Adding and Deleting Sentences

What’s the best technique for making decisions about adding, revising, or deleting sentences on the ACT?

• Know what’s going on in the passage.

• Make a pros and cons list.

• Phone a friend.

What are the TWO big clues to look for when deciding whether to get rid of a sentence?

• quotations

• redundancy

• change in voice or tone

• the sentence is too short

n “Harry Potter” lore, J.K. Rowling, then a struggling, single mom, first started writing the Harry Potter series on cocktail napkins in a bar. She may still be a single mom whose children’s names are David, Mackenzie, and Jessica, but she is no longer struggling. Between book sales, merchandise, and film revenue, Harry Potter is one of the most successful franchises in history, having generated revenues of over 20 billion dollars.

The writer is considering deleting the underlined portion. Should it be kept or deleted?

• Kept, because it further supports why Rowling’s life story is so remarkable.

• Kept, because it provides crucial details in an otherwise vague sentence.

• Deleted, because it is unnecessary and ends up distracting from the paragraph’s primary focus.

• Deleted, because including only the first names of Rowling’s children is too informal.

What is a key consideration when deciding to add a sentence to a paragraph?

• A) It should introduce a new topic.

• B) It should support the main idea.

• C) It should be longer than other sentences.

• D) It should include a quote.

When might a sentence be deleted from a passage?

• A) When it repeats information.

• B) When it introduces a new idea.

• C) When it is the first sentence.

• D) When it contains a fact.

Which of the following is a reason to revise a sentence?

• A) To make it more concise.

• B) To add more words.

• C) To change the topic.

• D) To make it longer.

What should you consider when adding a sentence to a narrative?

• A) It should add suspense.

• B) It should clarify the plot.

• C) It should introduce a new character.

• D) It should change the setting.

In editing, what is a common reason for deleting a sentence?

• A) It is too complex.

• B) It is redundant.

• C) It is too short.

• D) It is too descriptive.

What is an important factor in deciding to keep a sentence in an essay?

• A) It provides evidence.

• B) It is humorous.

• C) It is long.

• D) It is a quote.

Which sentence should be deleted from a paragraph?

• A) The one that repeats information.

• B) The one that introduces a new idea.

• C) The one that is the shortest.

• D) The one that contains a metaphor.