From the SAT Expert: Five Grammar Rules You Positively Must Know

In 2005 the College Board added the Writing section to the SAT. The results of a study released three years later indicated that the Writing section was a better predictor of college success than either of the other two sections, which were, themselves, already accepted as excellent predictors. It stands to reason that it is in your best interest to KILL this section. This article reviews the grammar rules that are most important for this test.

From the ACT Expert: Exactly What Math is Needed for the ACT

Standardized tests are an inescapable part of the college application process.  The ACT is a test taken by many applicants.  This article is a 'laundry list' of the Math you should prepare specifically for the ACT. 

College Writing: An Outline of Outlines

You simply can't write without an outline.  No, seriously.  For one thing, how else do you know when you're done?   Whether we structure it the way our English Teacher taught us, or just hold it in our heads, we outline. This article takes a bird's eye view of a great outline.

Writing a Better Pursuasive Essay for the SAT or ACT: Having Examples Ready

Standardized test essays are short in both time and length.  Nonetheless, to earn a good score your essay must be well-structured and well thought out, and this, in turn, requires that you be prepared to discuss a subject effectively without any advance notice.  The key to this preparation is having good examples in hand to support your argument.  This article will show you how to be ready for ANY essay prompt you may face.

Tutor Tips - Turn Your Math Lesson Plans Up-Side Down

Should you turn your Math lesson plans ‘upside down’?  Research suggests that it might be a good idea.  This article reviews findings from a study of 231 eighth grade math lessons worldwide and their implications for lesson planning.

Literary Analysis - Step 4 Example – The Lady or the Tiger?

To analyze literature it is essential to study not just the storyline but also the characters that populate and create the story.  Here is a look at the characters in Frank R. Stockton’s classic short story, The Lady or the Tiger?

Literary Analysis Step 4 – Focus on Characterization

To analyze literature it is essential to study not just the storyline but also the characters that populate and create the story.  Think of any work of literature and you think of characters: likeable, hateful, beautiful, important, but above all, memorable, if the work itself is to be remembered.  In this article you will find an overview of the literary ‘types’ of characters and the purposes they serve in a story.  So much of what we can learn about a story comes from ‘listening’ to the characters, so don’t short-change this Focus.

Literary Analysis – Step 3 Example – The Lady, or the Tiger?

Literary Analysis Series #3: Focus on Scenes

Now that you have read through a work once for the pleasure of it and come to understand the unfamiliar words in it you are ready for the real work of analysis.  This article will define the terms and describe the process of analyzing the plot of a work of fiction.

College Writing Course #5 – Writing Process – Research

Literary Analysis – Step 1- Example -- “The Lady, or the Tiger?” by Frank Stockton

Literary Analysis Series #1 – Focus on Story

Turbo Study for that TEST

TURBO Study

Take out all your stuff -  your notes and your book
include tests and such – they each need a look
Homework and quizzes were important to do
and now will have help to offer to you

Use sense for your work spot right off the bat
get light on the table and send out the cat
Find now both some food and a drink
but don’t forget sugar makes it tougher to think

Remember time is short – choose topics with care
focusing on projects as a guess is quite fair
Check the questions that were on past tests
that they’ll turn up again is a good guess

Be positive – this can all work out
study with a friend – and neither of you pout
55 minutes an hour – remember what I said
stop with a few hours to go and get to BED

One last thing – make a single sheet covered with the best
go for ideas, not facts – those help the most on the test
And this advice is not new  -- no matter how you do
it’s much less of a ZOO  -- if you study not ONE night, but TWO!

I know you hear ALL THE TIME not to cram for tests.  I actually DISagree.  Last minute TURBO STUDY can be a solid PART of you overall success plan.  Notice ‘part’?  Take the advice of my little poem, and get the MOST out of it.

Good LUCK!

Jo Karabasz
Overlook Tutorial Academy

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