ACT Quick Tip Writing Strategies

1. Form a good, well thought out essay consisting of AT LEAST 5-6 paragraphs.
a. An opening paragraph, 3 supporting paragraphs, a summary, and a closing.
b. Putting forward a definitive stance, while acknowledging the other side.
c. Being as coherent as possible in your writing, free of grammatical errors.
d. Using evidence to support your claims
2. Aim for ONE of THREE stances.
a. Conservative If X is bad for any reason, then Y.
b. Utilitarian If X is efficient, then Y.
c. Progressive If X leads to any kind of advancement, then Y.
3. Split your time effectively!
*Do not sweat the clock, but do be aware of how much time youve spent doing what!
a. Plan for 8-10 minutes. Usually, once youve formed an idea you can go where your
writing tool takes you.
b. Write for 20-25 minutes.
c. Use any and all remaining time to review your essay. Only change minor grammatical
errors youve found. (ex. You spelled a word incorrectly.)
*Your first and last paragraphs are what matter most. A strong opening and closing are what seals the
deal for your score!

Essay Structure
1A. This is the typical format of the ACT Writing section that leads to an excellent score.
Opening Paragraph This is where you state your thesis and take a stance on the subject youve
chosen. This is never easy and requires quite a bit of thinking back to your personal views.
Typically, youll select three major points for your thesis and back these up. Your opening has to
be strong and effective!
Supporting Paragraphs For what has already been said, youll use these three paragraphs to
support your main point in your thesis. A lot of it will come from opinions, and this can even be
backed by experiences you have had!
Summary Paragraph Youll use this to effectively summarize your points and start to close.
Think of it as a recap. It doesnt have to be long or overly complex, just a light at the end of the
tunnel so to speak.
Closing Paragraph This will be the fruition of all your work. Here, you will enforce that the
point of view you have taken is the correct one. It is good to end on a strong statement that will
resonate with the grader/reader.
1B. It is easy to have a view point and roll with it, but it is often very hard to take the time to shell out a
different stance. It is important to find time within your essay to present another point of view. Above,

three were listed and there are others you can take, but subtly hinting at another is always a strong
feature of any essay that shows a good balance in mindset.
*You do have to be careful to not align yourself too much with this other stance.
1C. Having an expansive vocabulary is always good, as you can avoid repeating the same words, but
knowing how to use certain words and punctuation in the right place is absolutely key.
1D. Evidence in ACT Writing isnt the same as you may know from a legal standpoint. Evidence can be a
personal enlightening experience that opened your eyes to something. It can be a news article you may
have read that favors your topic. As long as it has created awareness for something, youre fairly safe to
use it.

Stances
2A. A conservative stance often involves an analysis of the negative and explaining why it may be bad. It
commonly uses lack of change as motivation, which isnt inherently a bad thing. This is often applied to
experimental topics.
2B. A utilitarian stance is one that looks at efficiency. If the topic has the potential for easing a given
system, a utilitarian view will see it as a good thing and immediately side by it. This is often the case for
technology based topics.
2C. A progressive standpoint takes society into account when making decisions. Breaking down social
barriers is at the core of a progressive stance. This is often applied to societal topics.

Planning and Time Management

Using your time wisely can be tough on an essay. When you have many options to be had, its tough to
pick one and stick with it. Then theres the demon of organizing your time. Writing within such a small
constraint can be a challenge, but overcoming it will only lead to your success.
3A. 8-10 minutes is the common time allowance for planning. Those adept at writing can usually form a
stance and a thesis faster than that, but even for those who arent, there is hope.
Picking a topic you enjoy - Youre usually given three topic choices. Choosing one you can work
with can ultimately cut down on your planning time significantly.
Planning strategies These strategies can help you elaborate if youre having a brain fart or on a
topic you may not be too familiar with.
-Writing your main idea, followed by subtopics, can lead to a quick and easy thesis.
-Idea webs, circling the main topic and branching out, are a great way to expand on a
thought that you may be stuck on.
-Who? What? Where? And Why? are simple questions that can actually yield impressive
results.
Write all over Youre given plenty of room to think. Write all over the scrap sheet provided to
map out and expand your idea.

3B. This is as simple as putting what we talked about above into action! You dont have to pour your soul
into it, but form a good essay with a topic that actually means something to you. Readers and graders
can often tell if a subject is forced and bland. Dont allow yourself to fall into that pit!
3C. After youve finished writing your essay, its tough to go back and make major changes. Even then,
you may not have ANY time left. Provided you do, just check for minor grammatical things. Sniping
errors like this can boost your score significantly!

Work Cited
Staffaroni, Laura. "ACT Writing Tips: 15 Strategies to Raise Your Essay Score." ACT Writing Tips:
15 Strategies to Raise Your Essay Score. PrepScholar, 13 Feb. 2015. Web. 31 Mar. 2016.
Shmoop Editorial Team. "ACT Writing Strategies." Shmoop.com. Shmoop University, Inc., 11 Nov.
2008. Web. 31 Mar. 2016.
UNC Writing Center. "Brainstorming." The Writing Center at UNC-Chapel Hill. UNC at Chapel Hill,
2014. Web. 31 Mar. 2016.