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The ASC with funding provided
by Title Five, in collaboration with the English department The ASC with funding provided
by Title Five, in collaboration with the English department
presents Accuplacer Orientation video part 2.
Although Video One was helpful in familiarizing students with the components
of the test,
practicing questions and reviewing material can really make a difference
in one's score.
You are now familiar with what the test format is
and what the directions will ask you to do. So let's take some time to review
what reading and writing skills you will need to know
in order to do well on the test. Grammar
specifically plays a large part on the sentence skills
section. This video will highlight the grammar rules you should know before you
take the test.
Before we get started on tackling grammar, we need to understand a few
concepts first.
A complete thought can stand alone as a complete sentence.
A complete sentence always has a subject, the noun, A complete thought can stand alone as a complete sentence.
A complete sentence always has a subject, the noun,
and a verb, which is the action in the sentence.
The artist worked diligently on his painting
The subject is the artist and the verb is worked.
Because it has a subject and a verb and because it expresses a complete thought,
this is a complete sentence. An incomplete thought cannot stand on its own
These statements usually lack either a subject or a verb
and fail to express a complete thought. This incomplete sentence
worked diligently on his painting is missing the subject,
the person who was performing the action and is therefore
an incomplete thought. Let's look at how complete sentences are constructed.
Sometimes all a sentence needs to express a complete thought is
a subject and a verb. Any additional information provides
extra details but is not necessary to complete a sentence.
Mary is the subject and run is the verb.
Mary runs is a complete thought. To the store
is just an extra detail that specifies where Mary ran.
Please note that the following sentences are complete
because they have a subject and a verb that express a complete thought.
The extra details provide information but are not essential to the sentence.
Now let's look at these examples:
the police officer with the bad teeth did not write the graffiti artist a ticket.
Is there a subject and a verb in this sentence?
Can you identify them? The police officer is the noun Is there a subject and a verb in this sentence?
Can you identify them? The police officer is the noun
and did not write is the verb. Does this sentence express a complete thought?
Yes. Therefore it is a complete sentence.
All the other words are extra details. Let's try one more.
Many parents lose their children at Disneyland and Universal Studios.
There is a noun and a verb in this sentence,
and it expresses the complete thought so this is a complete sentence too.
Now that we have walked you through a few examples
pause the video and try these following exercises on your own.
Press play once you're done okay
let's see how you did. Take a look at the first exercise.
You should have identified called Bob on the phone
as an incomplete sentence because it is missing the subject of the sentence.
Here's one way that you could have fixed the incomplete thought, as long as you added
a subject before the verb called
your answer is correct. Exercise 2 a subject before the verb called
your answer is correct. Exercise 2
is already correct because it is complete. It has a subject Katherine
and a verb enjoyed and expresses a complete thought.
Now that you know the difference between a complete and incomplete sentence,
let's take a look at how grammar effects sentences. Fragments are incomplete
sentences.
Usually fragments are pieces of sentences that have become disconnected from the 0:04:06.349,0:04:07.329 complete thought.
Let's take a look at the various types of fragments
and how to identify them on the test. I went to the store.
for some milk. Can this sentence stand alone as a complete sentence?
It has a subject and a verb that states a complete thought
so yes. Can the next sentence stand-alone? It has a subject and a verb that states a complete thought
so yes. Can the next sentence stand-alone?
No because there is no subject or verb in this sentence
just extra details and that is why it is a fragment.
It is an incomplete thought. Let's look at this sentence:
ran to the store immediately after she realized she had left her groceries there.
Is this a complete sentence? No
Why? because the sentence is missing the subject
the person doing the action. When we add a subject
in this case Tina, the sentence becomes complete.
Tina ran to the store. All the rest of the words are extra details.
Here's another example. Now pause the video,
and try this one on your own. Press play when you're done
so you can check your answer...
the party that occurred tonight now does this have a subject? so you can check your answer...
the party that occurred tonight now does this have a subject?
Yes party is the subject and occurred is the verb.
Now ask yourself does this express a complete thought?
No it doesn't. The word that implies that there's more to the sentence. Now ask yourself does this express a complete thought?
No it doesn't. The word that implies that there's more to the sentence.
the party that occurred tonight what? Here's some ways to complete the
sentence:
The party that occurred tonight was amazing.
The party that occurred tonight was shut down at eleven o'clock. The party that occurred tonight was amazing.
The party that occurred tonight was shut down at eleven o'clock.
These words complete the thoughts. let's look at another example:
Although the Greeks had strong ties to the mythological tradition These words complete the thoughts. let's look at another example:
Although the Greeks had strong ties to the mythological tradition
and believe that their fate was chosen by the gods. History has proven that many
Greeks were atheist.
Now identify which of the sentences Greeks were atheist.
Now identify which of the sentences
is an incomplete thought. Even though the first sentence has a subject and a
verb
and provides a lot of information it is not complete.
The first sentence depends on the second in order for it to make sense.
The word although implies that there are some information
that should follow within the same sentence. Note that the second sentence
itself that should follow within the same sentence. Note that the second sentence
itself
would not be a fragment if it stood alone. In order to make the first sentence
complete
we have to attach it to the second one. Try this example on your own.
Read the following passage. Identify which of the following sentences is a
fragment. Read the following passage. Identify which of the following sentences is a
fragment.
Change the fragment to a complete sentence. Pause the video
and press play once you have completed the exercise... Let's identify the
fragment first.
If you selected Hawthorne the author of Young Goodman Brown
then you're correct. By adding a verb you could have fixed the fragments.
Hawthorne is the author Young Goodman Brown. Other grammar questions that may come
up on the test are run-ons.
A run on is one long sentence that is actually two or more complete thoughts.
A run on can also be a sentence that lacks proper punctuation
and or words that connect complete thoughts.
For example our cars is out of gas we cannot reach town before dark.
In this run on sentence we can see that they're two distinct
independent thoughts. Our cars is out of gas is a sentence on its own.
It has a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought.
And the same can be said about the second part of the run-on sentence.
Some sort of punctuation or conjunction must be
added in order to separate or join the complete thoughts.
Here are some examples Here's another example
his car was not working he called for a taxi to come and pick him up.
Let's identify the two complete thoughts in this run on sentence.
Each of these sentences
had the subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought.
How might we fix this run on? We could add a conjunction
separate them with a period or add a semi-colon.
A run on can also be two or more complete thoughts that are joined by a
comma.
Strenuous efforts have been made by government officials to ameliorate
labor conditions of the working class in Ghana officials have promised to pass
a law on the matter by the end of the month.
A comma cannot take the place of a semi colon or period.
When you replace the comma with the period or a semicolon
the ajoined sentences become properly separated.
Here's another example separating a run on with a semicolon:
I edited my paper because it exceeded the maximum requirement my professor
wouldn't accept
anything over the page limit. Where does the sentence end?
Because these sentences are connected in terms of content
a semi-colon would work best to substitute the period.
You add a semicolon where the first complete thought ends.
Pause the video and try this exercise on your own.
Press play when you're done The semicolon should go after the word
baker because it separates 2 complete sentences.
Notice that each side of the semi colon has a subject and a verb
and expresses a complete thought Notice that each side of the semi colon has a subject and a verb
and expresses a complete thought
On the test you will be expected to know how to use commas.
A comma can be used in several ways. Here are a few.
A comma is used to separate items in a list.
I ate strawberries, oranges and kiwis.
A comma is used after an introductory thought when a complete sentence follows I ate strawberries, oranges and kiwis.
A comma is used after an introductory thought when a complete sentence follows
it.
After completing his annotations on Shakespeare's Sonnet 94
Menjit wrote a lengthy essay on the abuse of power.
A comma is used before a conjunction to connect 2 complete sentences.
A quick way to remember the conjunctions is to use the acronym fanboys.
There are seven conjunctions that require a comma before them A quick way to remember the conjunctions is to use the acronym fanboys.
There are seven conjunctions that require a comma before them
to connect complete sentences.
I wanted to attend the concert, but the tickets were sold out.
Because both sentences are complete there must be a comma before the
conjunction.
Raul missed his appointment, and Tanya came in late.
Because there are two complete sentences in this case as well Raul missed his appointment, and Tanya came in late.
Because there are two complete sentences in this case as well
before the "and" we need a comma.
A comma is used to set off a non-essential thought that can be removed
from a sentence without changing its essential meaning. A comma is used to set off a non-essential thought that can be removed
from a sentence without changing its essential meaning.
Edith Wharton, who was a Pulitzer prize-winning American author,
died of a stroke at the age of 75.
You put commas around incomplete thoughts that do not change the meaning
of the sentence
In this case the incomplete thought within the comment is
extra information because Edith Wharton is already a specific now
if we were to remove the non-essential thought the main meaning of the sentence
would stay the same.
Here's another example. Barack Obama the 44th President of the United States ran
for reelection in 2012.
Is the phrase "44th President of the United States"
necessary for us to understand who Obama is?
No. He's the president. It's already a specific now; necessary for us to understand who Obama is?
No. He's the president. It's already a specific now;
therefore we need to add commas because it's extra information.
commas are not use before thoughts that are always necessary
and help identify a noun. The boy who lost his dog
cried to the police officer. In this sentence the descriptive
thought is essential in order for us to know which specific boy
we're talking about; therefore it does not need to be separated by commas.
Pause the video and try these exercises on your own.
Press play after you have completed both exercises. Pause the video and try these exercises on your own.
Press play after you have completed both exercises.
In the first
exercise the comma should go after the word appointment
because the thought that follows is a complete thought. In the second exercise exercise the comma should go after the word appointment
because the thought that follows is a complete thought. In the second exercise
we have a non-essential thought because Tina is specific enough
the words "the designer" must have a comma before and after
The words "the designer" provide extra details that are not necessary for us to
identify the noun Tina.
Knowing which verbs go with which subjects is an essential part of English
grammar
and will definitely be necessary when answering the sentence construction
portion of the test.
When the subject of a sentence is composed of two or more nouns or portion of the test.
When the subject of a sentence is composed of two or more nouns or
pronouns
connected by an and use
a plural verb. Rose and Tanya are taking the same course.
even though the nouns are singular the verb is
plural because the sentence is composed of two or more nouns
and connected by an "and". Secondly
When a compound subject contains both a singular
and a plural noun or pronoun joined by an
"or" or "nor" the verb should agree with the
subject nearest the verb. She or her friends drive to
school every day. She is singular while friends is plural
but because friends is closer to the verb then the verb must also be plural.
If the sentence were the other way around the verb would change.
Her friends or she drives to school every day.
She is the closest to the verb and is singular Her friends or she drives to school every day.
She is the closest to the verb and is singular
then the verb must agree with the subject and also be singular.
Another rule for subject-verb agreement
is that the verb should agree with the subject, not with the noun or pronoun Another rule for subject-verb agreement
is that the verb should agree with the subject, not with the noun or pronoun
that may come between the subject and the verb.
One of my friends is a teacher.
The main subject in this sentence is one
which is singular. Do not be confused by the plural noun
friends that comes between the main noun and the verb.
Because one is singular the verb must also be singular.
The words each, each one,
either, neither, everyone, everybody,
anybody, anyone, nobody, somebody,
someone, and no one are singular and require singular verb.
Disregard any other plural nouns that may follow.
Nobody in any of her classes
is passing. Nobody is singular
therefore the verb is is also singular.
If you stumble across a term during the test that you're unfamiliar with
don't panic. Use context clues.
Context clues are other words in a sentence or paragraph
that give you a clue about what that definition of an unknown word or phrase
may be. that give you a clue about what that definition of an unknown word or phrase
may be.
This will be especially helpful in the reading comprehension portion.
Let's look at this example. He cannot deny that the decisions he made today
would affect his future.
After all, actions have consequences;
they are not nugatory. You may have no idea what the word nugatory means, but
from the clues you can guess that it means irrelevant they are not nugatory. You may have no idea what the word nugatory means, but
from the clues you can guess that it means irrelevant
or insignificant. This is the end of the grammar review portion
it will be especially helpful when you attempt the sentence skills portion of
the test. it will be especially helpful when you attempt the sentence skills portion of
the test.
For more review check out the grammar resources on the ASC website
or come in to the ASC. Now we will focus on sample test questions and use our grammar
knowledge to help us answer these questions.
As we mentioned earlier there are two sections on the test
reading comprehension and sentence skills. There are two types of questions
for each section of the test.
here's what the directions will look like for each.
Reading comprehension question type 1 is as follows: here's what the directions will look like for each.
Reading comprehension question type 1 is as follows:
Read the statement or passage and then choose the best answer to the question.
Answer the question based on what is stated or implied in the statement or
passage.
This is your basic reading comprehension question. Look for clues in the passage
to help you distinguish the correct answer.
Reading comprehension question type 2:
For the questions that follow, two underlined sentences
are followed by a question or statement. Read the sentence and then choose the
best are followed by a question or statement. Read the sentence and then choose the
best
answer to the question or the best completion the statement.
With these questions you have to be sure that you 1:
read the passage or sentence carefully, and 2: With these questions you have to be sure that you 1:
read the passage or sentence carefully, and 2:
critically evaluate the answer choices to assure that they support their reading.
Sentence skills question type 1:
sentence correction. Select the best version of the underlined part of the
sentence. sentence correction. Select the best version of the underlined part of the
sentence.
The first choice is the same as original sentence. With these questions
you'll have to utilize the grammar rules we learned earlier.
Keep in mind that the part of the sentence that is not underline you'll have to utilize the grammar rules we learned earlier.
Keep in mind that the part of the sentence that is not underline
must stay the same. Sentence skills question Type two
is construction shift: rewrite the sentence in your head
following the directions given below. Your new sentence should be well written is construction shift: rewrite the sentence in your head
following the directions given below. Your new sentence should be well written
and should have essentially the same meaning as original sentence.
These questions can be tricky. Each construction shift question may have many
different directions.
With these questions you're not looking for the answer per se
you are looking for another way to rephrase the given statement. Now let's
take a look at some practice questions from each section.
Reading comprehension question 1.
Read the statement or passage and then choose the best answer to the question.
Answer the question based on what is stated or implied in the statement or
passage.
All water molecules form six-sided structures as they freeze and become snow
crystals.
The shape of the crystal is determined by the temperature,
vapor, and wind conditions in the upper atmosphere.
Snow crystals are always symmetrical because these conditions affect vapor, and wind conditions in the upper atmosphere.
Snow crystals are always symmetrical because these conditions affect
all six sides simultaneously. The purpose of this passage is to present
A: a personal observation
B: to present a solution to the problem
C: to present actual information
or D: to present opposing scientific theories. Let's use the process of elimination to
determine the answer. or D: to present opposing scientific theories. Let's use the process of elimination to
determine the answer.
the passage does not provide any sort of opposing
theory because the passage does not mention other views
on snow crystals or how they may be formed, so let's eliminate
answer choice D. The passage also does not discuss any personal observations. on snow crystals or how they may be formed, so let's eliminate
answer choice D. The passage also does not discuss any personal observations.
If the passage said I have noticed that snow crystals freeze as 6 sided
structures,
only then would it have been a personal observation. There's no problem mentioned
in the passage
which means that there cannot be a solution, so it's easy to discern that
C: actual information is that correct answer. which means that there cannot be a solution, so it's easy to discern that
C: actual information is that correct answer.
Reading comprehension question 2.
For the questions that follow 2 underlined sentences
are followed by a question or statement. Read the sentences
and then choose the best answer to the question or the best completion of the
statement.
In this question we are expected to decide how the two sentences are related.
let's take a look at the statements. Knowledge of another language
fosters greater awareness of cultural diversity among the peoples of the world.
Individuals who have foreign language skills can appreciate more readily
other people's values and ways of life. How are the two sentences related?
Do they A: contradict each other, B: present problems and solutions,
C: establish a contrast, or D: repeat the same idea?
The first sentence is about how knowing other languages
can help one understand other cultures. The second statement
is rephrasing the exact same things, so the answer must be D. can help one understand other cultures. The second statement
is rephrasing the exact same things, so the answer must be D.
They repeat the same idea. To double check your answer
look at the other options. The two statements definitely don't contradict
or contrast each other
because they're talking about the exact same thing. The first statement doesn't
present a problem
so B couldn't possibly be the answer either.
Therefore D is the only one that could be correct.
Sentence correction question 1. Select the best version of the underlined part of
the sentence.
The first choice is the same as the original sentence.
Surprised by the amount of applause the composer bowed three more times. The first choice is the same as the original sentence.
Surprised by the amount of applause the composer bowed three more times.
Here are our answer choices.
A: surprised by the amount of applause
B: the surprising amount of applause
C: surprised by the amount of applause comma, and
D: The surprising amount of applause had caused. C: surprised by the amount of applause comma, and
D: The surprising amount of applause had caused.
Before starting, remember that the portion of the statement that is not
underlined Before starting, remember that the portion of the statement that is not
underlined
must stay the same no matter what option you choose.
Now go back to the question. During the grammar review portion of this video
we stated that commas should be used after introductory statements
if this sentence that follows is complete. In this question,
the composer bowed three times is a complete sentence
that can stand alone without the introductory statement.
Because of this there must be a comma after applause,
so the correct answer is C. If you had forgotten that rule
you could have used the process of elimination to narrow down your answers.
B and D could not have been correct because they change the meaning of the sentence.
Sentence correction question 2. Select the best version of the
underlined part of the sentence. The first choice is the same as the original Sentence correction question 2. Select the best version of the
underlined part of the sentence. The first choice is the same as the original
sentence.
Maria can read faster than me. Your answer choices are:
A: faster than me B: faster than I
C: faster than myself and D: faster
comma than I. Let's start by eliminating
all the answer choices that we are certain are wrong.
There's no need for there to be a comma before "than" in option D all the answer choices that we are certain are wrong.
There's no need for there to be a comma before "than" in option D
since it is not a conjunction; therefore that's not the answer.
You could only use the pronoun myself in option C
if the subject of the verb Maria were referring to herself as the object.
In this case, Maria and me are two distinctly separate nouns.
That leaves us with option A and B. Although option a sounds right because it is
often use in everyday conversation, That leaves us with option A and B. Although option a sounds right because it is
often use in everyday conversation,
the more correct choice is B because the sentence and should be
Maria can run faster than I can in which the "can"
is dropped; therefore B is the correct choice.
Now on to the construction shift portion of the test.
Let's look at question 1 together. Rewrite the sentence in your head Now on to the construction shift portion of the test.
Let's look at question 1 together. Rewrite the sentence in your head
following the directions given below. Your new sentence should be well written
and should have essentially the same meaning as the original sentence. following the directions given below. Your new sentence should be well written
and should have essentially the same meaning as the original sentence.
Latasha had wanted to go to the store, but her car had broken down.
Rewrite the sentence, beginning with Because Latasha's car had broken
down.
The next words in the sentence will be:
A: Because Latasha's car had broken down she could not go to the store.
B: Because Latasha's car had broken down
she did not want to the store.
C: Because Latasha's car had broken down after she could not go to the store.
and D: Because Latasha's car had broken down
she could not going to the store. As I stated
earlier it's important to pay attention to directions.
This one asked you what the next words
in that sentence will be, so be sure that the answer you choose completes the
underlined, newly constructed sentence. Did you read all the answer choices?
That would have helped you immediately recognized that "went" cannot follow the
helping verb "did". That would have helped you immediately recognized that "went" cannot follow the
helping verb "did".
That eliminates option B. Option D is also clearly wrong
because the progressive verb "going" can only be used after the word
am, is, are, and were. in option C because the progressive verb "going" can only be used after the word
am, is, are, and were. in option C
the word "after" is unnecessary and changes the meaning of the sentence;
therefore A: Because Latasha's car had broken down, she could not go to the
store
is the right answer. Construction shift question 2:
Rewrite the sentence in your head following the directions given below.
Your new sentence should be well written and should have essentially the same
meaning as the original sentence.
He was happy with his girlfriend and decided to marry her.
Rewrite the sentence, beginning with
happy. Your new sentence will include:
A: he had decided
B: he decided C: he was decided A: he had decided
B: he decided C: he was decided
and D: his decision. Let's pay attention to the directions here.
The question asks that you pick the phrase that will be included in that
sentence
not the phrase that will follow the word happy.
You want to make sure that you keep the verb tense the same
and do not change the meaning of the sentence So here are some ways you
might have constructed your sentences.
Notice that each sentence starts with the word happy.
let's take a look at construction A: happy with his girlfriend, he had decided to
marry her.
The words we need to focus on are "he had decided".
So let's take a look at this time line. The phrase,
he decided is simply the past.
Our answer choice he had decided
is even further in the past. The issue with this answer choice is Our answer choice he had decided
is even further in the past. The issue with this answer choice is
that he decided to marry her is already set in the past,
so the word had isn't necessary so let's scratch
answer choice A. Let's skip to choice C.
Happy with his girlfriend, he was decided to marry her.
choice C can be immediately omitted because was
is unnecessary. Decided is already in the past tense
so was is extra.
choice D happy with his decision to marry his girlfriend
can be eliminated because it is an incomplete sentence.
Where is the subject of the sentence? Who is the one doing the marrying?
Therefore option B is the correct answer
because it does not alter the meaning or the verb tense of
the original sentence. Pause the video and try this question on your own. because it does not alter the meaning or the verb tense of
the original sentence. Pause the video and try this question on your own.
Press play when you are done.
Now that you've arrived at your answer on your own
let's work through that together. The directions ask that you rewrite the
sentence in your head.
Your new said it should be well written and should have essentially the same sentence in your head.
Your new said it should be well written and should have essentially the same
meaning as the original sentence.
She was teaching a class at eight in the morning.
Rewrite the sentence beginning with the word her class.
Your new sentence will include
A: is taught, B: was taught, C: is being taught, Your new sentence will include
A: is taught, B: was taught, C: is being taught,
D: would have been taught. Now rewrite that sentence beginning with the words
her class.
Remember your sentence will include only one of the answer choices
they may not necessarily follow the word her class. If we look at the original
sentence
we'll notice that it is in the past tense. It is important to keep our new sentence
as close to the original as possible;
therefore our new sentence should be in the past tense too.
That narrows it down option B and D.
It cannot be option D because the class has
already been taught while the word "would" implies something that has not yet happened.
That leaves choice B: her class was taught at
eight in the morning. This concludes our practice portion.
We hope this video helped prepare you for the Accuplacer assessment.