Rhetorical Skills
Strategy, organization, and style for effective writing
Rhetorical Skills (ACT English)
Strategy
Main Idea Questions
Question types:
- "Which choice best introduces the essay?"
- "Which sentence should be added/deleted?"
- "The writer wants to emphasize..."
Tips:
- Consider the purpose of the paragraph/essay
- Look for the main point being made
- Avoid tangents or irrelevant details
Audience and Purpose
Consider:
- Who is reading? (experts vs. general public)
- What's the goal? (inform, persuade, entertain)
- What tone is appropriate? (formal vs. casual)
Organization
Paragraph Order
Questions ask: "Where should this sentence be placed?"
Strategy:
- Look for transition words (however, therefore, for example)
- Check for pronouns that need clear antecedents
- Follow logical flow of ideas
- Watch for chronological order in narratives
Sentence Order Within Paragraphs
Look for:
- Topic sentence (usually first)
- Supporting details
- Concluding/transition sentence
Transition Words
Addition: also, furthermore, moreover, in addition Contrast: however, nevertheless, on the other hand, although Cause/Effect: therefore, consequently, as a result, thus Example: for instance, for example, specifically Time: first, next, finally, meanwhile
Style
Word Choice
Questions: "Which word is most appropriate?"
Prefer:
- Precise over vague
- Concise over wordy
- Appropriate tone for context
❌ "The thing was very big" ✓ "The skyscraper was massive"
Redundancy
Eliminate repetition:
❌ "The reason is because..." (reason = because) ✓ "The reason is..."
❌ "In my personal opinion..." (opinion is always personal) ✓ "In my opinion..."
❌ "Past history" (history is always past) ✓ "History"
Wordiness
Shorter is better (if meaning is clear):
❌ "Due to the fact that" ✓ "Because"
❌ "In spite of the fact that" ✓ "Although"
❌ "At this point in time" ✓ "Now"
ACT Tips
- "OMIT the underlined portion" is often correct when eliminating redundancy
- Match the tone of the rest of the essay
- Read the full sentence before and after for context
- Trust your ear but verify with rules
📚 Practice Problems
1Problem 1easy
❓ Question:
Which transition word best fits?
"I studied all night. _____, I felt prepared for the exam."
A) However B) Therefore C) For example D) On the other hand
💡 Show Solution
Solution:
The sentences show cause and effect:
- Cause: studied all night
- Effect: felt prepared
Need a transition showing result/consequence
A) However: Shows contrast ❌ B) Therefore: Shows result ✓ C) For example: Introduces example ❌ D) On the other hand: Shows contrast ❌
Answer: B - Therefore
ACT Tip: Identify relationship between sentences before choosing transition!
2Problem 2medium
❓ Question:
Which is MOST concise?
A) Due to the fact that it was raining B) Because of the rain C) For the reason that it was raining D) On account of the fact that it rained
💡 Show Solution
Solution:
All mean essentially the same thing, but we want most concise:
A) "Due to the fact that" = 6 words B) "Because of" = 3 words ✓ C) "For the reason that" = 5 words D) "On account of the fact that" = 7 words
Answer: B - Because of the rain
ACT Tip: Eliminate wordy phrases! "Due to the fact that" = "Because"
3Problem 3hard
❓ Question:
The writer wants to add a sentence emphasizing the historical significance of the discovery. Which would be BEST?
A) It was a really important discovery. B) This discovery revolutionized our understanding of ancient civilizations. C) Many people thought it was cool. D) The discovery happened a long time ago.
💡 Show Solution
Solution:
Need to emphasize historical significance (importance to history/knowledge)
A) "Really important" - vague, informal ❌ B) "Revolutionized understanding" - specific, shows impact ✓ C) "Thought it was cool" - too casual ❌ D) "Long time ago" - about timing, not significance ❌
Answer: B
ACT Tip: Match the level of formality and be specific about the type of importance!
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