ACT Rhetorical Skills
Master strategy, organization, and style questions on the ACT English section.
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ACT: Rhetorical Skills
ACT English Format
75 questions, 45 minutes. Five passages with underlined portions.
Two main categories:
- Usage/Mechanics (grammar, punctuation, sentence structure)
- Rhetorical Skills (strategy, organization, style)
Strategy Questions
Adding/Deleting Sentences
- Does the sentence support the main idea?
- Does it provide relevant detail?
- Would removing it improve focus?
Organization Questions
Sentence Placement
- Look for logical flow and transitions
- Pronouns should have clear antecedents
Paragraph Order
- Introduction, body, conclusion
- Chronological or logical progression
Style Questions
Tone
Match the passage overall tone.
Word Choice
- Avoid redundancy
- Avoid wordiness: Choose the most concise option
- Match formality level
Transitions
- Addition: Furthermore, moreover
- Contrast: However, nevertheless
- Cause/Effect: Therefore, consequently
- Example: For instance, specifically
ACT Tip: When in doubt, the shortest grammatically correct answer is often right.
📚 Practice Problems
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