6 Tips to Ace the ACT English Section

The ACT is hard, and sometimes our scores in one area (like math) can drag down our other areas, (like science, reading, and English). Sometimes, the solution is not to raise the lowest score, but to raise the scores of your highest area and automatically your overall score goes up. So, here are 6 tips to help you ace the ACT English Section.

1. Pay Attention to Sentence Structure

25% of the Engish section is sentence structure, so make sure to pay attention to the combinations of independent clauses, dependent clauses, and conjunctions. The ACT tends to like these combinations:

Independent, Independent

Independent Independent

Dependent Clause

Independent, conjunction Independent

Dependent, Independent

1. Eliminate Wordy Expressions and Avoid Redundancy

The ACT doesn’t like wordy expressions because ACT-style writing is very straight to the point, so the answer choices might have some options with unnecessary adjectives and adverbs which are often best to ignore. If you are ever unsure about which choice to pick, go with the most concise one. Also, sometimes the answer choices will have 2 synonyms next to each other. (Ex. tons of multiple times) In this case, you would pick the answer choice that only uses “tons of” or “multiple” because these two phrases mean the same thing and if it is not removed the sentence would be repeating itself.

1. Pick the Exact Right Word

Try to pick a word that fits the situation exactly. If the question asks, “Which sentence describes how extreme the weather is?”, pick the answer that says it was the hottest day outside instead of the answer that says it was a nice day outside.

1. Make subjects and verbs agree

If the subject of your sentence is plural, but the predicate of your sentence is singular(or vice versa), make sure that they are fixed to fit the sentence’s place in the writing and that it flows with the rest of the writing.

1. Sound out contractions

Something that often trips students up is contractions, specifically it’s and its. So, when you come across a question like this, sound out the contraction in your head. So, ask yourself if “its” or “it is” fits the statement better.

1. Comma = Pause

A lot of us often fall victim to commas. It often makes sense in our heads to pause at certain situations, so try saying pause inside your head. For example, if the sentence is, “The big, cow jumped, over the bright, yellow moon”, The pauses after “big” and after “jumped” do not help the flow of the sentence, but the comma after bright does make sense because it separates the 2 adjectives describing moon.

I hoped this helped you out, have a great ACT.

by Blair Thomas

Monthly Movie Review

Topping box office records and set to surpass Marvel’s earlier 2021 release, Black Widow, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is a familiar tale: an estranged father and his son, action-packed fight scenes, and heavy, looming threats of world destruction.

Shang-Chi has been lauded as the first MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) East Asian superhero film, featuring Simu Liu as the titular hero Shang-Chi (or Shaun, as he calls himself), and Awkwafina as his best friend, Katy. Joining the cast are also the legendary Hong Kong actor Tony Leung, most well-known for his roles in In the Mood for Love (2000) and Internal Affairs (2002), who plays Shang-Chi’s father, Wenwu, and other prominent names such as Michelle Yeoh. The fight scenes draw upon various Chinese martial arts styles such as Wing Chun and Tai Chi, and themes of Chinese mythology feature heavily in the film. Much of the script is also written in Mandarin, with the actors switching between the two languages frequently. However, it’s still relatable to a general audience—Shang-chi and Katy work as valet drivers, chastised by those around them as not living up to their potential.

However, Shang-Chi is not a story about the traditional Asian American experience, which often deals with the dissonance of being caught between two cultures. Unlike blockbuster films like Crazy Rich Asians, Shang-Chi feels right at home in Tao Lo, switching seamlessly between Mandarin and English throughout the film. Despite being estranged from his family, he retains the teachings his mother taught him and the brutal training he received from his father. In Shang-Chi, Simu Liu’s role is not one of a foreigner, but rather a son grappling with dichotomies within his own family. Ultimately, family is at the core of the film: its conflict, driving force, resolution.

However, Shang-Chi falls into many of the same mistakes as other films have—its depiction of Chinese culture is still simplistic and flat, relying on the same tropes of Chinese mythology without bringing any new interpretations. Aside from the main cast, the characters receive little development, relegating interesting characters to one-dimensional depictions that come and go. Still, Shang Chi has all the hallmark traits of a good movie: a relatable hero, compelling villain, and beautifully choreographed action scenes. Shang-Chi is a step forward, opening up the pathway for Marvel to expand in a new, exciting direction.

by Jennifer Chiu

3 Ways You Can Help During Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It’s an annual campaign that helps raise awareness and money for the research and impact of breast cancer. Here’s some fun ways you can participate as a student.

1. Join a Breast Cancer Run!

Many runs are going on around the city this month in an effort to raise money for research. You can do your part by joining in on the fun. You can register as a runner or just run for fun. If running isn’t your thing, then no big deal. There are many opportunities to volunteer during a run! Help out in any way you can.

1. Spread information!

In today’s era of social media, it is becoming easier and faster to share information with your friends. Why not use that to your advantage! Share posts about breast cancer and prevention in your stories and spread the word. Anyone can be affected at any age so help educate others, and get them to support the cause as well.

1. Wear pink!

As simple as it may seem, wearing a pink ribbon or wearing pink during the month of October can be a fun way to spread awareness! Get together with a group of friends or organize a Pink Out day at your school. Either way, showing your support goes a long way!

by Kristin Blake