Hi guys.
So I took the ACT in September and I got a 30.
English-35
Reading-32
Math-27
Science-27
Writing-24 
I am working on raising my math and science scores(and I am seeing some progress). However, I just learned that the ACT changed its writing portion recently so all my prep using school-related prompts have gone to waste. I looked on the ACT website to check out the sample essays for the new prompts but I still donāt have a very good understanding as to what I am supposed to do exactly and the scoring was different from mine. Can someone clarify what I would need to do for the new ACT writing(organization, how I am supposed to write these new essays compared to the old ones?) and maybe throw in some writing tips? Please help!!! In a way, I donāt even know what I am supposed to do for these essays and it would be a Christmas miracle for me to know what the ACT is looking for.
Thanks
-TheTennisNinja
bump
hello?
Do a search on this site. There is plenty of info.
prepscholar is a good website
Here is a sample outline you can use for ACT writing
Sample Outline
X= First Perspective you DISAGREE with
Y= Second Perspective you DISAGREE with
Z= Perspective you AGREE with
- Introduction
Hook- Start with a question. Asking your readers to think about the topic. Use descriptive words. Create a picture in the readerās mind. Can you imagine a world withoutā¦.
Background information- One line defining the concept. What background information, if any, do the readers need to know in order to understand your claim?
Thesis- An argumentative essay must begin with a debatable thesis. In other words, the thesis must be something that people could reasonably have differing opinions on. Agree with ONE of the THREE perspectives offered. Restate perspective Z your own words in a sentence and make sure to include the word ābecauseā in your thesis statement. Example: Cats are better than dogs because they are more intelligent and easier to keep inside.
Recognize that there are other perspectives (However, there are people who disagree) and restate perspective X and perspective Y in your own words.
Transition: Perspective Z is correct, but itās important to consider other perspectives.
- Body Paragraphs: Analyze and evaluate the THREE perspectives given.
Body Paragraph 1 - Compare the perspective X with perspective Z (your perspective).
Some people believe that perspective X is correct becauseā¦ and list one/two reasons why Perspective X may be correct.
However, they have not considered this general reason why it is flawed. A recent example proves this: list an example.
Transition While perspective X has some merits, perspective Z is more comprehensive/logical/ makes more sense. There is still another perspective to consider.
Body Paragraph 2 - Compare the perspective Y with perspective Z (your perspective). Let us now consider perspective Y.
However, believers of perspective Y have not considered this general reason why it is flawed. A recent example: list an example.
Transition: This brings me back to perspective Z. My perspective is stronger than both perspectives X and Y.
Body Paragraph 3 - Why perspective Z (your perspective) is the strongest/ most comprehensive/ addresses the issue best.
Perspective Z is clearly the most logical/complete of the three perspectives offered.
State the general reason why. It is common knowledge that perspective Zā¦.
List two specific examples why: 1. Historically, 2. A more recent example:
This brings us to the crux of the argumentā¦ state why the perspective Z is important. Without perspective Z the world/system/ planet would be in chaos/decline/disarray. Many people/places/things would suffer/die/fall into economic dispair.
- Conclusion
Restate the importance of the position you support by painting a picture of the world depicting what would happen if your perspective is (or is not) implemented.
Some people agree with the perspective X, but the evidence does not bear this out.
Others agree with perspective Y, but it too is incomplete.
Only perspective Z addresses all aspects of this important issue.
Hi, I understand your frustration. Thatās horrible that you were taking Prep Classes for the ACT only to find out the ew ACT is not even in line with the way your prep classes were set up. I scored a 36 on the ACT writing although my composite was extremely low (in relation to the schools Iām applying to)-I scored a 26. Some tips I have for you is to sort of create a really quick 4 minute outline on the essay, so that you have some sort of structure to when youāre writing and that way it helps you stay on topic. I usually just make 5 lines the basic 5 paragraph format and then include a topic for each paragraph on the line. I learned right away to just JUMP right into the meat of the essay, donāt make too long of an introduction, what I did for mine was I just wrote my thesis as my first sentence and then moved right onto the body paragraph.
The first time I took the ACT + Writing, I scored a 31 on writing, but then the second time around I wrote way more and used up all the pages provided and I scored a 36, I donāt know if this is a truth, but I felt like the more you write-the more advantage it gives you (as long as you have good content versus just writing to bulls*t the essay) so yeah write as much as you can!
Another tip I would say is to practice writing essays from previous ACT prompts, even though they score everything differently-just getting used to the new time limit and just getting used to the process of writing and formulating an argument can only benefit you (in my opinion).
When youāre actually at the testing site, I like to jot down notes on whatever comes to mind while Iām reading the prompt, so that in case I blank out when I write the essay I can look back at my notes or key words and continue from there.
DO NOT ERASE-just cross out whatever you want to remove, youāll waste too much time trying to erase a few sentences than if you just crossed them out.
I could go on forever about all the tips I have for the ACT writing, but my number 1 tip would be to pretend you are passionate about the issue just tell yourself āWow this is so interesting! I never knew that!ā or āThat argument is sh*t they should really change ____ about it!ā I am an avid writer so even when I donāt like writing about a certain topic I sort of try to engage myself as much as I can with the essay as possible, so that my passion can fuel my words and examples-it also really gives you good motivation to write more and your passion can really show in your words and help make a more solidified argument.
I hope I was some sort of help regarding your question, you can master the ACT-it just takes practice and a lot of time investment! As a fellow anonymous CC user, I believe in you!!