FSOT

Sentence Types

Type	Structure	Example
Simple	Oneindependentclause	Theconsulreviewedtheapplication .
Compound	Twoormoreindependentclauses	Theconsulreviewedtheapplication andtheofficerconducted ,
		theinterview .
Complex	Oneindependentclause+atleast	Althoughtheconsulreviewedtheapplication thevisawas ,
	onedependentclause	denied .
Compound -complex	Multipleindependentclauses+at	Althoughtheconsulreviewedtheapplication thevisawas ,
	leastonedependentclause	denied andtheapplicantfiledanappeal , .

Sentence Fragments and Run-ons

Error	Example	Corrections
Fragment(lacksa	Afterthemeetingwiththeforeignminister .	Afterthemeetingwiththeforeignminister thedelegation ,
subject verb or , ,		returnedtotheembassy .
completethought)
Run-on (independent	Theembassyclosedearlythethreatlevel	The embassy closed early; the threat level increased . · The
clausesimproperly	increased .	embassyclosedearlybecausethethreatlevelincreased .
joined)
Commasplice(a	Thereportwassubmitted thecommittee ,	The report was submitted , and the committee reviewed it . ·
type of run-on)	reviewedit .	Thereportwassubmitted;thecommitteereviewedit .

Subordination and Coordination

Subordination shows the relationship between ideas; the more important idea belongs in the independent clause. Weak: The diplomat was experienced. She was assigned to the difficult post. Better: Because the diplomat was experienced, she was assigned to the difficult post.

Coordination gives equal emphasis to ideas: The political section monitors elections, and the economic section tracks trade agreements.

Reading comprehension questions ask what a passage says, what it implies, and how it is built. Every answer must be supported by the passage itself.

The main idea is the central point the author conveys. It may

Inferences are logical conclusions drawn from stated

be stated in a thesis or topic sentence, or it may be implied.

information. Consider what the author suggests, what

Look for recurring themes, the author's purpose, and

conclusions the evidence supports, and what the author

supporting details that point to one central concept.

assumes the reader understands.

Tone is the author's attitude toward the subject: objective,

Context clues reveal meaning: definition clues (the word is

critical, skeptical, supportive, alarmed, or neutral. Purpose may

defined in the text), synonym clues (a similar word appears

be to inform, persuade, entertain, or explain.

nearby), antonym clues (a contrasting word appears), and example clues (examples illustrate meaning).

Logical Structure

Recognize the passage's organizational pattern; transition words signal which one the author is using.

Organizationalpatternsandsignalwords(Continued)

Pattern	TypicalSignalWords
Problemandsolution	theproblemis onesolution toaddressthis , ,
Classification	typesof categories kinds groups , , ,
Orderofimportance	mostimportant primarily aboveall least , , ,

Principle	Weak	Strong
Clarity:precise ,	Thesituationimpactedthings .	Thetradeembargoreducedagriculturalexportsby15
concretelanguage		percent .
without
unnecessary
jargon
Conciseness:cut	Duetothefactthatthenegotiationsfailed thetreaty ,	Becausethenegotiationsfailed thetreatywasnot ,
redundancyand	wasnotsigned .	signed .
wordiness
Conciseness	Intheeventthattheambassadorarrivesearly …	Iftheambassadorarrivesearly …
Activevoice:	Thememorandumwasapprovedbythesecretary .	Thesecretaryapprovedthememorandum .
generallyclearer
andmoredirect

Passive voice is appropriate when the actor is unknown or unimportant, or when the action matters more than the actor: The embassy was constructed in 1952. Visas are processed within 30 days.

Word Choice: Commonly Confused Words

Pair	Meanings
Affect/effect	Affect(verb):toinfluence·effect(noun):aresult;(verb):tobringabout
Principal/principle	Principal(noun):aleader;(adjective):main·principle(noun):aruleorstandard
Complement/compliment	Complement:tocomplete·compliment:topraise
Stationary/stationery	Stationary:notmoving·stationery:writingpaper

With or/nor, the verb agrees with the nearer subject.

An introductory modifier must describe the subject that follows it.

Intervening phrases never change subject-verb agreement.

A comma alone cannot join two independent clauses.

Every pronoun needs one clear antecedent.

Answer comprehension questions from the passage, not

Series and correlative pairs must be grammatically parallel.

outside knowledge.

Prefer the concise, active, precise version of a sentence.