Course Syllabus

Mr. Beals’ ACT Prep Course

Contact info:

Brad Beals

Address: 1471 Stillman Rd., Mason, MI 48854

Ph: 517.242.7884

Email: bradbeals@gmail.com

Website for Course info: bealsactprep.wordpress.com

Blog:  bealsactprep.blogspot.com/ Go here for daily lesson plans, homework, and videos.

Your Instructor:

I graduated with a communications degree from the University of Michigan in 1991 and got an English degree, teaching certificate, and masters here at MSU. For 9 months out of the year, I teach English (and ACT Prep) at a Lansing-area public high school. But for all 12 months, I’m a home-school dad of six. My wife, Heidi, and I are now homeschooling all but the youngest. I enjoy language. I believe it’s part of our being made in God’s image. To use language effectively and creatively brings glory to Christ. That’s right—good grammar is God-glorifying!

Course Objectives:

Students will…

·         gain familiarity with the English, reading, and essay portions of the ACT

·         learn ACT test-taking strategies

·         maximize their ACT scores

·         learn the form and techniques of the persuasive essay

·         practice variety in sentence structure

·         become better, clearer, more effective writers

·         be immersed in the grammar, usage, and mechanics of standard English

Resources:

ACT English Student Workbook (Red)

ACT Reading Student Workbook (Gray)

Elements of Writing (Green)

*Course Outline…

June 19:        introduction / baseline skills (practice act, reading, in-class essay)

June 21:        Skill Builder 1: punctuation (Red, .61-.69);  Essay topic 1

June 26:        Skill Builder 2: grammar / usage (Red, .71-.80)

June 28:        Skill Builder 3: sentence structure (Red, .81-.90); Essay topic 2

July 3:           Skill Builder 4: strategy (Red, .93-.98)

July 5:           Skill Builder 5: organization (Red, .103-.115);  Essay topic 3

July 10:         Skilll Builder 6: style (Red, .119-.127)

July 12:         Skill Builder 1 (Rdg.): literal comprehension (Gray, .41-.47);  Essay topic 4

July 17:         Skill Builder 2 (Rdg): inferential comprehension (Gray, .49-.54)

July 19:         Skill Builder 3 (Rdg): content reading (Gray, .55-.66);  Essay topic 5 (in-class)

*Skill Builder assignments need to be completed prior to that day’s meeting. For example, on Thursday, June 21, students need to have SB 1 from the Red book completed so we can go over it in class.