Tips for the ACT Tips for the ACT Writing TestWriting TestJunior CompositionJunior Composition

Basic TipsBasic Tips

Carefully read theCarefully read the instructions on the instructions on the cover of the test booklet.cover of the test booklet.

Do not skip lines and do not write in the Do not skip lines and do not write in the margins. margins.

Write your essay legibly, in English. Write your essay legibly, in English.

Organizing you AnswerOrganizing you Answer

Do some planning before writing the essay; you will Do some planning before writing the essay; you will be instructed to do your prewriting in your Writing be instructed to do your prewriting in your Writing Test booklet. Test booklet.

You can refer to these notes as you write the essay on the You can refer to these notes as you write the essay on the lined pages in your answer folder. lined pages in your answer folder.

Carefully consider the promptCarefully consider the prompt and make sure you and make sure you understand the question it asks—reread it if you understand the question it asks—reread it if you aren't sure.aren't sure.

Decide how you want to answerDecide how you want to answer the question in the the question in the prompt.prompt.

Write down your ideasWrite down your ideas on the topic. on the topic. 1.1. A list of ideas or your point of view on the subjectA list of ideas or your point of view on the subject2.2. A list of reasons for your ideas A list of reasons for your ideas 3.3. A list of examples that you will use to explain your point of view A list of examples that you will use to explain your point of view

on the issue.on the issue.

Writing your EssayWriting your Essay

At the beginning of your essay, make sure At the beginning of your essay, make sure readers will see that you understand the issue.readers will see that you understand the issue. Strong introduction to the topicStrong introduction to the topic

Explain your point of view in a clear and logical Explain your point of view in a clear and logical way.way. Strong thesis statements (discussed in detail later)Strong thesis statements (discussed in detail later)

If possible, discuss the issue in a broader If possible, discuss the issue in a broader context or evaluate the implications or context or evaluate the implications or complications of the issue.complications of the issue. Try to think of other contexts that this issue relatesTry to think of other contexts that this issue relates

Writing your EssayWriting your Essay

Address what others might say to refute your Address what others might say to refute your point of view and present a counterargument.point of view and present a counterargument. Don’t avoid problematic issuesDon’t avoid problematic issues Address them and refute themAddress them and refute them

Use specific examples.Use specific examples. Avoid very general and clichéd examplesAvoid very general and clichéd examples

Vary the structure of your sentences, and use Vary the structure of your sentences, and use varied and precise word choices.varied and precise word choices.

Writing your EssayWriting your Essay

Stay focused on the topic.Stay focused on the topic. End with a strong conclusion that End with a strong conclusion that

summarizes or reinforces your position.summarizes or reinforces your position. Make logical relationships clear by using Make logical relationships clear by using

transitional words and phrases.transitional words and phrases.

Proofread your EssayProofread your Essay

If there is time, do a final check of the If there is time, do a final check of the essay when it is finished. essay when it is finished. Correct any mistakes in grammar, usage, Correct any mistakes in grammar, usage,

punctuation, and spelling.punctuation, and spelling. If you find any words that are hard to read, If you find any words that are hard to read,

recopy them so your readers can read them recopy them so your readers can read them easily.easily.

Make any corrections and revisions neatly, Make any corrections and revisions neatly, between the lines (but not in the margins).between the lines (but not in the margins).

What is the most important What is the most important aspect of a strong essay?aspect of a strong essay?

The Thesis StatementThe Thesis Statement The parable of the Two Builders (Matthew 7:24-27)The parable of the Two Builders (Matthew 7:24-27)

The Wise and Foolish Builders The Wise and Foolish Builders   "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine

and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."

What is a thesis?What is a thesis?

A thesis is an essay’s or paper’s major A thesis is an essay’s or paper’s major claim.claim.

A thesis is comprised of:A thesis is comprised of:1.1. Limited SubjectLimited Subject

2.2. Definite AttitudeDefinite Attitude

3.3. Points of Development Points of Development

What is a “strong” What is a “strong” thesis?thesis?

A strong thesis makes a claim that:A strong thesis makes a claim that:1.1. Requires proof Requires proof

2.2. Offers some point about the significance of Offers some point about the significance of your evidence that would not have been your evidence that would not have been immediately obvious to readers.immediately obvious to readers.

What is a “weak” thesis?What is a “weak” thesis?

A weak thesis either makes no claim or A weak thesis either makes no claim or makes a claim that does not need makes a claim that does not need proving, such as a statement of fact or a proving, such as a statement of fact or a common opinion.common opinion.

5 Kinds of Weak Thesis 5 Kinds of Weak Thesis StatementsStatements

1.1. Make no claimMake no claim

2.2. Are obviously true or a statement of factAre obviously true or a statement of fact

3.3. Restate conventional wisdomRestate conventional wisdom

4.4. Offer personal conviction as the basis Offer personal conviction as the basis for the claimfor the claim

5.5. Make an overly broad claimMake an overly broad claim

Specify and SubordinateSpecify and Subordinate

These methods will aid in fixing most of These methods will aid in fixing most of these problems often found in thesis these problems often found in thesis statements.statements. Specify: replace the overly abstract terms Specify: replace the overly abstract terms

with something specificwith something specific Subordinate: rank one of the two items in the Subordinate: rank one of the two items in the

pairing underneath the other .pairing underneath the other . Specify to focus the claim and Specify to focus the claim and

subordinate to qualify the claim still more.subordinate to qualify the claim still more.

1. The Thesis Makes No 1. The Thesis Makes No ClaimClaim

Problem Examples:Problem Examples: ““I’m going to write about Darwin’s concerns I’m going to write about Darwin’s concerns

with evolution in with evolution in The Origin of SpeciesThe Origin of Species.”.”

1. The Thesis Makes No 1. The Thesis Makes No ClaimClaim

Solution:Solution: Raise specific issues for the essay to Raise specific issues for the essay to

explore.explore. Solution Examples:Solution Examples:

““Darwin’s concern with survival of the fittest Darwin’s concern with survival of the fittest in in The Origin of SpeciesThe Origin of Species leads him to neglect leads him to neglect a potentially conflicting aspect of his theory a potentially conflicting aspect of his theory of evolution-survival as a matter of of evolution-survival as a matter of independence.”independence.”

Exception to 1.Exception to 1.

Some disciplines expect writers to offer a Some disciplines expect writers to offer a statement of method and/or intention in their statement of method and/or intention in their paper’s openings.paper’s openings.

Poor Example:Poor Example: ““In this paper I will discuss America’s treatment of In this paper I will discuss America’s treatment of

the elderly.”the elderly.” Good Example:Good Example:

““In this paper I will examine how congressional In this paper I will examine how congressional Republicans undermined the attempts of the Republicans undermined the attempts of the Democratic administration to legislate a fiscally Democratic administration to legislate a fiscally responsible health-care policy for the elderly.”responsible health-care policy for the elderly.”

2. The Thesis Is Obviously 2. The Thesis Is Obviously True or Is a Statement of True or Is a Statement of

FactFact Problem examples:Problem examples:

““The jean industry targets its advertisements The jean industry targets its advertisements to appeal to young adults.”to appeal to young adults.”

2. The Thesis Is Obviously 2. The Thesis Is Obviously True or Is a Statement of True or Is a Statement of

FactFact Solution:Solution:

Find some avenue of inquiry- a question about the facts or an Find some avenue of inquiry- a question about the facts or an issue raised by them. issue raised by them.

Make an assertion with which it would be possible for readers Make an assertion with which it would be possible for readers to disagree.to disagree.

Solution Examples:Solution Examples: ““By inventing new terms, such as ‘loose fit’ and ‘relaxed fit,’ the By inventing new terms, such as ‘loose fit’ and ‘relaxed fit,’ the

jean industry has attempted to normalize , even glorify, its jean industry has attempted to normalize , even glorify, its product for an older and fatter generation.”product for an older and fatter generation.”

3. The Thesis Restates 3. The Thesis Restates Conventional WisdomConventional Wisdom

Problem example:Problem example: ““An important part of one’s college education An important part of one’s college education

is learning to better understand others’ is learning to better understand others’ points of view”points of view”

3. The Thesis Restates 3. The Thesis Restates Conventional WisdomConventional Wisdom

Solution: Solution: Seek to complicate- see more than one point of view Seek to complicate- see more than one point of view

on – your subject. Avoid conventional wisdom unless on – your subject. Avoid conventional wisdom unless you can qualify it or introduce a fresh perspective on you can qualify it or introduce a fresh perspective on it.it.

Solution example:Solution example: ““Although an important part of one’s college education Although an important part of one’s college education

is learning to better understand others’ points of view, is learning to better understand others’ points of view, a persistent danger is that students will be required a persistent danger is that students will be required simply to substitute the teacher’s answers for the simply to substitute the teacher’s answers for the ones they grew up uncritically believing.”ones they grew up uncritically believing.”

4.4. The Thesis Offers Personal The Thesis Offers Personal Conviction as the Basis for Conviction as the Basis for

the Claimthe Claim

Problem example:Problem example: ““Sir Thomas More’s Sir Thomas More’s UtopiaUtopia proposes an proposes an

unworkable set of solutions to society’s unworkable set of solutions to society’s problems because, like communist Russia, it problems because, like communist Russia, it suppresses individualism.”suppresses individualism.”

4. The Thesis Offers Personal 4. The Thesis Offers Personal Conviction as the Basis for the Conviction as the Basis for the

ClaimClaim Solution:Solution:

Replace opinions (self-evident truths) with ideas Replace opinions (self-evident truths) with ideas (theories about the meaning and significance of the (theories about the meaning and significance of the subject, which can be supported by evidence).subject, which can be supported by evidence).

Solution example:Solution example: ““Sir Thomas More’s Utopia treats individualism as a Sir Thomas More’s Utopia treats individualism as a

serious but remediable social problem. His radical serious but remediable social problem. His radical treatment of what we now call “socialization” treatment of what we now call “socialization” attempts to redefine the meaning and origin of attempts to redefine the meaning and origin of individual identity.”individual identity.”

5. The Thesis Makes an 5. The Thesis Makes an Overly Broad ClaimOverly Broad Claim

Problem examples:Problem examples: ““Violent revolutions have had both positive Violent revolutions have had both positive

and negative results.”and negative results.”

5. The Thesis Makes an 5. The Thesis Makes an Overly Broad ClaimOverly Broad Claim

Solution:Solution: Convert broad categories and generic (fit anything) Convert broad categories and generic (fit anything)

claims to more specific assertions.claims to more specific assertions. Specify and SubordinateSpecify and Subordinate

Solution examples: Solution examples: ““Although violent revolutions begin to redress long-Although violent revolutions begin to redress long-

standing social inequities, they often do so at the standing social inequities, they often do so at the cost of long-term economic dysfunction and the cost of long-term economic dysfunction and the suffering that attends it. suffering that attends it.

Othello Thesis StatementOthello Thesis Statement

Create a thesis statement for the Create a thesis statement for the following essay prompt:following essay prompt: Write a character analysis of one major Write a character analysis of one major

character from the first two acts of character from the first two acts of OthelloOthello..

Othello Thesis StatementOthello Thesis Statement

““Othello is a play about love and Othello is a play about love and jealousy.”jealousy.”

““Although Although OthelloOthello appears to attack appears to attack jealousy, it also supports the skepticism jealousy, it also supports the skepticism of the jealous characters over the naivete of the jealous characters over the naivete of the lovers.”of the lovers.”