Here are notes for *The Complete Guide to SAT Writing* by Erica Meltzer,
focusing on strategies and techniques:
### 1. **Grammar Rules**:
- **Subject-Verb Agreement**: Ensure that singular subjects have singular
verbs and plural subjects have plural verbs.
- **Pronoun Agreement**: Pronouns must agree with their antecedents in
number and gender.
- **Verb Tense Consistency**: Keep verb tenses consistent throughout
sentences unless a shift in time is necessary.
- **Modifier Placement**: Ensure that modifiers (such as adjectives and
adverbs) are placed next to the word they modify.
### 2. **Sentence Structure**:
- **Fragments vs. Complete Sentences**: Avoid sentence fragments by
ensuring every sentence has a subject and verb.
- **Run-ons**: Fix run-on sentences by using punctuation (periods,
semicolons, or commas with conjunctions).
- **Parallel Structure**: Items in a list or comparison should be in the same
grammatical form.
### 3. **Punctuation**:
- **Commas**: Use commas to separate independent clauses, list items, or
after introductory elements. Avoid unnecessary commas.
- **Semicolons**: Use semicolons to join related independent clauses or
separate items in a complex list.
- **Apostrophes**: Indicate possession or form contractions.
### 4. **Transition and Conjunction Use**:
- **Transition Words**: Use transition words like “however,” “therefore,”
“similarly” to connect ideas logically.
- **Conjunctions**: Coordinating conjunctions (for, and, nor, but, or, yet,
so) join equal ideas; subordinating conjunctions introduce dependent
clauses.
### 5. **Clarity and Style**:
- **Conciseness**: Avoid redundant words or phrases. Keep sentences clear
and to the point.
- **Diction**: Choose the most precise word for the context.
### 6. **Sentence Combining and Cohesion**:
- Focus on combining sentences logically and efficiently while maintaining
clarity.
### 7. **Improving Sentences**:
- Questions in this section often test your ability to make sentences clearer,
more concise, or more effective.
### 8. **Practice and Application**:
- The book provides numerous practice exercises and explanations to
reinforce the rules and techniques.
By mastering these rules and techniques, you can excel in the SAT Writing
section.
