Rewriting sentences

1. Accuplacer Tutoring Week 3: 10/3-10/7 Rewriting sentences

2. Sentence Test • Part of the Sentence test asks you to rewrite sentences starting with different words. • Then the question will ask you either what the next words would be or what word phrase will be used somewhere in the sentence. • Your job is to rewrite the sentence with the most efficient use of language possible, then choose the best answer.

3. Strategy 1 • Rewrite your own sentence without looking at the answer choices. • We were exhausted from our long journey and decided to go straight to bed. • Rewrite, beginning with Exhausted • Think about the what part of speech each word is being portrayed as.

4. Strategy 1 • Exhausted from our long journey we decided to go straight to bed. • This question was asking for what the sentence would include. Answer choices included: • A. as we were • B. we decided • C. we were deciding • D. we decided and went

5. Strategy 1 • Best answer = B! • If your sentence doesn’t match any of the answer choices, try using the next strategy with the same question.

6. Strategy 1 • Rewrite the following sentences: •  Sarah arrived at the party, and the fun finally started. • Rewrite, beginning with Fun finally started • Robert studied hard for his exam, but the same cannot be said of Thomas. • Rewrite, beginning with Unlike Thomas,

7. Strategy 1 • Although the sandpiper is easily frightened by noise and light, it will bravely resist any force that threatens its nest. • Rewrite, beginning with The sandpiper is easily frightened by noise and light

8. Strategy 2 • Rewrite the sentence using each of the answer choices. • In the southern United States, many indigenous native tribes still perform traditional rites and ceremonies. • Rewrite, beginning with Traditional rites and ceremonies • The next words will be: • A. do still perform • B. they still perform • C. are still performed • D. were still performed

9. Strategy 2 • If you can’t make a meaningful sentence with an answer choice that conveys the exact same information as the original sentence, you can eliminate that answer choice.

10. Strategy 2 • Most likely answer = C! • Traditional rites and ceremonies are still performed by many indigenous native tribes in the Southern United States.

11. Strategy 2 • It is easy to carry solid objects without spilling them, but the same cannot be said of liquids. • Rewrite, beginning with Unlike liquids, • The next words will be • A. it is easy to • B. we can easily • C. solid objects can easily be • D. solid objects are easy to be

12. Strategy 3 • In some cases, you will be asked to rewrite sentences and omit (or not use) a specific word. • In a large city, you may have massive traffic jams on your daily commute to work.  • Rewrite this sentence omittingyou

13. Strategy 3 • A. In a large city, a person may have massive traffic jams on your daily commute to work. • B. In a large city, a resident may have massive traffic jams on his daily commute to work. • C. In a large city, massive traffic jams may be part of the daily commute to work. • D. In a large city, massive traffic jams may be part of the everyday commute on the way to work.

14. Strategy 3 • Most likely answer = C!! • Why? • Remember that one strategy? Simplicity? • The simplest form of the sentence is often the correct answer. This test is about language proficiency, not fancy grammar or big words.

15. Remember! • Next Accuplacer test will be on October 12th • That’s NEXT WEDNESDAY • Put it on your calendar if you have not already. • Plan to get a good night’s sleep and eat breakfast in the morning…and not something crappy like a poptart. REAL food. • Wear something comfy (and within dress code) for the test. • Good luck 