SAT Writing : Analyzing, Combining, and Moving Content
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Writing
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Example Questions
Example Question #121 : Improving Paragraphs
(1) During the 1960s, many directors from Czechoslovakia contributed to a film movement called "Czechoslovak New Wave." (2) This period is often considered to be the golden age of Czechoslovak cinema. (3) These films often used improvised dialogue rather than a script and featured many non-professional actors. (4) The directors from this period wished to capture the authentic experience of living in Czechoslovakia at the time. (5) However, a series of new censorship laws introduced by the Communist Party in 1968 halted the movement and motivated several of the key directors to flee to America.
Which of the following is the best option for combining Sentences 1 and 2?
During the 1960s, a period often considered to be the golden age of Czechoslovak cinema, many directors from Czechoslovakia contributed to a film movement called "Czechoslovak New Wave."
During the 1960s, many directors from Czechoslovakia, often considered to be the golden age of Czechoslovak cinema, contributed to a film movement called "Czechoslovak New Wave."
During the 1960s, many directors from Czechoslovakia contributed to a film movement called "Czechoslovak New Wave" because this period is often considered to be the golden age of Czechoslovak cinema.
During the 1960s, many directors from Czechoslovakia contributed to a film movement called "Czechoslovak New Wave," this period is often considered to be the golden age of Czechoslovak cinema.
During the 1960s, many directors from Czechoslovakia contributed to a film movement called "Czechoslovak New Wave," although this period is often considered to be the golden age of Czechoslovak cinema.
During the 1960s, a period often considered to be the golden age of Czechoslovak cinema, many directors from Czechoslovakia contributed to a film movement called "Czechoslovak New Wave."
This phrasing most clearly indicates that the 1960s are the period considered to be the golden age of Czechoslovak cinema. In the version that adds "because," it appears that the movement came about because the period was the golden age, when in actuality the reverse is true. The version that adds "although" would make sense if the phrases contradicted each other, but one clearly relates to the other. The version that only adds a comma is a run-on sentence. In the version that moves the phrase after "Czechoslovakia," it remains unclear to what period the phrase refers.
Example Question #12 : Separating, Combining, Or Moving Sentences
1 Tattoos have even been found on ancient Icelandic, Egyptian, and South American mummies.2 On their various voyages to the South Pacific, Captain Cook and other European explorers brought back accounts of colorfully inked natives, and their sailors soon began to adopt the practice. 3 Early medieval Northern European tribes such as the Picts and Visigoths were often heavily tattooed; particularly the warriors. 4 Over the centuries, various cultures have described various meanings to tattoos, with indelible ink signifying everything from royalty to gang membership to magical powers.
5 Interestingly modern-day tattooing’s popularity evolved out of its adoption by wealthy British nobility, and by American celebrities, musicians, and actors. 6 While tattoos do have a dark past, most notably at Auschwitz, where Nazi’s identified prisoners by tattooing numbers on their arms. 7 Tattoos can be signs of joy, belief, or even healing, such as the colorful tattoos that breast cancer survivors use to cover mastectomy scars.
8 Today, there are more options than ever before, tattoo artists often have fine arts training, lengthy apprenticeships, and can offer specialty inks that glow in the dark or are easier to remove. 9 The internet is full of design ideas, tattoo parlor rankings, and even horror stories about bad tattoo experiences. 10 Now more than ever, information about ink abounds. 11 Choose wisely!
What is the best way to combine Sentences 6 and 7?
While tattoos do have a dark past, most notably at Auschwitz, where Nazis identified prisoners by tattooing numbers on their arms, tattoos can be signs of joy, belief, or even healing, such as the colorful tattoos that breast cancer survivors use to cover mastectomy scars.
While tattoos do have a dark past, most notably at Auschwitz, where Nazis identified prisoners by tattooing numbers on their arms; tattoos can be signs of joy, belief, or even healing, such as the colorful tattoos that breast cancer survivors use to cover mastectomy scars.
While tattoos do have a dark past; most notably at Auschwitz, where Nazis identified prisoners by tattooing numbers on their arms; tattoos can also be signs of joy, belief, or even healing, such as the colorful tattoos that breast cancer survivors use to cover mastectomy scars.
While tattoos do have a dark past, most notably at Auschwitz, where Nazis identified prisoners by tattooing numbers on their arms; whereas tattoos can be signs of joy, belief, or even healing, such as the colorful tattoos that breast cancer survivors use to cover mastectomy scars.
While tattoos do have a dark past (most notably at Auschwitz, where Nazis identified prisoners by tattooing numbers on their arms), tattoos can also be signs of joy, belief, or even healing, such as the colorful tattoos that breast cancer survivors use to cover mastectomy scars.
While tattoos do have a dark past (most notably at Auschwitz, where Nazis identified prisoners by tattooing numbers on their arms), tattoos can also be signs of joy, belief, or even healing, such as the colorful tattoos that breast cancer survivors use to cover mastectomy scars.
Because Sentence 6 begins with “While” and is a dependent clause, we need a correlating independent clause to end the sentence. Combining the two sentences with a comma and using parentheses creates a clear, grammatically correct sentence.
Example Question #12 : Separating, Combining, Or Moving Sentences
1 Although agritourism is a fairly recent phenomenon in the Western world; it is proving popular in many countries. 2 Agritourism is broadly defined as any activity or attraction that draws visitors to a farm, and it can include anything from corn mazes and apple picking to vineyard tours, workshops on animal husbandry, and work-stay exchange programs. 3 The practice is particularly prevocalic in North America, Europe, and Australia. 4 With a huge variety of farms and activities available to agritourists. 5 For example: visitors can learn how to run a cattle drive in Wyoming, make cheese in France, harvest olives in Sicily, or pick kiwi fruit in New Zealand.
6 Income generated from agritourism can help small family farms remain soluble as well as educate the public about where their food comes from. 7 Henceforth, most people agree that agritourism is benevolent for everyone involved. 8 While there are some who argue that it is a cheap ploy designed to make selfish tourists feel better about their vacations. 9 All in all, it will be interesting to see how agritourism continues to develop in the future.
How should Sentences 3 and 4 be combined?
The practice is particularly prevocalic in North America, Europe, and Australia; with a huge variety of farms and activities available to agritourists.
The practice is particularly prevocalic in North America, Europe, and Australia. With a huge variety of farms and activities available to agritourists. (no combination)
The practice is particularly prevocalic in North America, Europe, and Australia, with a huge variety being among the types of farms and the activities available to agritourists.
The practice is particularly prevocalic in North America, Europe, and Australia, and a huge variety of farms and activities available to agritourists.
The practice is particularly prevocalic in North America, Europe, and Australia, and there is a huge variety of farms and activities available to agritourists.
The practice is particularly prevocalic in North America, Europe, and Australia, and there is a huge variety of farms and activities available to agritourists.
There is only one grammatically correct option that combines the first sentence, an independent clause, with the second sentence, a dependent clause, and that is by making the second sentence an independent clause and then linking the two with a conjunction word and a comma.
Example Question #121 : Improving Paragraphs
1 Some of the best-known badlands occur in North America; Badlands National Park in South Dakota, Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota, Dinosaur National Monument in Colorado and Utah, and the Big Muddy Badlands in Saskatchewan. 2 Have you ever been to the badlands? 3 Despite their name, badlands are often fascinating topographical regions. 4 With beautiful vistas as well. 5 Elsewhere badlands can be found in Italy, New Zealand, Spain, and Argentina.6 Badlands are distinguished by their stark, dry terrain, their sharply eroded landscapes, their lack of vegetation, and their colorful, clay-rich rocks. 7 They often include geological features such as canyons, gullies, mesas, buttes, and hoodoos. 8 Nevertheless, visiting badlands can be an uncommon but rewarding experience.
What is the best way to combine Sentences 3 and 4?
Despite their name, badlands are often fascinating topographical regions, as well having beautiful vistas.
Despite their name, badlands are often fascinating topographical regions with beautiful vistas.
Despite their name, badlands are often fascinating topographical regions. With beautiful vistas as well. (no combination)
Despite their name, badlands are often fascinating topographical regions, which are including beautiful vistas as well.
Despite their name, badlands are often fascinating topographical regions, that including beautiful vistas as well.
Despite their name, badlands are often fascinating topographical regions with beautiful vistas.
The most concise and grammatically correct option is this: “Despite their name, badlands are often fascinating topographical regions with beautiful vistas.”
Example Question #11 : Separating, Combining, Or Moving Sentences
1 Deaccession or deaccessioning is defined as the intentional disposing or selling of books from library’s collections. 2 And is often undertaken to make room for newer volumes, to shift the focus of the library’s collection, or to reflect changing trends in literature. 3 Many people disagree vehicularly about which books should be deaccessioned, when and how books should be disposed of, and even whether books should be deaccessioned at all. 4 Book deaccession: It sounds boring, but is in fact one of the more controversial and problematic aspects of running a library. 5 Though others argue that it allows libraries to remain current and relevant to the public’s reading needs. 6 No doubt it is a topic that will continue to provoke debate for years to come.
How should Sentences 1 and 2 be combined?
Deaccession or deaccessioning is defined as the intentional disposing or selling of books from library’s collections, which is often undertaken to make room for newer volumes, to shift the focus of the library’s collection, or to reflect changing trends in literature.
Deaccession or deaccessioning is defined as the intentional disposing or selling of books from library’s collections, and it is often undertaken to make room for newer volumes, to shift the focus of the library’s collection, or to reflect changing trends in literature.
Deaccession or deaccessioning is defined as the intentional disposing or selling of books from library’s collections. And is often undertaken to make room for newer volumes, to shift the focus of the library’s collection, or to reflect changing trends in literature. (no combination)
Deaccession or deaccessioning, is often undertaken to make room for newer volumes, to shift the focus of the library’s collection, or to reflect changing trends in literature; and is defined as the intentional disposing or selling of books from library’s collections.
Deaccession or deaccessioning is defined as the intentional disposing or selling of books from library’s collections; and is often undertaken to make room for newer volumes, to shift the focus of the library’s collection, or to reflect changing trends in literature.
Deaccession or deaccessioning is defined as the intentional disposing or selling of books from library’s collections, and it is often undertaken to make room for newer volumes, to shift the focus of the library’s collection, or to reflect changing trends in literature.
Because Sentence 2 is a fragment, it must be added to Sentence 1 in a concise, coherent way. Changing Sentence 2 to an independent clause by adding a subject (“it”) and using a comma and conjunction to link it to sentence 1 is the best approach.
Example Question #11 : Combining Sentences
1 All in all, aviation will likely continue to fascinate people for centuries to come. 2 Long before the famous Wright brothers humans were attempting to fly. 3 The ancient Greek myth of Icarus and Daedalus shows the tantalizing allusion of flight. 4 With large kites’ in China may have been the first successful instance of human flight several thousand years ago. 5 Hundreds of years later and despite many hazings; the Montgolfier brothers and other pioneering aviators began experimenting with manned hot-air balloon flights. 6 Therefore, technology has advanced to the point of supersonic and hypersonic flight, but people are still trying to break new barriers and invent new methods of flight.
How should Sentences 3 and 4 be combined?
The ancient Greek myth of Icarus and Daedalus shows the tantalizing allusion of flight, with large kites in China may have been the first successful instance of human flight several thousand years ago.
The ancient Greek myth of Icarus and Daedalus shows the tantalizing allusion of flight; large kites in China may have being the first successful instance of human flight several thousand years ago.
The ancient Greek myth of Icarus and Daedalus shows the tantalizing allusion of flight, with large kites in China possibly being the first successful instance of human flight several thousand years ago.
The ancient Greek myth of Icarus and Daedalus shows the tantalizing allusion of flight. With large kites in China may have been the first successful instance of human flight several thousand years ago. (no change)
The ancient Greek myth of Icarus and Daedalus shows the tantalizing allusion of flight; with large kites in China may have being the first successful instance of human flight several thousand years ago.
The ancient Greek myth of Icarus and Daedalus shows the tantalizing allusion of flight, with large kites in China possibly being the first successful instance of human flight several thousand years ago.
Sentence 4 is grammatically incorrect (a mixed construction), so it has to be rewritten slightly before we can combine it with Sentence 3. The only option that is punctuated correctly and contains no verb errors is “The ancient Greek myth of Icarus and Daedalus shows the tantalizing allusion of flight, with large kites in China possibly being the first successful instance of human flight several thousand years ago.”
Example Question #11 : Analyzing, Combining, And Moving Content
1 Many painters have strong sediments about whether oil or acrylic paints produce the best results. 2 On the one hand, oil paints take longer to dry and are therefore more conductive to slow painstaking work and careful blending. 3 While, they also require the use of more toxic chemicals such as turpentine and mineral spirits. 4 Professional artists are often meritorious about the materials they use. 5 Acrylic paints are now favored by more and more artists, not only because they are odorless and nontoxic and also because their colors are not effervescent, they don’t fade when exposed to light. 6 However, many of the worlds’ great masterpieces were created with oil paints. 7 With some artists understandably feel nasturtium when they see oils being replaced by cheaper, more popular acrylics.
How should Sentences 6 and 7 be combined?
However, many of the worlds’ great masterpieces were created with oil paints; with some artists understandably feel nasturtium when they see oils being replaced by cheaper, more popular acrylics.
However, many of the worlds’ great masterpieces were created with oil paints; while some artists understandably feeling nasturtium when they see oils being replaced by cheaper, more popular acrylics.
However, many of the worlds’ great masterpieces were created with oil paints. With some artists understandably feel nasturtium when they see oils being replaced by cheaper, more popular acrylics. (no change)
However, many of the worlds’ great masterpieces were created with oil paints, with some artists understandably have felt nasturtium when they see oils being replaced by cheaper, more popular acrylics.
However, many of the worlds’ great masterpieces were created with oil paints, and some artists understandably feel nasturtium when they see oils being replaced by cheaper, more popular acrylics.
However, many of the worlds’ great masterpieces were created with oil paints, and some artists understandably feel nasturtium when they see oils being replaced by cheaper, more popular acrylics.
Sentence 7 is a mixed construction, so we need to reword it slightly. A comma and conjunction correctly separate two independent clauses in the same sentence.
Example Question #331 : Sat Writing
1 Glass; a material most people take for granted, is an essential constitute of modern life. 2 Most glass throughout history have been made of silicon dioxide; which is found in sand. 3 Typically glass is made by melting down and refining raw materials in processes that remove bubbles, improve strength, and augur durability. 4 This process can be tailored to create the desired end product, be that stained glass windows for a church and glass fibers for thermal insulation. 5 Because glass blowing can be used to create fanciful shapes and delicate figurines, most glass today is made more quickly and cheaply in factories. 6 These factories can produce everything. 7 From windshields and sterile medical equipment.
How should Sentence 6 and Sentence 7 be combined?
These factories can produce everything: from windshields and sterile medical equipment.
These factories can produce everything; from windshields and sterile medical equipment.
These factories can produce everything, from windshields and sterile medical equipment.
These factories can produce everything from windshields and sterile medical equipment.
These factories can produce everything. From windshields and sterile medical equipment. (no change)
These factories can produce everything from windshields and sterile medical equipment.
In Sentences 6 and 7, we have two parts of an independent clause being separated incorrectly by a period. The correct form is no punctuation, since all the words belong to the same single clause.
Example Question #331 : Sat Writing
1 It may be hard to believe. 2 But light was once a rare and inviolate commodity. 3 Our ancestors invented willful ways to harness natural light; burning lumps of tallow or animal fat, capturing fireflies in glass jars, and even threading wicks down the throats of a bird called the storm petrel.4 Most of these methods were messy, inconvenient, and costly. 5 So it was fortunate when kerosene became popular. 6 Whale oil was another way to get light, but whaling was a dangerous and deadly occupation. 7 The innovation of the electric light bulb represented another huge leap in convenience and cost-effectiveness. 8 While light is not scarce today; in fact, we often have the opposite problem. 9 Light pollution, or excessive artificial light, which can keep city denizens from ever seeing the stars or appreciating true darkness.
How should Sentences 1 and 2 be combined?
It may be hard to believe, light was once a rare and inviolate commodity.
It may be hard to believe, but light was once a rare and inviolate commodity.
It may be hard to believe; but light was once a rare and inviolate commodity.
It may be hard to believe, although light was once a rare and inviolate commodity.
It may be hard to believe. But light was once a rare and inviolate commodity. (no change)
It may be hard to believe, but light was once a rare and inviolate commodity.
Sentence 1 is an independent clause, and Sentence 2 is an independent clause preceded with a conjunction. Since it’s best not to begin a sentence with a conjunction, we don’t want to leave these two sentences uncombined. Following the rules of standard grammar, we would add a comma before the conjunction when combining these two sentences.
Example Question #341 : Sat Writing
1 It may be hard to believe. 2 But light was once a rare and inviolate commodity. 3 Our ancestors invented willful ways to harness natural light; burning lumps of tallow or animal fat, capturing fireflies in glass jars, and even threading wicks down the throats of a bird called the storm petrel.4 Most of these methods were messy, inconvenient, and costly. 5 So it was fortunate when kerosene became popular. 6 Whale oil was another way to get light, but whaling was a dangerous and deadly occupation. 7 The innovation of the electric light bulb represented another huge leap in convenience and cost-effectiveness. 8 While light is not scarce today; in fact, we often have the opposite problem. 9 Light pollution, or excessive artificial light, which can keep city denizens from ever seeing the stars or appreciating true darkness.
How should Sentences 8 and 9 be combined?
While light is not scarce today; in fact, we often have the opposite problem; light pollution, or excessive artificial light, which can keep city denizens from ever seeing the stars or appreciating true darkness.
While light is not scarce today; in fact, we often have the opposite problem, light pollution, or excessive artificial light, which can keep city denizens from ever seeing the stars or appreciating true darkness.
While light is not scarce today; in fact, we often have the opposite problem light pollution, or excessive artificial light, which can keep city denizens from ever seeing the stars or appreciating true darkness.
While light is not scarce today; in fact, we often have the opposite problem: light pollution, or excessive artificial light, which can keep city denizens from ever seeing the stars or appreciating true darkness.
While light is not scarce today; in fact, we often have the opposite problem. Light pollution, or excessive artificial light, which can keep city denizens from ever seeing the stars or appreciating true darkness. (no change)
While light is not scarce today; in fact, we often have the opposite problem: light pollution, or excessive artificial light, which can keep city denizens from ever seeing the stars or appreciating true darkness.
Although it’s a bit clunky, the best option is to add a colon after “problem.” Although Sentence 9 is not a list, colons can occasionally be used after independent clauses to introduce specific topics that are not in lists, usually when the second independent clause clarifies, defines, or explains the first independent clause.
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