Improving Paragraphs

Posted Mon, 01 Jun 2009 08:21:27 -0000 by Oren Lahav

Sentences aren't the only thing you've got to improve!

The last type of question you may see in the writing section of the SAT is improving paragraphs. These questions test all of your writing abilities, as well as your ability to edit and revise paragraphs.

Don't freak out, it's not that bad…

Improving paragraph questions combine error identification and sentence improvement with essay-writing skills. The format is simple- you get a draft of some short essay that requires revisions. All of the sentences will be numbered. Afterwards you'll be asked some multiple choice questions about what you just read. These questions may involve choice of words, sentence structure, organization or development.

Here are some examples of questions you may have to answer:

In the context of the first paragraph, which revision is most needed in sentence 4?
Which of these sentences would be most appropriate to follow sentence 11?
Which of the following words would best replace the word "Them" in sentence 7?

Oh no! How can I answer these?

It's really not that tough. These questions are typically easy to medium in difficulty, so it's not too bad. The first thing to do is skim (not read) through the paragraph to just get the main idea and then jump right to the questions- don't waste your time thinking about all the errors in the paragraph, some may not come up in the questions and are just meant to confuse you.

If a question asks you to improve a sentence, work on it the same way you would solve an "improving sentences" question. If a question asks you to combine two sentences into one, watch the direction or the sentence-flow and the connection words: and, since, however, but, etc. If a question asks you to add a sentence to the paragraph, read the portion of the paragraph that precedes or follows that sentence and also look for the best phrased choice. Finally, some questions ask you to explain something about the essay, in which case you should skim through it in order to understand it as a whole.

Let's try an example with an actual paragraph and choices:
Example

I'm not sure exactly how I turned out to be a basketball fan.
My father was always a big football fan, my mother loves volleyball.
And my brothers don't like basketball either.
In any case, I've liked basketball for as long as I can remember.

Q1. Which sentence would be best to add after sentence 4?

I found it odd that I ended up loving basketball.
My brothers liked footballActually, basketball isn't a very popular sport at all.
Even my uncle doesn't like basketball.
I wanted to be more than just a passionate basketball fan though.

Clearly, sentence 1 is redundant. Sentences 2 and 4 fit after sentence 3, not after 4, and sentence 3 doesn't relate well to sentence 4 either. 5 is the right answer.

And now for the tips

S&S- Short and simple is always the best. When revising sentences, always go for the nice and concise option, they'll most often be right.
Go with the flow- Ideas in paragraphs have a certain order, make sure you get a feeling for that order and that your answers help ideas advance in a logical progression.
Think about editing- Pretend you're trying to improve your friend's essay. First, try to figure out what his trying to get across, and then try to make it as clear and effective as possible.
Read slowly- This will help you locate errors and fix them.
Look at the big picture- Make sure each sentence you're working on still makes good sense with the preceding and following sentences in the paragraph.

Make sure to check out Krista's Improve YOUR Writing~ Logical Expression of Ideas lesson for more tips on how sentences and paragraphs should be structured.

Paragraph improvement can get tricky. The best way to prepare is to practice, so try out the follow-up test and the second improving paragraphs test for more examples.

Note: paragraphs and questions posted here and in the follow-up test are taken from the Official SAT Study Guide book, an awesome book that can help you pass the SATs with ease. It contains lots of questions, strategies and sample tests, and it's an excellent resource. Go buy it, or browse through a copy in your local library.

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