea A. Winsford and John

J. Ruszkiewicz and from Suze Ormans The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous,

and Broke; complete questions, activity, discuss


Unit Nine:


in The Official SAT Study Guide- p. 465-470

Writing Focus: Understanding organization and style in writing (p. 316-317 exercise

2; p. 325-327)

Vocabulary Focus: Words from Proper Names, Appearances and Attitudes, Words

about Groups, Sounds Italian

Read School by Kyoko Mori (found in The Language ofComposition), complete questions, activity, discuss


4/5

Formal Essay #3- Student will complete essay on My Past, My Present, and My

Future


Note: This course outline reflects the tentative schedule to be followed. The outline may

change to suit the needs of the students. Of course, the outline might also change to includeadditional readings, essays, tests, quizzes, or homework.

COURSE EXPECTATIONS:

1. You will be expected to be well prepared for and take and active role in class sessions. If

you do not understand

something please do not wait to ask. It is preferable that you speak up and are wrong

than for you not to speak at all.

You will need to have all reading and work done at the assigned time.

2. Late work is not accepted.

3. Make-up work is your responsibility. When you return from an EXCUSED absence look

at the lesson plan book for the days you missed. Then speak to me about making up the

work. If you do not, I will simply assume you want a 0 for the assignment we completed the

day you were absent. I will not remind you if you need to make-up a test or quiz. You need

to turn your make-up work into me in a reasonable amount of time. For example, if you were

absent on Monday, ask for your make-up assignment on Tuesday, and turn it in on

Wednesday.

4. If you know ahead of time that you will be absent on a day when an assignment is

due (for example, a pre- arranged absence or field trip), it is your responsibility to turn

in the assignment prior to the due date, or send the assignment to me with another

student or a parent. Any work may be taken to the schools office and put in my

mailbox.

If you miss class the day an assignment is due but are in school at any time during that

day (for example, missing part of the day due to a half-day field trip), you are

responsible for bringing the assignment to me or getting it to me. Failure to do so will

result in a grade of 0.

RULES:

1. Follow directions the first time they are given.

2. Be prepared: in seat, on time, with materials.

3. Show respect for the rights, property, and feelings of others.

4. Stay on task.

5. Speak only at appropriate times.

GRADING SCALE

Please refer to the Middleborough High School Student Handbook


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ASSISTANCE

If at any time you need help, please feel free to make an appointment to speak with me.

sat prep syllabus

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