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This course will improve your writing skills and your ability to do well on the SAT I verbal exams.  Let's start by looking at the importance of writing and also explain what these exams are.

This course will improve your writing skills and your ability to do well on the SAT I verbal exams.  Let's start by looking at the importance of writing and also explain what these exams are.

Writing is important in nearly every job that you might do as an adult.  Almost everyone has to write summaries of their work or memos to other workers in their company.  Most college courses have writing assignments that must be completed.  In many areas of study, it is a requirement to write a "thesis" in order to graduate and earn a college degree.

Writing is important in nearly every job that you might do as an adult.  Almost everyone has to write summaries of their work or memos to other workers in their companies.  Most college courses have writing assignments that must be completed.  In many areas of study, it is a requirement to write a "thesis" in order to graduate and earn a college degree.

Writing is essential to Christianity.  Many Christians read the Bible daily, or several times a day.  Each week in church there are readings from the Bible that help enlighten everyone and strengthen our faith.  People wrote the books in the Bible to make this possible.   

Writing is essential to Christianity.  Many Christians read the Bible daily, or several times a day.  Each week in church there are readings from the Bible that help enlighten everyone and strengthen our faith.  People wrote the books in the Bible to make this possible.   

Preachers often write out their sermons, or outlines of it, in order to make them more effective.  Public speaking is often nothing more than saying words that have been written down, or could be written.

Preachers often write out their sermons, or outlines of it, in order to make them more effective.  Public speaking consists of saying words that have been written down, or could be written.

Writing often has a very calming and beneficial effect on the person doing the writing.  Reading a book is good, but one learns even more by writing a book.  The activity of writing sharpens the mind and helps improve understanding.  If you are upset about something, try writing about it.  You'll find it makes you feel better afterward.  One hundred and fifty years ago, Americans would spend much of their free time writing letters or diaries.  Writing is a form of mental exercise that has a very positive effect on the person doing the writing.

Writing often has a very calming and beneficial effect on the person doing the writing.  Reading a book is good, but one learns even more by writing a book.  The activity of writing sharpens the mind and helps improve understanding.  If you are upset about something, try writing about it.  You'll find it makes you feel better afterward.  One hundred and fifty years ago, Americans would spend much of their free time writing letters or diaries.  Writing is a form of mental exercise that has a positive effect on the person doing the writing.

Writing is free.  You do not need to buy anything new for it.  You can use the computer you already have, or pick up a pen and paper from around your home.  You don't have to listen to commercials or travel anywhere.  But because it is free, no one profits by encouraging you to write.  The result is that you will rarely hear someone to recommend that you write a book, a poem, a letter, or anything else.  '''You have to take the initiative on your own'''.  If you learn to write well, then people will pay you for your work.

Writing is free.  You do not need to buy anything new for it.  You can use the computer you already have, or pick up a pen and paper from around your home.  You don't have to listen to commercials or travel anywhere.  But because it is free, no one profits by encouraging you to write.  The result is that you will rarely hear someone recommend that you write a book, a poem, a letter, or anything else.  '''You have to take the initiative on your own'''.  If you learn to write well, then people will pay you for your work.

Writing can be done anywhere: at home or away, while standing in line, while waiting for an appointment, or out of boredom.  It can be done any time of day or night.  As you'll see in the example below, it can even be done well in darkness.  People who are paralyzed, or blind, or deaf, or mute, or without arms or legs, can all enjoy and benefit from writing as much as anyone else.

Writing can be done anywhere: at home or away, while standing in line, while waiting for an appointment, or out of boredom.  It can be done any time of day or night.  As you'll see in the example below, it can even be done well in darkness.  People who are paralyzed, or blind, or deaf, or mute, or without arms or legs, can all enjoy and benefit from writing.

Writing is the most creative activity possible.  It is the human activity that is closest to pure creation of something out of nothing, like the creation of the world.  Writing takes a set of infinite possibilities and crafts something meaningful and finite.  Writing -- and only writing -- converts the chaos of random thoughts into the perfect order of ideas, logic and expression.

Writing is the most creative activity possible.  It is the human activity that is closest to the pure creation of something out of nothing, like the creation of the world.  Writing takes a set of infinite possibilities and crafts something meaningful and finite.  Writing converts the chaos of random thoughts into the perfect order of ideas, logic and expression.

Writing has changed the world for the better.  "The pen is mightier than the sword" is a famous insight.  Thomas Paine's pamphlet entitled ''Common Sense'' helped win independence for the American colonies from Great Britain;  Harriet Beecher Stowe's book ''Uncle Tom's Cabin'' started the Civil War, and the ''Battle Hymn of the Republic'' helped with it for the Union.  Many of the most influential people in history were writers, including Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, the authors of the four ''Gospels''.

Writing has changed the world for the better.  "The pen is mightier than the sword" is a famous insight.  Thomas Paine's pamphlet entitled ''Common Sense'' helped win independence for the American colonies from Great Britain;  Harriet Beecher Stowe's book ''Uncle Tom's Cabin'' started the Civil War, and the ''Battle Hymn of the Republic'' helped inspire the Union to victory.  Many of the most influential people in history were writers, including Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, the authors of the four ''Gospels''.

Like the Bible, many of the greatest writings in history were inspired - and you might be inspired too.  But inspired writing cannot occur unless you give it a chance and put pen to paper, or start typing on your computer.  Here is how the author (Julia W. Howe) of the "Battle Hymn of the Republic" describes her inspiration for the lyrics ("Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord: He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored ...."):<ref>http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/b/h/bhymnotr.htm</ref>

Like the Bible, many of the greatest writings in history were inspired - and you might be too.  But such great writing cannot occur unless you give it a chance and put pen to paper, or start typing on your computer.  Here is how the author (Julia W. Howe) of the "Battle Hymn of the Republic" describes her inspiration for the lyrics ("Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord: He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored ...."):<ref>http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/b/h/bhymnotr.htm</ref>

:I awoke in the grey of the morn­ing, and as I lay wait­ing for dawn, the long lines of the de­sired po­em be­gan to en­twine them­selves in my mind, and I said to my­self, "I must get up and write these vers­es, lest I fall asleep and for­get them!" So I sprang out of bed and in the dim­ness found an old stump of a pen, which I re­mem­bered us­ing the day be­fore. I scrawled the vers­es al­most with­out look­ing at the p­aper.

:I awoke in the grey of the morn­ing, and as I lay wait­ing for dawn, the long lines of the de­sired po­em be­gan to en­twine them­selves in my mind, and I said to my­self, "I must get up and write these vers­es, lest I fall asleep and for­get them!" So I sprang out of bed and in the dim­ness found an old stump of a pen, which I re­mem­bered us­ing the day be­fore. I scrawled the vers­es al­most with­out look­ing at the p­aper.

*Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ: 1950 SAT ($21,400)

*Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ: 1950 SAT ($21,400)

*Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA: $3,750 yearly GPA of 3.5 or higher, 1270 SAT/29 ACT

*Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA: $3,750 yearly if 1270 SAT or 29 ACT<ref>The "ACT" is a national exam for high school students that is an alternative to the SAT.</ref>

*Oklahoma State University: Up to $12,500 per year 30+ ACT/1330+ SAT  

*Oklahoma State University: Up to $12,500 per year 30+ ACT/1330+ SAT  

*University of Connecticut: Half to full tuition 1100 SAT or ACT 24

*University of Connecticut: Half to full tuition 1100 SAT or ACT 24

*Kean University, NJ: Full in-state tuition and fees scholarships: minimum 3.90 GPA & a minimum 1400 SAT

*Kean University, NJ: Full in-state tuition and fees scholarships: 1400 SAT

*Messiah College, Pennsylvania: Full tuition: 1300 SAT or 29 ACT

*Messiah College, Pennsylvania: Full tuition: 1300 SAT or 29 ACT

*William Patterson University, NJ: $3000 to $7000: SAT 1050 or higher

*William Patterson University, NJ: $3000 to $7000: SAT 1050 or higher

*Gordon College, NY: $12,000 a year: 3.5 GPA SAT's of 2100 or ACT of 31

*Gordon College, NY: $12,000 a year: SATs of 2100 or ACT of 31

*Marymount of Manhattan, NY: $6,000 per year SAT 1150 or higher

*Marymount of Manhattan, NY: $6,000 per year SAT 1150 or higher

=== College Policy Towards Repeat Testing ===

=== College Policy Towards Repeat Testing ===

"Practice makes perfect."  That aphorism is so true in so many areas of life.  Practice your speeches before you say them and you will do better.  Take practice exams before the real one and you will excel.  Practice your sports activity or musical instrument and will improve your skills at them.

"Practice makes perfect."  This aphorism is so true in so many areas of life.  Practice your speeches before you say them and you will do better.  Take practice exams before the real one and you will excel.  Practice your sports activity or musical instrument and you will improve your skills at them.

The same is true for taking the SAT.  Practice before your first exam will help you do better on it.  Taking the SAT multiple times will likely give you higher overall scores.

The same is true for taking the SAT.  Practice before your first exam will help you do better on it.  Taking the SAT multiple times will likely give you higher overall scores.

But that raises a question:  how do colleges handle multiple SAT scores from the same student who took it two, three or four times?  Do colleges average the scores, or take the highest set of three scores, or take the highest individual score for each type of exam (critical reading, writing or math)?

But that raises a question:  how do colleges handle multiple SAT scores from the same student who took it two, three or four times?  Do colleges average the scores, or take the highest set of three scores, or take the highest individual score for each type of exam (critical reading, writing or math)?

Put yourself in the colleges' shoes.  Colleges want to brag that their student body has high SAT scores.  So they have an incentive to take the highest possible scores from all applicants, so that it improves their own image.  Accordingly, most colleges allow and even encourage multiple test-taking of the SAT in order to boost students' scores.

Put yourself in the colleges' shoes.  Colleges want to brag that their student body has high SAT scores.  So they have an incentive to take the highest possible score combinations, so that it improves their own image.  Accordingly, most colleges allow and even encourage multiple test-taking of the SAT in order to boost students' scores to the maximum extent possible.

The College Board, which offers the SAT, makes money every time a student takes its test, so it encourages multiple test-taking also.  The SAT allows students the option of “score choice,” which enables students to pick and choose which scores for which test they want sent to which college.  Most colleges participate in this program.<ref>http://professionals.collegeboard.com/testing/sat-reasoning/scores/policy</ref>

The College Board, which offers the SAT, makes money every time a student takes its test, so it encourages multiple test-taking also.  The SAT allows students the option of "score choice," which enables students to pick and choose which scores for which test they want sent to which college.  Most colleges participate in this program.<ref>http://professionals.collegeboard.com/testing/sat-reasoning/scores/policy</ref>

Here are some specific examples among homeschool-friendly colleges:

Here are some specific examples among homeschool-friendly colleges:

Let's try some examples of learning word meanings from context (SAT questions are a bit more complicated than this, and as we'll learn in future classes):

Let's try some examples of learning word meanings from context (SAT questions are a bit more complicated than this, and as we'll learn in future classes):

Example 1: "I abhor all the paperwork that government makes people fill out these days!"

Example 1: "I abhor all the paperwork that government makes people fill out these days!" What does the word "abhor" mean?

<br>(a) love

<br>(a) love

<br>(b) encourage

<br>(b) encourage

<br>(e) dislike intensely

<br>(e) dislike intensely

Even if you don't already know what the word "abhor" means, you should be able to figure it out from the context.  Only answer (e) fits the expression well.  As to answer choice (c), why would someone say that "I don't feel strongly one way or the other about all the paperwork that government makes people fill out these days," followed by an exclamation point?  Someone wouldn't.  Note also that answer choices (a), (b) and (d) are similar to each other, and they cannot all be correct.  Answer choice (e) stands alone as the most likely meaning.

Even if you don't already know what the word "abhor" means, you should be able to figure it out from the context.  Only answer (e) fits the expression well.  As to answer choice (c), why would someone say that "I don't feel strongly one way or the other about all the paperwork that government makes people fill out these days," followed by an exclamation point?  That would be unlikely.  Note also that answer choices (a), (b) and (d) are similar to each other, and they cannot all be correct.  Answer choice (e) stands alone as the most likely meaning.

Example 2:  In the beginning was the "λόγος" (logos), and the "λόγος" was with God, and the "λόγος" was God. (John 1:1).  What does the Greek word "λόγος" mean?

Example 2:  In the beginning was the "λόγος" (logos), and the "λόγος" was with God, and the "λόγος" was God. (John 1:1).  What does the Greek word "λόγος" mean?

<br>(e) word

<br>(e) word

In this example can figure out what a word in ancient Greek means.  Starting with answer choice (a), "evil was God" does not make sense near the end of the sentence.  So eliminate (a) as a possibility.  Similarly, strike choice (d) as a possibility because "chaos" was not God.  How about choice (c), "universe"?  It would not make sense for the "universe" to be in the very beginning along with God, and the "universe" was certainly NOT God.

In this example you can figure out what a word in ancient Greek means.  Starting with answer choice (a), the phrase near the end of the sentence would be "evil was God," and that does not make sense.  So eliminate (a) as a possibility.  Similarly, strike out choice (d) as a possibility because "chaos" was not God.  How about choice (c), "universe"?  It would not make sense for the "universe" to be in the very beginning along with God, and the "universe" was certainly NOT God.

The only possible meanings among the choices for "λόγος" (logos) are (b) and (e).  If you do not know at this point, then you have at least a 50/50 chance.  "Word" fits the expression "was God" better, and is the correct answer.

The only possible meanings among the choices for "λόγος" (logos) are (b) and (e).  If you do not know at this point, then you have at least a 50/50 chance.  "Word" fits the expression "was God" better, and is the correct answer.

*martinet (mar-tuh-NET): an overly strict person who demands rigid compliance with forms and methods, named after France's King Louis XIV's Lieutenant Colonel Jean Martinet

*martinet (mar-tuh-NET): an overly strict person who demands rigid compliance with forms and methods, named after France's King Louis XIV's Lieutenant Colonel Jean Martinet

Develop the habit of welcoming new words into your vocabulary, and using them.  Beware of the "dumbing down" by others of the vocabulary level of speech, whereby some people only use a few hundred words each week to communicate.  Some public school students have a total vocabulary of only a few thousand words.  Build yours to where you know and use tens of thousands of words.  You'll obtain better jobs, better friends and greater happiness by learning to enjoy all the powerful words that are out there for our benefit.

Develop the habit of welcoming new words into your vocabulary, and using them.  Beware of the "dumbing down" by others of the vocabulary level of speech, whereby some people only use a few hundred words over and over in order to communicate.  Some public school students have a total vocabulary of at most a few thousand words.  Build yours to where you know and use tens of thousands of words.  You'll obtain better jobs, better friends and greater happiness by learning to enjoy all the powerful words that are out there for our benefit.

Always know where a dictionary is, or how to look up the meaning of new words online.

Always know where a dictionary is, or how to look up the meaning of new words online.

The SAT format is as follows.  

The SAT format is as follows.  

=== Critical Reading ===

=== Critical Reading Section ===

The "critical reading" portion of the SAT is composed of 67 questions, with roughly 1 minute per question. 48 of the 67 questions are passage-based reading and the remaining 19 are sentence completion questions.  This portion of the exam is broken into two 25-minute sections and one 20-minute section, for a total of 70 minutes overall.

The "critical reading" portion of the SAT is composed of 67 questions, with roughly 1 minute per question. 48 of the 67 questions are passage-based reading questions and the remaining 19 are sentence completion questions.  This portion of the exam is broken into two 25-minute sections and one 20-minute section, for a total of 70 minutes overall.

   

   

The critical reading section is split into three general categories:  

The critical reading section is split into three general categories:  

*Extended reasoning with 42–50 questions

*Extended reasoning, with 42–50 questions

*Literal comprehension with 4–6 questions

*Literal comprehension, with 4–6 questions

*Vocabulary in context with 12–16 questions.

*Vocabulary in context, with 12–16 questions

The topics for the passage-based reading are from Natural sciences, Humanities, Social sciences, and Literary fiction. Passages range in length from 100 to 850 words approximately. According to the College Board that writes the exam students are asked to: Identify the meanings of words from their context, answer questions about information directly stated, including the main idea, and synthesize and analyze information such as identifying cause and effect, drawing inferences, understanding logic of analogies or argument, and evaluating the assumptions and techniques in the reading passage.

The topics for the passage-based reading are from Natural sciences, Humanities, Social sciences, and Literary fiction. Passages range in length from 100 to 850 words approximately. According to the College Board that writes the exam students are asked to: Identify the meanings of words from their context, answer questions about information directly stated, including the main idea, and synthesize and analyze information such as identifying cause and effect, drawing inferences, understanding logic of analogies or argument, and evaluating the assumptions and techniques in the reading passage.

The other part of the "critical reading" portion of the SAT consists of the sentence completion questions.  These ask the students to measure the meaning of words, and identify how the different parts of a sentence fit together. Each question has one or more fill in the blank type answer choice. The student is required to choose the word that best completes the sentence.  

The other part of the "critical reading" portion of the SAT consists of the sentence completion questions.  These ask the students to determine the meaning of words, and identify how the different parts of a sentence fit together. Each question has one or more fill-in-the-blank type answer choice. The student is required to choose the word that best completes the sentence.  

=== Writing Sections ===

=== Writing Section ===

The writing sections consist of 49 multiple-choice questions and one essay question. The student has 35 minutes (one 25-minute section and one 10-minute section) for the multiple-choice questions, and 25 minutes for the essay, for a total of 60 minutes.  

The writing section consists of 49 multiple-choice questions and one essay question. The student has 35 minutes (one 25-minute section and one 10-minute section) for the multiple-choice questions, and 25 minutes for the essay, for a total of 60 minutes.  

The multiple choice topics include: improving sentences (25 questions), identifying sentence errors (18 questions), and improving paragraphs (6 questions).  

The multiple choice topics include: improving sentences (25 questions), identifying grammar errors in a sentence (18 questions), and improving paragraphs (6 questions).  

The essay is the first question on the SAT and must be written out longhand with a number 2 pencil. Students are given a prompt with a quote that is no more than 80 words. They must respond to this prompt by developing a point-of-view and supporting their point-of-view.  

The essay is the first question asked on the SAT I and must be written out longhand with a number 2 pencil. Students are given a prompt with a quote that is no more than 80 words. They must respond to this prompt by developing a point-of-view and supporting their position.

=== Math Sections ===

=== Math Section ===

We will not be covering math in this course, but for information purposes the math portion of the SAT consists of 54 questions in 70 minutes. There are two multiple choice sections totaling 44 questions, and a student-produced response section where the student writes the answer rather than choosing from options (see below), which has 10 questions. The timing on the math exam is 25-minute sections and one 20-minute section.  

We will not be covering math in this course, but for information purposes the math portion of the SAT consists of 54 questions in 70 minutes. There are two multiple choice sections totaling 44 questions, and a student-produced response section where the student writes the answer rather than choosing from options (see below), which has 10 questions. The timing on the math exam is 25-minute sections and one 20-minute section.  

*Data analysis, statistics, and probability with 6–7 questions.  

*Data analysis, statistics, and probability with 6–7 questions.  

For the student-produced response question, the student must solve the math problem and fill in the answer on the grid. It is encouraged that the student read the instructions carefully before beginning to work on these problems in order to understand how to complete them correctly.  

For the student-produced response question, the student must solve the math problem and fill in the answer on the grid. It is easy to fill in the grid incorrectly, so students should read the instructions very carefully for these student-produced response questions.

== Homework Assignment ==

== Homework Assignment ==