<p>I usually get low-mid 600s on my writing when I take practice tests (giving myself an 8 on the essay)...you guys know any books or online sources that I could use to improve my writing to 700+?</p>
<p>Pick up a good grammar book.</p>
<p>^ any good one you would like to recommend?</p>
<p>Elements of Style, and Woe is I. They're not geared toward the SAT, so you'll learn stuff that won't be on the test, but they have lots of great info.</p>
<p>Rocket Review has great info on writing.</p>
<p>^ i read rr wasnt too great as ppl said it was -.- overrated lol</p>
<p>The thing with Rocket Review is that it has absolutely no material to practice on. In practice, it gives you all the tips and useful technique, but nothing to practice on. However, if you complement RR with the BB, you can make some serious gains (as Writing is the easiest section to gain points from). Seriously, spend the 20$, what can you lose? It's not how expensive it is, but how much you need it. Just go check it out at your bookstore.</p>
<p>^ I already read RR, got it from a friend</p>
<p>I have a few writing questions could someone help clarify them for me:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>By the time the bank guard closed the doors, a riot had erupted due to the long lines and shortage of tellers.</p></li>
<li><p>Numerous collections of short stories include works by Isaac Bashevis Singer who, despite living in the U.S. for more than 50 years, continued to write primarily in Yiddish.</p></li>
<li><p>The ancient concept that states that the sun revolves around Earth is questioned by Copernicus in the sixteenth century.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Also feel free to post some difficult writing questions you guys have trouble with so we could assist each other. ^^</p>
<p>could anyone help me help with these?</p>
<p>I'll try to help you out...</p>
<ol>
<li><p>The answer is continues because it is in the present.</p></li>
<li><p>Answer is is questioned by; "in the sixteenth century" refers to the past.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>EDIT::
My guess for #1 is shortage of because I believe it should be shortages</p>
<p>Really? Elements of style for improving the grammar portion? Does that really work? I've been looking to improve my grammar portion as well. Usually I miss around 1-4 total out of the 49 MC, but I've been looking to improve that so that I only miss only 1, but I keep missing those few problems.</p>
<p>If you miss that few, Elements of Style probably won't be that useful, because it covers elementary grammar. It seems like you know pretty much all the grammar and need to patch up on some stuff. You probably shouldn't buy a grammar book.</p>
<p>By the way, #1 is due to. Due to means more like caused by, not 'because of.' Due to should modify a noun--Tom's success was due to hard work. </p>
<p>'Because of' is different--that modifies verbs: A riot had erupted because of (explains why a riot had erupted) the long lines and shortage of tellers.</p>
<p>shortage and shortages , i dont see anything wrong with shortage.
im not sure if 'due to' is correct or 'because of'</p>
<p>^ dchow, What's the difference between "caused by" and "because of"? Is it the active 'caused' part? Can you elaborate a bit more?</p>
<p>Also, for your second explanation of modifying nouns/verbs. Is this idiomatic/just a rule that I need to memorize?</p>
<ol>
<li><p>His defeat was due to the lottery issue.</p></li>
<li><p>He was defeated because of the lottery issue.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>You can't say He was defeated caused by the lottery issue</p>
<p>Ah, I was looking at the same site you were looking at and I get it now. Basically, it's the principle whether it can stand as a sentence by itself and whether it modifies adj/adv/v</p>
<p>can u give some easy examples of 'because of and due to'?</p>
<p>Sure, if you ever see a linking verb, it will be "due to"</p>
<p>His late arrival was due to the stormy weather. The due to modifies "arrival". If you take out "due to the stormy weather", the sentence does not make sense: "His late arrival was"</p>
<p>For because of, you want to make sure it modifies a verb or an adverb.</p>
<p>The entire fiasco occurred because of my brother's negligence. In this one, if you eliminate "because of my brother's negligence", the sentence still makes sentence. Because of also modifies occurred. </p>
<p>When in doubt, you can also move the "due to" phrase directly after the verb: My quesadilla was 'due to its new meat' delectable does not make sense.</p>
<p>Here, see if you can solve this:</p>
<p>(Due to/ Because of) the stormy weather, the traffic congestion built up</p>
<p>the above one is "because of" since "weather" is a noun?</p>
<p>I actually have no idea of this distinction but did understand it right away after reading your post ^^</p>
<p>Basically, I'm getting about 5-10 wrong on each test, which is a lot. Plus I'm spending a lot of time on those sections because basically I'm doing these by feeling instead of rules (maybe except for the obvious subj. vs verbs ones that I can answer right away)</p>
<p>I have a question on books. As of now i'm skimming through Woe is I. Is this (plus RR and barron 2400) enough to get a perfect on grammar or do I need to read elements of style? Of course if i have time I'll read everything, but time...</p>
<p>and I'm fairly good with rules & memorization, so most likely I"ll remember a rule after I've read it.</p>
<p>Thanks</p>