ACT Prep: Grammar

Around the Room

Station 1: Higher and Lower Order Concerns
Station 2: Subject Verb Agreement
Station 3: Run-on Sentence as Sentence Fragments
Station 4: Semicolon Usage
Station 5: Apostrophe Usage

Instructions: Break classes into groups of 5 (one for each

station). On a sheet of paper, label the station you are at
and play the activity game recording your answers. Turn in
at the end of class for participation credit so make sure
your name and class period are labeled.
ACT Prep: Grammar
Around the Room
Station 1: Higher and Lower Order Concerns
 Higher and Lower
Order Concerns
Directions:
1) Read the information pertaining to
higher and lower order concerns
2) Label your paper 1-10
3) Beside each number, read the
corresponding question and label if the
item is a higher or lower order concern.
4) Explain why it is a higher or lower
order concern.
5) Check your answers and mark how
many you got correct.
 Higher and Lower Order
Concerns Directions
Higher Order Concerns are the "big
picture" elements such as thesis or focus,
audience and purpose, organization, and
development. Higher Order Concerns
need to be addressed first. Lower
Order Concerns are the “small issues”
such as capitalization, grammar, and
commas. Lower Order Concerns are still
super important, however, they shouldn’t
be addressed until the Higher Order
Concerns have been addressed. On the
ACT, you may need to distinguish
between paragraphs that contain
relevant/irrelevant and important/non-
important information. Becoming
familiar with HOC’s and LOC’s is just
one step to help prepare you for the ACT.
 Higher and Lower Order
Concerns Questions
1) Start a new paragraph
2) Missing thesis
3) Capitalize
4) Delete comma
5) Misspelled word
6) Paragraph is too short with not
enough supporting details
7) Missing topic sentence
8) Small numbers should be
spelled out
9) This quote does not apply to
your central idea
10) Misspelled
 Higher and Lower Order
Concerns Key
1. Starting a new paragraph is considered a Lower Order
Concern because although it is essential to know when an
Author is moving from one idea to the next, it is much more
important to make sure that they actually have information
within those paragraphs that are developed and well-defined
with topic sentences before correcting that it merely needs to be
indented on a page. Indentation only influences the grammar
and not the overall development of a paper.
2. Missing thesis- A missing thesis is considered a Higher
Order Concern because it is central to the overall development
of a paper, and without one, a reader is unable to identify the
central claim that the Author is making. As a writing center
tutor, this is a major red flag that we call HOC’s and LOC’s and
are thus trained to identify when looking at a paper to clarify,
focus, and redirect what the entire paper will then allude.
3. Capitalize- Capitalization, though it may be annoying to look
at or correct, is seen as a Lower Order Concern because it does
not directly influence the overall reading or comprehension of a
written piece. Dealing with sentence structure, punctuation,
word choice, or spelling (including capitalization), is something
that can be fixed at the end of the paper once the larger concepts
have been addressed that deal with concept.
 Higher and Lower Order
Concerns Key
4. Delete comma- Falling into the category of spelling, grammar,
and overall punctuation or word choice, correcting or deleting a
comma is seen as a Lower Order Concern because it is a minute
issue that does not impact the development or complete
understanding of a written piece. Though scenarios such as “Let’s
eat Grandma” and “Let’s eat, Grandma” can mean two completely
different things, this is still a minimal error when addressed in the
realm of larger issues such as organization, development,
audience, and purpose, or thesis/focus.
5. Misspelled word- Again, similar to deleting a comma or
capitalizing words, misspelled words, though frustrating to work
through, are seen as Lower Order Concerns because they fall
into the punctuation and spelling errors category. Although these
errors may occur frequently, they should not be addressed until
the larger issues are addressed, after all, what’s the point in
correcting minute details when the entire paragraph or sentence
might end up being deleted anyway because larger issues exist.
6. Paragraph is too short with not enough supporting details-
Unlike indenting a paragraph, if a paragraph is too short and does
not contain enough supporting details, this is seen as a Higher
Order Concern because it directly relates to the organization and
development of the thesis in a paper. For example, if a paper is
missing adequate development in this field such as a topic
sentence, coherence, or unity, it should be re-worked or added to,
as their basic purpose is to guide the reader through the main
points of your central claims.
 Higher and Lower Order
Concerns Key
7. Missing topic sentence- Again, like a missing thesis, a missing topic
sentence would be considered a Higher Order Concern because it is central
to the overall claim and development of a paper. Without a well-developed
topic sentence, a paper will not only be lacking in overall coherence,
organization, and purpose, but it will lack the focus of each paragraph that
helps a reader to identify their main points easily.
8. Small numbers should be spelled out- Amongst the other ten items on this
list of Higher and Lower Order Concerns, the error of small numbers needing
to be spelled out is certainly a Lower Order Concern because it does not
influence the development or understanding of a paper and is not a
monumental issue that will greatly impact the grade a paper is given. As a
minuscule detail, correcting this type of error falls into the word choice and
punctuation category meaning that although it may influence or affect a Higher
Order Concern, it is not detrimental to its fixing right away.
9. This quote does not apply to your central idea- Obviously, if you are
citing another Author’s works that are not your own, and it does not apply to
your central idea, this should be removed immediately and considered a
Higher Order Concern because it could lead your audience astray in
understanding and create disturbance in the paper’s organization to proper
development. Including quotes that do not relate to your topic not only throw
everyone off guard, but they leave the paper appearing unpolished and
unclear as to what points you may be trying to prove.
10. Misspelled- Finally, like the previous errors, misspelled words within a
paper should be addressed near the end of an editing session and considered
Lower Order Concerns because they fall into the punctuation category and do
not impact the larger ideas of a claim within a paper. Your audience needs to
have a solid thesis and paragraphs with topic sentences much more than
correctly spelled words in order to understand your claims (though both are
critically important).
ACT Prep: Grammar
Around the Room
Station 2: Subject Verb Agreement
 Subject Verb
Agreement
Directions:
1) Read the information on
Subject Verb Agreement.
2) Label your paper 1-10
3) Beside each number, read
the corresponding question
and label the correct verb
tense.
4) Check your answers and
mark how many you got
correct.
 Subject Verb
Agreement
Subjects need to agree with their verbs!
Example: The songs on Katy Perry’s first pop
(3) album was controversial.
A. NO CHANGE
B. album were
C. album was
D. album is
*The correct answer is B. This question is
designed to make you think the verb should
agree with album, however, the subject is
actually the plural noun songs.
Strategies to Win:
1) Find the Subject (who or what is
performing the action)
2) Locate the verb
3) Determine if the subject is singular or
plural and select the verb that agrees.
 Subject Verb
Agreement Questions
Directions: Choose the correct form of the verb that
agrees with the subject.

1. Juanita and her sisters (is, are) at school.

2. The board (debates, debate) these questions carefully.
3. The teacher or the students (is, are) outside.
4. Either my keys or your coat (is, are) always missing.
5. Seth and his father (doesn't, don't) want to go out to
eat.
6. Benita (doesn't, don't) know the answer.
7. One of my aunts (is, are) going on a trip to Mexico.
8. The man with all the snakes (live, lives) on my street.
9. My favorite movie, including all the previews, (take,
takes) about two hours to watch.
10. The players, as well as the coach, (want, wants) to
win.
 Subject Verb
Agreement Answers
1. Are
2. Debates
3. Are
4. Is
5. Don’t
6. Doesn’t
7. Is
8. Lives
9. Takes
10. Want
ACT Prep: Grammar
Around the Room
Station 3: Run-on Sentence as Sentence Fragments
 Run-on Sentence as
Sentence Fragments
Directions:
1) Read the information on Run-on
Sentences as Sentence Fragments.
2) Label your paper 1-5
3) Beside each number, read the
corresponding question and label the
sentence as correct, a run-on sentence,
or fragment.
4) Check your answers and mark how
many you got correct.
 Run-on Sentence as
Sentence Fragments
Run-on sentences have too
many clauses without
appropriate separating
punctuation such as “I went to
the mall to buy some clothes
while I was in the store I found
shoes and a shirt..”. Sentence
fragments are missing subjects,
verbs, or are not a complete
thought such as “Because I
went…”.
 Run-on Sentence as Sentence
Fragments Questions
1. I like hamburgers. And fries.
2. Alicia went to the store. Although she
went to the tomatoes.
3. Ebony is my best friend and we grew up
on the same street because our parents
were best friends too but we didn't talk
very often after high school and then we
met again after college and it's like the
missing years never happened!
4. The current county laws on housing are
incomplete as they stand. Which is why we
believe the proposed amendments should
be passed.
5. With the ultimate outcome of all
marketing is to gain customers.
 Run-on Sentence as Sentence
Fragments Answers
1. Original Sentence: I like hamburgers. And fries.
Error: The second half of this sentence is a fragment because “and
fries” should belong with the first independent clause.
2. Original Sentence: Alicia went to the store. Although she went to the
tomatoes.
Error: The second half of this phrase is a fragment because it doesn’t
complete the thought of connecting why Alice went to the store and why
she went to the tomatoes.
3. Original Sentence: Ebony is my best friend and we grew up on the
same street because our parents were best friends too but we didn't talk
very often after high school and then we met again after college and it's
like the missing years never happened!
Error: This sentence is missing a lot of commas in-between the thought
process of words.
4. Original Sentence: The current county laws on housing are
incomplete as they stand. Which is why we believe the proposed
amendments should be passed.
Error: The second half of this sentence is a fragment because it does not
connect to or complete the thought that the reason we should believe
the proposed amendments is due to the fact that our county laws on
housing are incomplete.
5. Original Sentence: With the ultimate outcome of all marketing is to
gain customers.
Error: This sentence is a fragment because it does not explain or order
correctly that the ultimate outcome of marketing is to gain customers.
ACT Prep: Grammar
Around the Room
Station 4: Semicolon Usage
 Semicolon Usage
Directions
Directions:
1) Read the information on Semicolon
Usage.
2) Label your paper 1-10
3) Beside each number, read the
corresponding question and label the
sentence as correct, or should use a
semicolon.
4) Check your answers and mark how
many you got correct.
 Semicolon Usage
Semicolon Usage is very important on
the ACT. A semicolon is used to join
two separate complete sentences.
Life is similar to a semicolon. It is
used when a sentence could have been
ended, but it wasn’t. Use it to join two
independent (a sentence that can stand
alone, and expresses a complete
thought that has both a subject and
verb) sentences.
 Semicolon Usage
Questions
1. You asked for forgiveness; he granted
it to you.
2. The pizza parlor was crowded with
screaming children the noise was
deafening.
3. Snow fell throughout the night;
children were excited when school was
cancelled.
4. When she got to school, she realized
that she forgot her homework at home.
5. Ms. Ginter decided to assign her
second period class homework they were
not thrilled that they now had extra
reading assigned.
 Semicolon Usage
Questions
6. Dave went for a bike ride, he rode for
40 miles.
7. A draft of my first essay is due on
Monday; I also need to read chapter 2
in the textbook.
8. On a Harley motorcycle, my
grandmother and her poodle have
traveled to Anchorage, Alaska; San
Francisco, California; and Tijuana,
Mexico.
9. I had sushi or dinner last night, I
want it again today, though.
10. My new shoes are my three favorite
colors; green, red, and blue.
 Semicolon Usage
Answers
1. Correct
2. You need a semicolon between ”children” and
“the” because both sentences are independent
and complete.
3. Correct
4. Correct
5. You need a semicolon between “homework”
and “they” because both sentences are
independent and complete.
6. You need a semicolon between “ride” and “he”
because both sentences are independent and
complete.
7. Correct
8. Correct
9. You need a semicolon where the comma is.
10. You need a colon where the semicolon is here
because this is a list and the colors are not a
complete sentence on their own.
ACT Prep: Grammar
Around the Room
Station 5: Apostrophe Usage
 Apostrophe Usage
Directions:
1) Read the information on Apostrophe
Usage.
2) Label your paper 1-10
3) Beside each number, read the
corresponding question and label the
sentence as correct, or needs revised
and write how it needs revised.
4) Check your answers and mark how
many you got correct.
 Apostrophe Usage
3 Tips for Using Them:
1. 1.Plurals- A plural noun is more than
one of something
2. 2.Possessives- Do use an
apostrophe. When something is
singular (only one) and owns
something (possessive), we add an
apostrophe, then the letter –s (‘s).
3. 3. Plural Possessives- Do use an
apostrophe. Since the noun is plural,
and already ends in –s, we add the
apostrophe AFTER the –d to show
that the noun is both plural and
possessive.
 Apostrophe Usage
Questions
1. The Smith’s car needs new tires.
2. Her husbands’ wallet was full of
curious items.
3. What are your childrens names?
4. It’s a shame that had to happen.
5. It’s a dog wagging it’s tail.
6. The seamstresses do great work.
7. The movie had its desired effect.
8. The singers’ voices were beautiful.
9. That trees’ leaves are starting to
fall off.
10. All those maple trees’ leaves are
turning red.
 Apostrophe Usage
Answers
1. Correct- the Smith’s shows ownership that it is
their car.
2. Should be “Her husband’s wallet was full of curious
items”.
3. Add ‘s to plural nouns that do not end in s. Should
be “What are your children’s names?”
4. Correct- Use an apostrophe to separate the
contraction it is.
5. The second “its” should NOT contain an apostrophe
because you don’t mean “it is”, you mean “belonging
to it”.
6. Correct- No apostrophe is called for in this
sentence.
7. Correct- “its” as “belonging to it” is the correct use
without the apostrophe.
8. Correct- see plural possessive
9. Should be “tree’s”- see possessives rule.
10. Correct- possessive rule