Full Writing Section
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The writing section tests your ability to identify and correct errors in grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, and style. This lesson prepares you for a complete writing section experience.
What the Writing Section Tests
- Grammar and Usage: Subject-verb agreement, pronoun usage, verb tense
- Punctuation: Commas, semicolons, colons, apostrophes
- Sentence Structure: Fragments, run-ons, parallelism, modifiers
- Style and Tone: Word choice, conciseness, consistency
- Organization: Transitions, logical flow, paragraph structure
Strategy for Writing Questions
- Read the entire sentence or paragraph for context
- Identify what type of error (if any) is being tested
- Eliminate answers that introduce new errors
- Choose the clearest, most concise option
- When in doubt, "NO CHANGE" can be correct - but verify
Examples
Example: Comma Usage
Original: "The scientist, who discovered the new element received the Nobel Prize."
Question: Which choice correctly punctuates the underlined portion?
Analysis: "who discovered the new element" is essential information (restrictive clause), so it should NOT have commas. The correct version is: "The scientist who discovered the new element received the Nobel Prize."
Practice Quiz
Test your understanding with these 10 questions. Click on each question to reveal the answer.
1. Which sentence uses commas correctly? A) "My brother, John, is a doctor." B) "My brother John is a doctor."
Answer: Both can be correct depending on context. Use A if you have only one brother (John is extra information). Use B if you have multiple brothers and are specifying which one.
2. "The team have been practicing." Is this correct?
Answer: In American English, collective nouns like "team" take singular verbs: "The team has been practicing." British English sometimes uses plural verbs with collective nouns.
3. Identify the error: "Running through the park, the flowers were beautiful."
Answer: This is a dangling modifier. The sentence implies the flowers were running. Correct: "Running through the park, I noticed the beautiful flowers."
4. When should you use a semicolon?
Answer: Use a semicolon to join two independent clauses without a conjunction, or to separate items in a list when those items contain commas.
5. "Each of the students have their own locker." Is this correct?
Answer: No. "Each" is singular, so it should be: "Each of the students has his or her own locker" or "Each of the students has their own locker" (singular they is now widely accepted).
6. What is parallel structure and why does it matter?
Answer: Parallel structure means using the same grammatical form for items in a list or comparison. It improves clarity and flow. Example: "She likes hiking, swimming, and biking" (not "hiking, swimming, and to bike").
7. "Its going to rain today." Is this correct?
Answer: No. "Its" is possessive (the dog wagged its tail). "It's" means "it is." Correct: "It's going to rain today."
8. Choose the more concise option: A) "Due to the fact that it rained" B) "Because it rained"
Answer: B is more concise. "Due to the fact that" is wordy and can almost always be replaced with "because."
9. "Neither the cat nor the dogs was hungry." Is this correct?
Answer: No. With "neither...nor," the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. "Dogs" is plural, so: "Neither the cat nor the dogs were hungry."
10. When should you choose "NO CHANGE" on a writing question?
Answer: Choose "NO CHANGE" when the original is grammatically correct, clear, and concise. Don't assume there's always an error - verify that all other options introduce problems before keeping the original.
Check Your Understanding
You should now be able to:
- Identify common grammar and punctuation errors
- Recognize sentence structure problems
- Apply the four-step strategy for writing questions
- Choose concise, clear answer options
Next Steps
- Review any concepts that felt challenging
- Move on to the next lesson when ready
- Return to practice problems periodically for review