ACT PREP SYLLABUS

The purpose of this one semester class is to help prepare college-bound students to score adequately on their ACT test and/or to raise their ACT score to a higher level. With renewed emphasis at the local, state, and national levels to improve test scores, ACT Prep is a course that was created to improve those scores.

From now on, whenever you see the word “standardized,” think “predictable” instead. The ACT test measures what it says it does: academic achievement. It doesn’t pretend to measure your analytical ability nor your intelligence. The ACT tests the same information the same way, year after year. For example, there are always 14 plane geometry questions on the ACT. There are exactly 10 questions on punctuation. You can count on it. Even the way they ask the questions is predictable, based on the need for a standardized product.

The ACT is divided into four sections which are always given in the same order.

  1. ENGLISH (45 MINUTES — 75 QUESTIONS)
  2. MATH (60 MINUTES – 60 QUESTIONS)
  3. READING (35 MINUTES – 40 MINUTES)
  4. SCIENCE REASONING (35 MINUTES – 40 QUESTIONS)

You will receive intensive instruction in English, Math, Reading, and Science. You will learn the RIGHT way to prepare for the ACT. We will not merely “take practice tests.” If you follow my instructions, there is no question your ACT score will increase. How much? It depends on how analytical can you be towards your own work. Not how many tests you take or how many problems you do, but the quality of the analysis AFTER you take the test. The types of problems are always the same, how you eliminate your errors is crucial to success. Once, that clicks, the sky is the limit for your score. IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO PREP HARD FOR THE NEXT 18 WEEKS, THEN YOU ARE IN THE WRONG CLASS. WE DO NOT TAKE DAYS OFF, AND WE DO NOT HAVE FREE DAYS, SO DON’T ASK.

English Essential Learning Outcomes (ELO’s)

Test-Taking Strategies

1. Students will be able to use specific strategies associated with common patterns and distracters found on the ACT English and reading sections.

2. Students will be able to use helpful hints prior to and during the ACT exam to increase their success.

ACT English Prep

1. Students will be able to analyze the basic rhetorical elements of writing.

2. Topic Development in Terms of Purpose and Focus

3. Organization, Unity, and Coherence

4. Word Choice in Terms of Style, Tone, Clarity, and Economy

Conventions of Usage

1. Students will be able to demonstrate command of the conventions of Standard English grammar and usage when writing.

2. Sentence Structure and Formation

3. Students will be able to demonstrate command of the conventions of Standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.

4. Conventions of Punctuation

ACT Reading Prep

1. Students will be able to comprehend and analyze reading passages to select appropriate answers to ACT formatted multiple choice questions that address the following skills and concepts:

2. Main Ideas and Author’s Approach

3. Supporting Details

4. Sequential, Comparative, and Cause-Effect Relationships

5. Meanings of Words

6. Generalizations and Conclusions

Science Essential Learning Outcomes (ELO’s)

1. Students will be familiar with the format of the science-reasoning test, and understand the main focus of the test is the scientific process and not scientific content.

a. Recognize that much of the specific scientific detail given in a passage will not be relevant to answering the question.

2. Students will be able to identify the steps in the testing taking process.

a. Identify the three types of passages on the science-reasoning test.

b. Each student will be able to choose and understand an appropriate pacing strategy for themselves.

c. Each student will know how much time to spend looking at the diagrams and tables on data interpretation passages.

d. Know how to make helpful marks on the tables and or diagrams.

e. Know what information to highlight when they look at the tables or diagrams.

3. Students will apply their knowledge about data interpretation passages to the test.

a. Apply the general principles of how to approach data interpretation passages to the real ACT.

b. Estimate from a table or diagram using interpolation and extrapolation

c. Recognize what changes between experiments.

d. Determine “effects of” and “effects on” information in each experiment.

4. Students will apply the principles of how to approach research summary passages in real ACT tests.

a. Recognize that the larger the sample, the more accurate the measure.

b. Know how much time they will need to spend reading a conflicting viewpoint passage.

c. Know how to read for the heart of the conflict.

d. Recognize that neither viewpoint can be concluded as being correct just by the information provided in the passage.

e. Identify the “effects of” and the “effects on” variables in an experiment and how that relates to an ACT passage.

5. Students will know what to do to psychologically prepare for the ACT.

a. Know several relaxation techniques.

b. Know how to mentally “warm up” for the test.

Math Essential Learning Outcomes (ELO’s)

ACT Math Topics

1. Students will be able to quickly recognize and solve problems that are pre-algebraic in nature.Topics include (measures of central tendency, percent change, proportions, and distance).

2. Students will be able to use mathematic properties to simplify expressions.

Topics include (algebraic expressions, radical, exponential, functions, and trigonometric expressions).

3. Students will be able to solve equations. Topics include (one-variable, linear, systems, absolute value, quadratic, and exponential).

4. Students will be able to recognize and correctly match graphs of various equations

Topics include (linear, piecewise, absolute value, quadratic, cubic, conic, exponential, and logarithmic).

5.Students will be able to use properties of polygons, circles, and three dimensional objects to solve problems. Topics include (perimeter, area, surface area, volume, angle measure, and segment length).

6.Students will be able to solve for angle measure using geometric or trigonometric properties. Topics include (lines cut by a transversal, and angles of triangles, angles of rotation, and radians)

Materials Needed: (please write your name on each item before turning it in)

  • A notebook or binder for taking notes
  • Register for the October 7th test and December 2nd ACT (We will vote on a venue in class).
  • Three ring binder to keep track of your personal portfolio(You will be keeping all the tests to study from, so make sure you have a sturdy binder).
  • Calculator
  • One red pen
  • One pack of pencils.
  • One pack of computer paper
  • *Email Mr. Lampo so he can add you to his mailing list.

Students: you will be required to check your email account daily. “I didn’t check my email.” is not an excuse.

Grades

Since the grading scale has been changed by JPPSS this year, it is important that you read the JPPSS grading policies, weights, and categories. I have posted the attachments on my wiki for clarification.

  • Tests (ACT format) 50% (see conversion chart)
  • Classroom Assessment (Quizzes, etc) 30%
  • Homework/Online Work/Participation/Activotes 20%
  • Exam (ACT format) 25% of FINAL GRADE.

Classroom Rules

  • Along with the rules stated in the Haynes Academy Discipline Handbook, I only have one rule in class:

I have the right to teach. You have the right to learn. No one has the right to interfere with your learning or my teaching.