SAT Writing : Improving and Correcting Sentences

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Writing

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Example Questions

Example Question #21 : Rewriting A Sentence Fragment

1 Ethnography: sounds erogenous but is simply a study of a culture or group of people. 2 Originating in the field of anthropology, later becoming popular in sociology and other disciplines. 3 Ethnographies typically include: descriptions of geography, religion, economy, social behaviors, rituals and histories. 4 Most early ethnographies were written by ex-patriot European explorers traveling outside their home continent; though by some standards the Greek historian Herodotus was producing protoplasmic ethnographies hundreds of years before the Age of Exploration. 5 Ethnographies can take forms ranging from the confessional, the feminist, the critical, and the realist but most are qualitative and descriptive rather than quantitative and statistical. 6 Some attempt to provide fairly objective observations of a group or society, others have the anterior motive of empowering marginalized or repressed cultures. 7 This group or culture may include anything from a fraternity to a particular Uruguayan village. 8 Today ethnographers often immerse themselves fully in the lives of their subjects, be they powerful politicians and impoverished blue-collar workers.

How should the underlined portion of Sentence 1 be rewritten?

Possible Answers:

Ethnography: sounds erogenous but is simply (no change)

Ethnography, which sounds esoteric but is simply

Ethnography: sounding esoteric, it is simply

Ethnography sounds erogenous but is simply

Ethnography: It sounds erogenous but simply it is

Correct answer:

Ethnography sounds erogenous but is simply

Explanation:

A colon isn’t required after “Ethnography.” By deleting it, we can make the sentence a straightforward independent clause. No other changes are necessary.

Example Question #2 : Punctuation

Although a work of fiction, Mariama Bâ's 1979 novel, So Long a Letter is also, in a sense, a manifesto of the female African experience, one that has all too often been consigned to a footnote in history books. Within the overarching colonial narrative of African marginalization, black women have been marginalized farther. In their respective accounts, Jomo Kenyatta and Franz Fanon put their own words in the mouths of female subjects: in more objective histories, women are hardly spoken of at all. By taking a comparative approach, however, the history of African women in the colonial and post-colonial eras can be patched together into something comprehensible. With Bâ’s voice as a guide, a more complex narrative comes out of the darkness of historical silence and bias to revealing significant degrees of female agency and expression.

Replace the bolded and underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.

Possible Answers:

novel. So Long a Letter is also

novel So Long a Letter, is also

novel, So Long a Letter is also

novel; So Long a Letter is also

novel So Long a Letter is also

Correct answer:

novel So Long a Letter is also

Explanation:

The original phrase is incorrect because the appositive phrase "So Long a Letter" is essential information required to understand the sentence; as such, it does not need to be set apart from the sentence by commas. A period and a semicolon are both incorrect punctuation choices, because the preceding phrase, “Although a work of fiction, Mariama Bâ's 1979 novel” is not a complete sentence or thought. The phrase "novel So Long a Letteris also" inserts an unnecessary comma that is grammatically incorrect and confuses the meaning of the sentence. Therefore, the answer must be "novel So Long a Letter is also."

Example Question #1 : Correcting Grammatical Errors In A Sentence Fragment

Although a work of fiction, Mariama Bâ's 1979 novel, So Long a Letter is also, in a sense, a manifesto of the female African experience, one that has all too often been consigned to a footnote in history books. Within the overarching colonial narrative of African marginalization, black women have been marginalized farther. In their respective accounts, Jomo Kenyatta and Franz Fanon put their own words in the mouths of female subjects: in more objective histories, women are hardly spoken of at all. By taking a comparative approach, however, the history of African women in the colonial and post-colonial eras can be patched together into something comprehensible. With Bâ’s voice as a guide, a more complex narrative comes out of the darkness of historical silence and bias to revealing significant degrees of female agency and expression.

Replace the bolded and underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English. One of the answer choices reproduces the underlined portion as it is written in the sentence.

Possible Answers:

subjects in more

subjects, in more

subjects; in more

subjects: in more

subjects, being in more

Correct answer:

subjects; in more

Explanation:

The full sentence given here combines two separate complete sentences, which calls for a semicolon or a comma followed by a conjunction. A colon, as used in the original phrase, indicates that the second sentence is the result or an example of the first, whereas in actuality they are two related but separate thoughts. A comma would create a run-on sentence, as would the lack of any punctuation. Finally, “subjects, being in more” confuses the meaning of the sentence. “Subjects; in more” must be the correct choice.

Example Question #1 : Correcting Grammatical Errors In A Sentence Fragment

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!

How should the underlined portion of Sentence 8 be revised?

Possible Answers:

tattoo artists often have fine arts training, lengthy apprenticeships, and can offer specialty inks that glow in the dark or are easier to remove. (no change)

tattoo artists often have fine arts training, offer lengthy apprenticeships, and specialty inks that glow in the dark or are easier to remove.

tattoo artists often have fine arts training, lengthy apprenticeships, and offer specialty inks that glow in the dark or are easier to remove.

tattoo artists often have fine arts training, serve lengthy apprenticeships, and can offer specialty inks that glow in the dark or are easier to remove.

tattoo artists often have: fine arts training, lengthy apprenticeships, and can offer specialty inks that glow in the dark or are easier to remove.

Correct answer:

tattoo artists often have fine arts training, serve lengthy apprenticeships, and can offer specialty inks that glow in the dark or are easier to remove.

Explanation:

The original version of Sentence 8 is an example of faulty parallelism, with only two of the three items in the list containing a verb. To correct this error, we need to either delete all the verbs or add a verb to the lacking clause.

Example Question #3 : Correcting Grammatical Errors In A Sentence Fragment

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. 

Which of the following sentences needs a colon added to or deleted from it?

Possible Answers:

Sentence 4

Sentence 3

Sentence 2

Sentence 6

Sentence 5

Correct answer:

Sentence 5

Explanation:

In Sentence 5, we have a colon introducing a list. Generally, this is the correct usage of a colon, but remember that the colon is only necessary if the part of the sentence preceding it is an independent clause. Correctly punctuated, Sentence 5 would read, “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.”

Example Question #1 : Correcting Grammatical Errors In A Sentence Fragment

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.

How should the underlined portion of Sentence 1 be rewritten?

Possible Answers:

North America 

North America; (no change)

North America:

North America,

North America.

Correct answer:

North America:

Explanation:

Here, we have an independent clause that introduces a list, so the appropriate punctuation mark is a colon.

Example Question #2 : Correcting Grammatical Errors In A Sentence Fragment

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.

Which sentence needs a comma added to it?

Possible Answers:

Sentence 1

Sentence 4

Sentence 2

Sentence 3

Sentence 5

Correct answer:

Sentence 5

Explanation:

In Sentence 5, we need a comma to separate the introductory word (“Elsewhere”) from the rest of the sentence. Correctly punctuated, it would read: “Elsewhere, badlands can be found in Italy, New Zealand, Spain, and Argentina.”

Example Question #3 : Correcting Grammatical Errors In A Sentence Fragment

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.

Which sentence contains an apostrophe error?

Possible Answers:

Sentence 3

Sentence 1

Sentence 4

Sentence 2

Sentence 5

Correct answer:

Sentence 1

Explanation:

Sentence 1 is discussing collections belonging to multiple libraries, so the singular possessive “library’s” is incorrect. Instead, the phrase should read “from libraries’ collections.” 

Example Question #3 : Correcting Grammatical Errors In A Sentence Fragment

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 the beginning of Sentence 5 be rewritten?

Possible Answers:

Others, though, argue that it allows

Though others argue that it allows (no change)

Others, though, argue: that it allows

Others only arguing that it allows

However others argue that it allows

Correct answer:

Others, though, argue that it allows

Explanation:

The original version of Sentence 5 lacks the appropriate commas. Starting a sentence or a clause with “though” and a comma is rarely grammatically correct, so changing the order to “Others, though, argue” is the best option.

Example Question #3 : Correcting Grammatical Errors In A Sentence Fragment

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 the underlined portion of Sentence 5 be rewritten?

Possible Answers:

not only because they are odorless and nontoxic, but also because their colors are not effervescent

not only because they are odorless and nontoxic, and also because their colors are not effervescent

not only because they are odorless and nontoxic and also because their colors are not effervescent (no change)

not only because they are odorless and nontoxic but also because their colors are not effervescent

not only because they are odorless and nontoxic, also because their colors are not effervescent

Correct answer:

not only because they are odorless and nontoxic but also because their colors are not effervescent

Explanation:

The correct construction is always “not only… but also” with no intervening commas or other punctuation.

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