Lecture Notes

Introduction to the SAT Prep Course

• PSAT to SAT improvement: From 1180 to 1590
• Free digital SAT prep course: Around 18 hours of prep
• 7-hour course: For those with less time, includes first 7.5 hours of the full course
• Course structure: Recommended to follow in order
• Reading and Writing sections: Combined, still tests individual abilities

Writing Questions on the Digital SAT

• Subject-Verb Agreement: Ensure subject and verb agree in number
  • Example: "The dog barks" (singular), "The dogs bark" (plural)
  • He/They test: Helps determine if the verb is singular or plural
• Example Analysis
  • Subject: "writing" (singular)
  • Verb options: Were (plural), Have been (plural), Has been (singular), Are (plural)
  • Correct verb: Has been

Indefinite Pronouns

• Take singular verbs: "Everyone has their own opinion"

Compound Subjects

• Connected by 'and': Usually take a plural verb
  • Example: "John and Sarah are going"

Collective Nouns

• Singular or plural verbs: Depends on context
  • Commonly, take a singular verb
  • Example: "The team is practicing" (singular)

Intervening Phrases

• Do not affect subject-verb agreement
  • Example: "The cat, along with its kittens, sits by the window"

Pronoun Usage

• Antecedent agreement: Number and gender alignment
  • Example: "Sarah lost her keys"
• Practice Question
  • Identify subject "customers" (plural)
  • Correct pronoun: "they"

Ambiguous Pronouns

• Should have clear antecedents
  • Example: Avoid "Sarah and Lisa went shopping and she bought a dress"

Pronoun Case

• Different forms: Subjective, objective, possessive

Modifier Placement

• Should be near the words they modify
  • Example: "I saw a giraffe with binoculars"

Dangling Modifiers

• Should modify the intended subject
  • Example: "After finishing the project, John ate a snack"

Comparative and Superlative Adjectives

• Use correctly for comparisons

Parallel Comparisons

• Maintain parallel structure
  • Example: "She likes to run, swim, and hike"

Verb Tenses

• Indicate time of action
  • Consistency: Maintain same tense throughout
• Complex Tenses
  • Future Perfect: "I will have graduated"
  • Conditional: "If it rained, we would have stayed"

Run-on Sentences

• Separate independent clauses properly

Fragments

• Ensure complete sentences with subject and verb

Sentence Logic and Clarity

• Avoid redundancy
• Ensure logical comparisons

Transitions

• Use effectively for coherence
• Common Transitions: Additionally, however, consequently

Subjunctives

• Express hypothetical situations
  • Use "were" instead of "was"

SAT Writing Guide Overview

• Focus on grammar, sentence structure, word use, punctuation, coherence in writing
• Practice and understanding of rules are key
• Approach different types of writing questions with specific strategies

Examples of Question Types

• Complete the Text: Identify differences in answer choices, look for what you need during read-through
• Transition Questions: Determine logical flow and coherence