Testing Strategies
Parts of an Essay
Sentences
Author's Tools
Dictionary Skills
100

What are 1-2 things you can use a dictionary for on the test?

Look up words you don't know in the story

Look up words you don't know in the answer choices

Look up how to spell words 

100

What is a thesis?

One sentence that states what the essay is about and gives your opinion about the prompt (usually in the first paragraph)

100

What does FANBOYS stand for?

For/And/Nor/But/Or/Yet/So

100

What is tone?

The author's attitude or feelings about their topic

100

You don't know the word "inevitable". Look it up in the dictionary and read aloud the definition word-for-word. You have 60 seconds. 

Impossible to avoid or prevent.

Incapable of being avoided or evaded. 


200

How can you increase your chances of guessing the right answer by 50%?

Eliminate 2 answer choices

200

What is a paragraph?

A chunk of text that is all about one idea. A new paragraph starts on a new line. 

200

Do you put the comma before or after FANBOYS?

Before

200

What is the author's purpose?

Their main reason for writing, what they want the reader to learn/know/do, etc. 

200

If a word has multiple definitions, how will that look in the dictionary?

There will be a numbered list of all the different definitions

300

If the question says, "In Paragraph 7"... what's the first thing you should do?

Go back to re-read Paragraph 7

300

What do the letters in the HELP chart stand for?

History, Experiences, Literature, Pop Culture

300

Should there be a comma in this sentence?

I want a burger and fries. 

No. The word "and" isn't connecting 2 independent clauses. 

300

What is an exaggeration? 

Making something seem more dramatic, bigger, over the top, etc. 

300

You don't know the word "pessimistic". Look it up in the dictionary and read the definition aloud word-for-word. You have 60 seconds. 

A tendency to take the gloomiest possible view of a situation

An inclination to take the least favorable view

400

How can writing on the articles help you on the test?

Help you remember things, help you mark words you don't know, help you figure out the main ideas, etc.

400

How many specific examples or evidence should you provide in your essay to illustrate your points?


1-3

400

Where would you put the comma in this sentence?

Danielle and Jose wanted burgers instead of Mom's cooking so they decided to stop at Whataburger on the way home.

 Danielle and Jose wanted burgers instead of Mom's cooking, so they decided to stop at Whataburger on the way home.

400

What is a contradiction?

Two things that seem to say the opposite things

400

If a word has (n) next to it in the dictionary, what does that mean? 

The word is a noun.

500

What is a transition between paragraphs?

A sentence that closes out on paragraph's topics and introduces the next paragraph's topic.

500

Where should you put a comma in this sentence?

She is so talented as a singer but she is also very shy and quiet.

She is so talented as a singer, but she is also very shy and quiet.

500

What is an anecdote?

A short, interesting story about a real event or person

500

If the word you are looking up isn't in the dictionary, what could that mean?

Maybe you aren't spelling it right or it's a different form of the word (like you look up the word "happy" and it's only listed as "happiness")

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