ENGLISH TEST PREP

Key Ideas & Details

• Main Idea - Khan Academy

• Supporting ideas - Khan Academy

• Relationship of Ideas - Khan Academy

• Recognize Similar Situations - Khan Academy

• Draw Conclusions - Khan Academy

Craft & Structure

• Organization - Khan Academy

• Purpose of Component - Khan Academy

• Meaning of Words - Khan Academy

• Fact or Opinion - Khan Academy

• Author's Attitude - Khan Academy

Integration of Knowledge & Ideas

• Inferences - Khan Academy

• Evaluation of Evidence - Khan Academy

Reading Practice

• Practice: Critical analysis and reasoning skills 1 - Khan Academy

• Practice: Critical analysis and reasoning skills 2 - Khan Academy

• Practice: Critical analysis and reasoning skills 3 - Khan Academy

• Practice: Critical analysis and reasoning skills 4 - Khan Academy

• Practice: Critical analysis and reasoning skills 5 - Khan Academy

Grammar

• Parts of speech: the noun - Khan Academy

• Parts of speech: the verb - Khan Academy

• Parts of speech: the pronoun - Khan Academy

• Parts of speech: the modifier - Khan Academy

• Parts of speech: the preposition and the conjunction - Khan Academy

Punctuation

• Punctuation: the comma and the apostrophe - Khan Academy

• Punctuation: the colon, semicolon, and more - Khan Academy

Syntax

• Syntax: sentences and clauses - Khan Academy

• Syntax: conventions of standard English - Khan Academy

Usage & Style

• Frequently confused words - Khan Academy

• Common expressions - Khan Academy

• Style! - Khan Academy

While the essay portion of the TSI may seem stressful, following these tips can help you feel more prepared. 

Be aware of the expectations.

• • How long should your essay be? - 500-600 words

  • How many main points should you have?  - Three
    
    

Determine what the prompt is asking. Some prompts may want you to:

• • Pick a side in an either/or argument

  • Defend a personal choice

  • Answer an open-ended question
    
    

Choose your topic. Decide what your opinion is. It can be helpful to ask yourself things like

• • What do you already know about the issue?

  • Is the issue important to you? Why?

  • Do you have any personal experience with the issue?
    
    

Organize your outline. Your TSI essay should consist of 5 paragraphs, in this order:

• • Introduction

  • Body - Main point #1

  • Body - Main point #2

  • Body - Main point #3

  • Conclusion
    
    

Introduction (3-5 sentences):

• • • 1. • Brief summary of the topic

         • Admission of complexity

         • Personal connection

         • Thesis: what is your goal?
           
           

Body (5-7 sentence). The body of your paper should consist of 3 paragraphs. Each should be its own main point, and should be organized from strongest to weakest. For example, say your prompt is "Is art important?" (an open-ended question). Your 3 main points could be:

• • • 1. • 1st, strongest point: art is important because it shows skills

         • 2nd, second strongest: art is important because it causes feelings

         • 3rd, least strong: art is important because...
           
           

Conclusion (3-5 sentences).  Your conclusion should wrap up your paper and introduce an opposing opinion. For example:

• • • 1. • Some people think that art is not important because...

         • However, I believe this is incorrect because...
           
           

Revise your work. Before submitting your essay, make sure to revise! Here are different strategies that you can use, depending on how much time you have left.

• • Quickly re-read your work to make sure your opinion is clear and makes sense

  • Check that your examples are relevant

  • Read from the last sentence; read the entire paper backwards to check grammar and punctuation

Additional Notes

• It can be difficult to write about a topic that doesn't interest you or that feels unimportant. Start by trying to connect the prompt to your personal life and experiences. If this doesn't work, think about a friend or family member's opinion of the topic. 

• The TSI prompt will not require any sources or outside knowledge. Everything that you write and that you use to form your opinion will come from you! 

• You will not be judged on your opinion, just the structure, content, and writing rules of your essay.