ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
COURSE TITLE: SAT PREP – VERBAL REASONING
REVISED BY DENNIS R. HARDIES
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
AUGUST, 2005
DURATION: SEMESTER COURSE
COURSE IS FOR ENGLISH ELECTIVE (2.5 CREDITS)
PHILOSOPHY
Students enrolled in the SAT Prep – Verbal Reasoning course should be considering enrolling in a four year college or university. The course will provide students with the strategies and problem solving techniques applicable to the SAT, SAT II, and ACT entrance examinations.
GOALS
Ø To teach strategies to become test-wise in terms of standardized testing formats
Ø To foster a familiarity with the SAT in order to provide students with a level of comfort with the format and timing of the test
Ø To build vocabulary to assist in performance on sentence completion and reading in context
Ø To increase reading comprehension
Ø To familiarize students with college level writing prompts
Ø To improve persuasive writing techniques under testing time constraints
Ø To write on a variety of topics in organized language for different audiences and purposes
Ø To develop revision and editing skills
COURSE PROFICIENCIES - THE ROLE OF THE STUDENT
Participation in SAT Prep – Verbal Reasoning will require each student:
Ø To study the meanings, roots, and alternate forms of words for improved vocabulary
Ø To analyze the test strategy for answering sentence completion questions
Ø To analyze the test strategy for answering short reading comprehension passages
Ø To analyze the test strategy for answering long reading comprehension passages
Ø To be responsible for completing practice exercises on a nightly basis as assigned
Ø To read carefully and think critically about assigned text
Ø To write on a variety of topics related to the reading selections
Ø To write sample essays in response to assigned writing prompts
Ø To assess sample and peer essays in order to develop an understanding of the scoring rubric for the essay section
Ø To continually revise and edit all written work
Ø To complete several practice SATs and ACTs
Ø To ask questions regarding course content and material selection
Ø To work independently and collaboratively
Ø To listen attentively to the teacher and classmates and take notes as appropriate
Ø To follow the “Standards in English” guide for all written assignments
Ø To meet all attendance, grading, and discipline requirements as listed in the “Burlington City High School Student Handbook”
NJCCCS
New Jersey Core Content Curriculum Standards addressed through the SAT Prep – Verbal Reasoning course include:
Ø Standard 3.1 All students will speak for a variety of real purposes and audiences.
Ø Standard 3.2 All students will listen actively in a variety of situations to information from a variety of sources.
Ø Standard 3.3 All students will write in clear, concise, and organized language that varies in content and form for different audiences and purposes.
Ø Standard 3.4 All students will read a variety of materials and texts with comprehension and critical analysis.
Ø Standard 3.5 All students will view, understand, and use non-textual visual information.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Ø To familiarize students will Latin and Greek roots, prefixes, and suffixes
Ø To familiarize students with the various types of context clues
Ø To develop student understanding on making generalizations
Ø To develop student understanding on finding the main idea and supporting details
Ø To develop student understanding on drawing inferences and conclusions
Ø To apply critical thinking skills to all activities
Ø To evaluate an author’s tone, attitude, purpose, and style
Ø To develop student understanding and use of figurative language
Ø To develop reading and critical thinking skills
Ø To write in clear, concise, and organized language that varies in content and form according to differing audiences and purposes
Ø To reinforce writing, note taking, and organizational skills
ACTIVITIES:
Ø List and define Latin and Greek roots, prefixes and suffixes
Ø Lecture and discuss the structure of the critical reading and writing components of the SAT
Ø Keep a notebook of lecture and reading notes
Ø Review the different types of context clues and complete practice SAT sentence completion exercises
Ø Review short reading comprehension passages and complete practice SAT questions
Ø Review longer reading comprehension passages and complete practice SAT questions
Ø Grade and analyze the results of practice SAT reading sections
Ø Discuss the process for making generalizations about a text
Ø Discuss the process for finding the main idea of a paragraph and a long reading passage
Ø Discuss the process for drawing inferences from a text
Ø Discuss the process for finding supporting details in a paragraph and a long reading passage
Ø Develop an understanding of an author’s use of tone, attitude, purpose, and style
Ø Identify an author’s use of tone, attitude, purpose, and style within selected reading passages
Ø Read short stories for comprehension and critical analysis
Ø List and define various types of figurative language
Ø Review practice SAT questions on editing sentences for clarity and comprehension
Ø Review practice SAT questions on revising short paragraphs for clarity and comprehension
Ø Review SAT scoring rubric for required elements on the timed essay
Ø Review and practice scoring sample essays using the SAT scoring rubric
Ø Develop complete essays based on SAT sample prompts
Ø Revise and edit student essays
Ø Read a novel and write an essay in response to a critical thinking prompt
Ø Revise content, organization, and other aspects of writing using self, peer, and teacher collaborative feedback
Ø Edit writing for appropriate syntax, spelling, grammar, usage, and punctuation
Ø Establish and use criteria for self and group evaluation of both written and oral products
Ø Take, grade, and analyze one complete SAT practice test
Ø Use computer based SAT practice programs to enhance learning
ASSESSMENT:
Ø Assessment will measure proficiency in all types of learners. As appropriate, students will be assessed using the following performance tools:
v Class Participation
v Essays – both in and out of class
v Revisions and rewritings of essays
v Homework
v Quizzes and tests
v SAT software assessment
v Notebook evaluation
v 20 minute timed SAT style essays
v Practice SAT test
Ø Critical Thinking Skills—tasks to be assessed which include and emphasize higher level thinking:
v Oral and written interpretations based on critical reading
v Open-ended questions
v Discerning patterns in writing
v Grasping reoccurring concepts in writing
v Inferring relationships
v Interpreting literary criticism of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and drama
v Cooperative Learning
v Team building skills
v Evaluation of writings and authors
v Comparing/contrasting
v Rating the validity of multiple choice answers
MATERIALS:
Ø Primary Text:
v The
Official SAT Study Guide: For the New
Ø Supplementary Texts:
v 10 SATs for Practice – The College Board
v The College Board Achievement Tests – The College Board
v To Kill A Mockingbird – Harper Lee
Ø Films:
v To
Kill A Mockingbird
v SAT Prep Video – Verbal Edition
Ø Software:
v SAT Computer Software
v Critical