SAT PREP SYLLABUS 2012-13

INSTRUCTOR: Mrs. Robertson Room #208 Email- srobertson@middleboro.k12.ma.us Website- http://www.proofreadoutloud.com/

PURPOSE OF COURSE: This class is recommended for college-bound juniors and seniors planning to take the SAT. Almost all undergraduate colleges and universities require that prospective students take the SAT. Taking this course will prepare students for all question types found on the exam. We will analyze each of the test question areas and give special consideration to verbal refreshers and techniques aimed at relieving test-taking anxiety. Topics include sentence completions and reading comprehension for the reading section, and grammar and essay writing for the writing section. FORMAT OF CLASS: The course will be broken down into nine units covering all concepts on the SAT. Each unit will take approximately two weeks to cover in class. GRADES: In general, I use a point system. They are calculated as follows: a weekly grammar and vocabulary packet (worth 50 points), computer lab assignments (worth 10 points), group assignments (worth 25 points), essays and projects (worth 75 points), quizzes (worth 50 points), and tests (worth 100 points). The final exam will be 20% of a students final nine weeks grade. COURSE OUTLINE: Unit One:

Go over course rules/syllabus/honor policy/parent letter Measure reading rate Take SAT Practice #1 in The Real ACT Guide- p. 152-154 (#1-15); p. 180-182 (#1-10) in The Official SAT Study Guide- p. 88 (#1-10) Punctuation Focus: Commas, Apostrophes (p. 263-266, p. 277-278) Vocabulary Focus: Roots, Prefixes, Suffixes (p. 293-296) Computer Lab Focus: www.collegeboard.com Junior Action Plan or Senior Action Plan -Read excerpts from The Overachievers: The Secret Lives of Driven Kids by Alexandra Robbins, complete questions, activity, discuss -Critical Skills Quiz #1

Unit Two:

Take SAT Practice #2 in The Real ACT Guide- p. 182-185 (#11-30) Punctuation Focus: Colons, Semicolons, Dashes, Periods, Question Marks,

Vocabulary Focus: Words from Mythology (1), Social Sciences, From Sunny Spain, Time on Our Hands, Short but Challenging Computer Lab Focus: www.actstudent.org Read additional excerpts from The Overachievers: The Secret Lives of Driven Kids by Alexandra Robbins, complete questions, activity, discuss Critical Skills Quiz #2

Unit Three:

Take SAT Practice #3 in The Official SAT Study Guide- p. 189, p. 390 Grammar Focus: Subject and verb agreement (p. 155-158; p. 163-164; p. 169-170) Vocabulary Focus: Words from Medical Science, Animal World, Numbers, Legal Language, Appearances and Attitudes (2) Computer Lab Focus: Vocabulary Building Read excerpt from Triple Your Reading Speed by Wade E. Cutler, complete questions, activity, discuss Formal Essay #1- Students will complete an essay question similar to one found on the SAT Critical Skills Quiz #3

Unit Four:

Take SAT Practice #4 in The Real ACT Guide- p. 154-156 (#16-30); p. 186-187 (#31-40) Grammar Focus: Verb forms; Pronoun forms and cases (p. 145-148; p. 183-186; p. 191) Vocabulary Focus: Words from Mystery and the Occult, Size and Shape (1), with Tales Attached, Of Loves and Fears and Hates, Science Computer Lab Focus: Test Anxiety Read Look! Up in the Sky! Its a Bird! Its a Plane! ItsSupermom! by Amanda Robb, answer questions, activity, discuss Critical Skills Quiz #4

Unit Five:

Take SAT Practice #5 in The Official SAT Study Guide- p. 401-406 Grammar Focus: Comparative and superlative modifiers, Idioms (p. 61-62; p. 195-198) Vocabulary Focus: Words from Appearances and Attitudes (3), Legal Language (2), Foreign Terms (1), French, Crossword Puzzles Computer Lab Focus: Choosing four colleges that are right for you Read excerpt from Friday Night Lights by H.G. Bissinger, do questions, activity, discuss Critical Skills Quiz #5

Unit Six:

Take SAT Practice #6

in The Real ACT Guide- p. 292-294 (#1-15); p. 320-322 (#1-10) Grammar Focus: Use of subordinate and dependent clauses (p. 101-108) Vocabulary Focus: Words from Mythology (2), Appearances and Attitudes (4), Foreign Terms (2), Appearances and Attiudes (5), Size and Shape (2) Computer Lab Focus: Downloading and completing four college applications Read excerpt from They Say, I Say: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing by Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein, do questions, activity, discuss Critical Skills Quiz #6

Unit Seven:

Take SAT Practice #7 in The Official SAT Study Guide- p. 413-414 (#1-11); p. 419-422 (#1-19) Writing Focus: Errors to avoid in sentence structure, such as run-ons, comma splices pronouns (p. 109, fragments, misplace modifiers, shifts in verb tense or voice, shifts in -114; p. 117-188) Vocabulary Focus: Words from Language, Speech, History and Government (1),Travel, Foods and Taste Computer Lab Focus: Scholarships (go to www.fafsa.ed.gov) Read excerpt from How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster, do questions, activity, discuss Formal Essay #2- Student will complete one essay question found on one college application Critical Skills Quiz #7

Unit Eight:

Take SAT Practice #8 in The Real ACT Guide- p. 297-299 (#31-45); p. 324-327 (#31-40) Writing Focus: Understanding writing strategies (p. 311-314) Vocabulary Focus: Words from Fun and Frolic, History and Government (2), Legal Language (3), Philosophy and Logic, Beliefs and Religion Computer Lab Focus: Now That Youre AcceptedFinancial Mistakes to Avoid as a College Student; Planning Your Future Beyond College Read exerpt from Everythings An Argument by Andrea A. Winsford and John J. Ruszkiewicz and from Suze Ormans The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous, and Broke; complete questions, activity, discuss Critical Skills Quiz #8

Unit Nine:

Take SAT Practice #9 in The Official SAT Study Guide- p. 465-470 Writing Focus: Understanding organization and style in writing (p. 316-317 exercise 2; p. 325-327) Vocabulary Focus: Words from Proper Names, Appearances and Attitudes, Words about Groups, Sounds Italian Read School by Kyoko Mori (found in The Language of Composition), complete questions, activity, discuss

Formal Essay #3- Student will complete essay on My Past, My Present, and My Future Critical Skills Quiz #9

Note: This course outline reflects the tentative schedule to be followed. The outline may change to suit the needs of the students. Of course, the outline might also change to include additional readings, essays, tests, quizzes, or homework. COURSE EXPECTATIONS: 1. You will be expected to be well prepared for and take and active role in class sessions. If you do not understand something please do not wait to ask. It is preferable that you speak up and are wrong than for you not to speak at all. You will need to have all reading and work done at the assigned time. 2. Late work is not accepted. 3. Make-up work is your responsibility. When you return from an EXCUSED absence look at the lesson plan book for the days you missed. Then speak to me about making up the work. If you do not, I will simply assume you want a 0 for the assignment we completed the day you were absent. I will not remind you if you need to make-up a test or quiz. You need to turn your make-up work into me in a reasonable amount of time. For example, if you were absent on Monday, ask for your make-up assignment on Tuesday, and turn it in on Wednesday. 4. If you know ahead of time that you will be absent on a day when an assignment is due (for example, a pre- arranged absence or field trip), it is your responsibility to turn in the assignment prior to the due date, or send the assignment to me with another student or a parent. Any work may be taken to the schools office and put in my mailbox. If you miss class the day an assignment is due but are in school at any time during that day (for example, missing part of the day due to a half-day field trip), you are responsible for bringing the assignment to me or getting it to me. Failure to do so will result in a grade of 0. RULES: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Follow directions the first time they are given. Be prepared: in seat, on time, with materials. Show respect for the rights, property, and feelings of others. Stay on task. Speak only at appropriate times.

GRADING SCALE Please refer to the Middleborough High School Student Handbook

ASSISTANCE If at any time you need help, please feel free to make an appointment to speak with me.