SAT Writing : Improving Paragraphs
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Writing
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Example Questions
Example Question #91 : Correcting Grammatical Errors In A Sentence Fragment
1 Have you ever heard of the Arts and Crafts movement? 2 The Arts and Crafts movement was an artistic revival of traditional craftsmanship that occurred in the late 1800s and early 1900s in the British Isles, Europe, and North America. 3 Scholars contempt that the movement was predicted on the assumption that medieval and folk art was superior to contemporary arts and decorations. 4 As such the movement deemed to correct the debasement of the decorative arts and promote beauty and fine craftsmanship.5 It was also a reaction to the increased industrialization of the Victorian age. 6 Some key figures in the movement’s inception were writer, John Ruskin, artist, William Morris, and, architect and designer, A. W. N. Pugin. 7 The movement extended to visual art, interior decorating, architecture, landscaping, and textile design, a widespread influence until it was eventually upstaged by Modernism.
How should the underlined portion of Sentence 2 be rewritten?
that occurred, in the late 1800s and early 1900s, in the British Isles, Europe, and North America.
occurring, in the late 1800s and early 1900s, in the British Isles, Europe, and North America.
that occurred in the late 1800s and early 1900s (in the British Isles, Europe, and North America).
occurring: in the late 1800s and early 1900s in the British Isles, Europe, and North America.
that occurred in the late 1800s and early 1900s in the British Isles, Europe, and North America. (no change)
that occurred in the late 1800s and early 1900s in the British Isles, Europe, and North America. (no change)
While long, Sentence 2 contains no grammatical errors and requires no additional punctuation.
Example Question #232 : Improving And Correcting Sentences
1 Have you ever heard of the Arts and Crafts movement? 2 The Arts and Crafts movement was an artistic revival of traditional craftsmanship that occurred in the late 1800s and early 1900s in the British Isles, Europe, and North America. 3 Scholars contempt that the movement was predicted on the assumption that medieval and folk art was superior to contemporary arts and decorations. 4 As such the movement deemed to correct the debasement of the decorative arts and promote beauty and fine craftsmanship.5 It was also a reaction to the increased industrialization of the Victorian age. 6 Some key figures in the movement’s inception were writer, John Ruskin, artist, William Morris, and, architect and designer, A. W. N. Pugin. 7 The movement extended to visual art, interior decorating, architecture, landscaping, and textile design, a widespread influence until it was eventually upstaged by Modernism.
How should the underlined portion of Sentence 6 be rewritten?
were writer, John Ruskin; artist, William Morris; and architect, and designer, A. W. N. Pugin.
were writer (John Ruskin), artist (William Morris), and architect and designer (A. W. N. Pugin).
were writer John Ruskin, artist William Morris, and architect and designer A. W. N. Pugin.
were writer, John Ruskin, artist, William Morris, and, architect and designer, A. W. N. Pugin. (no change)
were – writer John Ruskin – artist William Morris – and architect and designer A. W. N. Pugin.
were writer John Ruskin, artist William Morris, and architect and designer A. W. N. Pugin.
In the current version of Sentence 6, it is unclear whether there are six people being discussed or only three. In the cases of very brief and clear modifiers such as “writer” and “artist,” no comma is needed between the modifier and the modified. The simplest punctuation for this phrase is a single comma after each man’s name.
Example Question #542 : Improving Paragraphs
1 Have you ever heard of the Arts and Crafts movement? 2 The Arts and Crafts movement was an artistic revival of traditional craftsmanship that occurred in the late 1800s and early 1900s in the British Isles, Europe, and North America. 3 Scholars contempt that the movement was predicted on the assumption that medieval and folk art was superior to contemporary arts and decorations. 4 As such the movement deemed to correct the debasement of the decorative arts and promote beauty and fine craftsmanship.5 It was also a reaction to the increased industrialization of the Victorian age. 6 Some key figures in the movement’s inception were writer, John Ruskin, artist, William Morris, and, architect and designer, A. W. N. Pugin. 7 The movement extended to visual art, interior decorating, architecture, landscaping, and textile design, a widespread influence until it was eventually upstaged by Modernism.
How should the underlined portion of Sentence 7 be rewritten?
having a widespread influence until it was eventually upstaged by Modernism.
within a widespread influence it was eventually upstaged by Modernism.
a widespread influence, until it was eventually upstaged by Modernism.
a widespread influence until it was eventually upstaged by Modernism. (no change)
within a widespread influence, it was eventually upstaged by Modernism.
having a widespread influence until it was eventually upstaged by Modernism.
Without the addition of the gerund “having,” the sentence incorrectly suggests that the widespread influence was textile design, not the entire Arts and Crafts movement.
Example Question #94 : Correcting Grammatical Errors In A Sentence Fragment
1 Have you ever heard of the Arts and Crafts movement? 2 The Arts and Crafts movement was an artistic revival of traditional craftsmanship that occurred in the late 1800s and early 1900s in the British Isles, Europe, and North America. 3 Scholars contempt that the movement was predicted on the assumption that medieval and folk art was superior to contemporary arts and decorations. 4 As such the movement deemed to correct the debasement of the decorative arts and promote beauty and fine craftsmanship.5 It was also a reaction to the increased industrialization of the Victorian age. 6 Some key figures in the movement’s inception were writer, John Ruskin, artist, William Morris, and, architect and designer, A. W. N. Pugin. 7 The movement extended to visual art, interior decorating, architecture, landscaping, and textile design, a widespread influence until it was eventually upstaged by Modernism.
How should the underlined portion of Sentence 7 be rewritten?
The movement, extending to
The movement extended to (no change)
The movement, and its extension to
The movement was extending to
The movement with regards to its extension to
The movement extended to (no change)
This portion of the sentence is entirely correct and logical. It requires no rewriting.
Example Question #232 : Improving And Correcting Sentences
1 Seaweed; a type of algae that’s a promising resource for the future. 2 It can be used with a fuel, medicine, fuel source, and even fertilizer. 3 Often being both farmed or foraged. 4 In Indonesia, China, Korea, and the Philippines are among the world’s largest producers of seaweed, it is used for everything from sushi and bread to dessert. 5 Medically, speaking derivatives of seaweed can be optimized in bandages, dental molds, and microbiology cultures. 6 Girls especially will squeal when they hear that seaweed’s components are used to make many pretty makeup products. 7 It should come as no surprise, then, that countries around the world are investing significant capital in seaweed research.
How should the underlined portion of Sentence 3 be rewritten?
being both farmed, and foraged
being both farmed and foraged
being both farmed or foraged (no change)
being either farmed or foraged
being either farmed and foraged
being either farmed or foraged
Since farming and foraging represent two discrete and mutually exclusive possibilities for gathering seaweed, we need an “either __________ or __________” construction.
Example Question #544 : Improving Paragraphs
1 Seaweed; a type of algae that’s a promising resource for the future. 2 It can be used with a fuel, medicine, fuel source, and even fertilizer. 3 Often being both farmed or foraged. 4 In Indonesia, China, Korea, and the Philippines are among the world’s largest producers of seaweed, it is used for everything from sushi and bread to dessert. 5 Medically, speaking derivatives of seaweed can be optimized in bandages, dental molds, and microbiology cultures. 6 Girls especially will squeal when they hear that seaweed’s components are used to make many pretty makeup products. 7 It should come as no surprise, then, that countries around the world are investing significant capital in seaweed research.
How should the underlined portion of Sentence 4 be rewritten?
Indonesia, China, Korea, and the Philippines, among the world’s largest producers of seaweed
In Indonesia, China, Korea, and the Philippines are among the world’s largest producers of seaweed (no change)
Indonesia, China, Korea, and the Philippines are among the world’s largest producers of seaweed
In Indonesia – China, Korea, and the Philippines – are among the world’s largest producers of seaweed
In – Indonesia, China, Korea, and the Philippines – the world’s largest producers of seaweed
Indonesia, China, Korea, and the Philippines are among the world’s largest producers of seaweed
Here, the word “In” is creating a mixed construction. The simplest solution is to simply delete the “In.”
Example Question #541 : Improving Paragraphs
1 Seaweed; a type of algae that’s a promising resource for the future. 2 It can be used with a fuel, medicine, fuel source, and even fertilizer. 3 Often being both farmed or foraged. 4 In Indonesia, China, Korea, and the Philippines are among the world’s largest producers of seaweed, it is used for everything from sushi and bread to dessert. 5 Medically, speaking derivatives of seaweed can be optimized in bandages, dental molds, and microbiology cultures. 6 Girls especially will squeal when they hear that seaweed’s components are used to make many pretty makeup products. 7 It should come as no surprise, then, that countries around the world are investing significant capital in seaweed research.
How should the underlined portion of Sentence 4 be rewritten?
they are used for everything from sushi and bread to dessert.
it is used for everything, sushi, bread, dessert.
it is used for everything including sushi and bread to dessert.
it is used for everything; from sushi and bread to dessert.
it is used for everything from sushi and bread to dessert. (no change)
it is used for everything from sushi and bread to dessert. (no change)
Here, the grammatical construction is correct and needs no changes. The pronoun is singular because it is referring to the singular noun “seaweed,” and no additional punctuation is required.
Example Question #3091 : Sat Writing
1 Seaweed; a type of algae that’s a promising resource for the future. 2 It can be used with a fuel, medicine, fuel source, and even fertilizer. 3 Often being both farmed or foraged. 4 In Indonesia, China, Korea, and the Philippines are among the world’s largest producers of seaweed, it is used for everything from sushi and bread to dessert. 5 Medically, speaking derivatives of seaweed can be optimized in bandages, dental molds, and microbiology cultures. 6 Girls especially will squeal when they hear that seaweed’s components are used to make many pretty makeup products. 7 It should come as no surprise, then, that countries around the world are investing significant capital in seaweed research.
Which sentence contains an incorrectly placed comma?
Sentence 2
Sentence 4
Sentence 1
Sentence 3
Sentence 5
Sentence 5
In Sentence 5, the full introductory phrase (a phrase that needs to be separated with a comma) is “Medically speaking” and not “Medically.”
Example Question #547 : Improving Paragraphs
1 The job is similar to a music editor, who creates and merges songs, background music, and other sound effects to create a particular atmosphere. 2 While most Americans today are cognizant of film jobs such as director, producer, actor, and even screenwriter. 3 Few know much about the role of film editor. 4 This job involves mostly post-production work, with the editor choosing that parts of the raw footage to move, combine, or separate. 5 Without the film editor, there would only be a bewitching jumble of disordered chaotic images. 6 Sometimes more than ten times as much film is shot than is used in the final cut of the movie. 7 Film editors, also have the ability to impose experimental approaches, discontinuity, or emotional manipulation as he sees fit. 8 Film editing truly is a critical and undervalued art.
How should the underlined portion of Sentence 1 be rewritten?
The job’s is similar to that of a music editor
The job being similar to a music editor
The job is similar to a music editor (no change)
The job’s is similar to a music editor
The job is similar to that of a music editor
The job is similar to that of a music editor
We need to be careful to compare like objects here. The film editor’s job and the person (music editor) can’t be compared; the film editor’s job and the music editor’s job can.
Example Question #241 : Improving And Correcting Sentences
1 The job is similar to a music editor, who creates and merges songs, background music, and other sound effects to create a particular atmosphere. 2 While most Americans today are cognizant of film jobs such as director, producer, actor, and even screenwriter. 3 Few know much about the role of film editor. 4 This job involves mostly post-production work, with the editor choosing that parts of the raw footage to move, combine, or separate. 5 Without the film editor, there would only be a bewitching jumble of disordered chaotic images. 6 Sometimes more than ten times as much film is shot than is used in the final cut of the movie. 7 Film editors, also have the ability to impose experimental approaches, discontinuity, or emotional manipulation as he sees fit. 8 Film editing truly is a critical and undervalued art.
How should the underlined portion of Sentence 7 be rewritten?
imposing experimental approaches, discontinuity, or emotional manipulation as he sees fit.
to impose experimental approaches, discontinuity, or emotional manipulation as they see fit.
to impose experimental approaches, discontinuity, or emotional manipulation as he sees fit. (no change)
imposing experimental approaches, discontinuity, or emotional manipulation as they see fit.
to the imposition of experimental approaches, discontinuity, or emotional manipulation, as they see fit.
to impose experimental approaches, discontinuity, or emotional manipulation as they see fit.
Here, we have a pronoun/antecedent error. The subject of the passage is “film editors,” a plural noun, so the pronoun should also be plural (“they”) to match. (Moreover, choosing “he” instead of “he/she” is unnecessarily excluding the female gender.)
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