Rhetorical Skills (ACT English)

Strategy and Organization

Passage Organization

ACT tests whether you understand:

• Best introduction/conclusion
• Logical sentence order
• Paragraph placement
• Transitions between ideas

Type 1: Opening Sentences

Effective opening should:

• Introduce topic
• Engage reader
• Set tone for passage
• Connect to what follows

Strategy:

• Read entire paragraph first
• Eliminate openings that are too narrow/specific
• Eliminate openings that don't relate to rest of paragraph
• Choose one that establishes main idea

Type 2: Closing Sentences

Effective closing should:

• Wrap up paragraph's main point
• Connect to passage theme
• Provide sense of completion
• NOT introduce new information

Strategy:

• Eliminate conclusions that bring up new topics
• Choose one that reinforces paragraph's main idea
• Prefer option that ties to broader passage theme

Type 3: Sentence Placement

"Sentence X should be placed..."

Strategy:

1. Read the sentence carefully
2. Look for connecting words (this, that, these, such)
3. Find what those words refer to
4. Place sentence AFTER its reference
5. Check chronology and logic

Example: [1] Marie Curie was a pioneering scientist. [2] She discovered radium and polonium. [3] This achievement earned her two Nobel Prizes. [4] She was born in Poland in 1867.

Sentence 4 should come BEFORE sentence 1 (birth before achievements)
Sentence 3 must follow sentence 2 ("this achievement" refers to discoveries)

Type 4: Paragraph Order

"Paragraph X should be placed..."

Strategy:

• Identify topic of each paragraph
• Look for chronological clues
• Find connections between paragraphs
• Arrange from general to specific, or in logical sequence

Style and Tone

Matching Tone

Passages have consistent tone:

• Formal/academic
• Informal/conversational
• Nostalgic
• Serious
• Humorous

Your job: Choose options that match existing tone

❌ "The study yielded impressive data; it was totally sick!" (tone clash)
✓ "The study yielded impressive data; the results were remarkable."

Audience Awareness

Consider who the passage is written for:

• General public: clear, accessible language
• Experts: technical terms acceptable
• Students: educational, informative
• Readers of specific publication: match publication's style

Strategy:

• Identify intended audience from context
• Choose language appropriate for that audience

Development and Support

Type 1: Adding Information

"Should the writer add this sentence?"

Add if it:

• Supports paragraph's main idea
• Provides relevant example
• Clarifies confusing point
• Adds important detail

DON'T add if it:

• Introduces unrelated topic
• Repeats information already stated
• Contradicts passage
• Is too general/vague

ACT trick: Even if sentence is interesting or true, DON'T add if irrelevant

Type 2: Deleting Information

"Should the writer delete this phrase?"

Delete if it:

• Is redundant
• Is obvious from context
• Interrupts flow
• Is off-topic

Keep if it:

• Adds important detail
• Clarifies meaning
• Provides necessary transition
• Develops the idea

Type 3: Most Specific Detail

Choose option with most specific, relevant detail:

❌ "The building was big." (vague)
✓ "The building stood fifteen stories tall." (specific)

❌ "Many people attended." (vague)
✓ "Over 500 people attended." (specific)

Strategy: Choose concrete over abstract, specific over general

Purpose and Effect

Type 1: Writer's Goal

"The writer wants to emphasize X. Which choice best accomplishes this?"

Strategy:

1. Identify what needs to be emphasized
2. Eliminate options that don't address it
3. Choose option that most directly/strongly emphasizes the point

Type 2: Effect on Reader

"Which choice would most effectively..."

• ...engage the reader?
• ...establish the setting?
• ...create a transition?
• ...conclude the paragraph?

Strategy:

• Understand the desired effect
• Choose option that best achieves that effect
• Consider context and tone

Relevance and Focus

Staying On Topic

Every sentence should:

• Relate to paragraph's main idea
• Support passage's thesis
• Fit logically with surrounding sentences

Red flags for irrelevant sentences:

• Introduces completely different topic
• Provides interesting but unrelated fact
• Belongs in different paragraph

Example: Paragraph about Marie Curie's scientific achievements:
❌ "Warsaw, her birthplace, is the capital of Poland." (relevant to her, but not to paragraph's focus on achievements)

Main Idea Questions

"Which best states the main idea of this paragraph?"

Strategy:

• Too broad: Could apply to any paragraph on the topic
• Too narrow: Only covers one detail
• Just right: Covers main point without being too general

Transitions

Choosing Transitions

Match transition to logical relationship:

Addition/Continuation:

• furthermore, moreover, in addition, also, additionally

Contrast:

• however, nevertheless, on the other hand, conversely, in contrast

Cause/Effect:

• therefore, thus, consequently, as a result, accordingly

Example:

• for example, for instance, specifically

Emphasis:

• indeed, in fact, certainly

Time:

• meanwhile, subsequently, then, finally

Strategy:

1. Read sentence before transition
2. Read sentence after transition
3. Identify relationship
4. Choose transition that matches

ACT Question Strategies

Strategy: Read the Whole Paragraph

Don't just look at underlined part:

• Need context to judge relevance
• Need to see how ideas connect
• Need to understand tone and purpose

Strategy: Elimination

For rhetorical questions:

1. Eliminate clearly wrong (wrong tone, off-topic, etc.)
2. Narrow to 2-3 options
3. Choose most effective/relevant

Strategy: Check the Question Stem

Many rhetorical questions include a goal:

• "emphasize the challenge"
• "provide a specific example"
• "create a smooth transition"

Match your answer to that goal!

Common ACT Mistakes

❌ Choosing interesting but irrelevant information
Just because it's true doesn't mean it belongs

❌ Not reading entire paragraph
Context is essential for rhetorical questions

❌ Ignoring tone
Informal addition to formal passage = wrong

❌ Adding redundant information
If it's already been said, don't say it again

❌ Wrong transition word
"However" when ideas actually agree

❌ Losing focus
Every sentence must relate to paragraph's main idea

Quick Tips for ACT

✓ Read whole paragraph before answering rhetorical questions
✓ Stay on topic — relevance beats interestingness
✓ Match tone — formal with formal, informal with informal
✓ Specific beats vague — concrete details are better
✓ Transitions show relationships — match word to logic
✓ Opening ≠ closing — openings introduce, closings wrap up
✓ Check the goal — if question gives one, make sure your answer achieves it

Decision Process for Add/Delete

When asked "Should the writer add/delete this?"

1. What is the paragraph about? (main idea)
2. Does this sentence relate to that main idea?
   • NO → Delete/Don't add
   • YES → Continue to #3
3. Does it add new, useful information?
   • NO (redundant) → Delete/Don't add
   • YES → Add/Keep
4. Check the reason choices:
   • Choose reason that matches your decision

Remember: ACT answer choices often include reasons. Make sure the reason matches your answer!

Practice Approach

1. Read entire passage or paragraph — understand context
2. Identify question type — organization? development? tone?
3. Determine what's needed — what is the goal or effect?
4. Eliminate wrong answers — wrong tone, off-topic, etc.
5. Choose most effective — achieves goal, maintains focus
6. Check the reason — for yes/no questions, reason must match

Remember: Rhetorical Skills test your understanding of effective writing. Focus on relevance, tone, organization, and logical development!