LOOK FOR TRANSITIONS IN THE PARAGRAPH OR PASSAGE.CONTRACTIONSARE TH...

3. Look for transitions in the paragraph or passage.ContractionsAre there strong transitions leading you fromWhenever you come across a question with a contrac-one idea to the next? Would the paragraph ortion, read it as two words. If it doesn’t make sense, thenpassage be more effective if more (or moreyou need a possessive pronoun, not a contraction. Elim-appropriate) transitions were added?inate the apostrophe.Homonyms

P a r t I I : T h e E s s a y

Unfortunately, the only thing you can do to prepare forquestions about homonyms is to memorize the correctChapter 10 described the steps you should take to writemeanings and spellings. Try using mnemonic devices toremember which word is which.well on an essay exam. You learned that when you mustwrite under pressure,good planningand time manage-mentare the keys to success.At test time, remember this guideline for using your timeb. You must use an appropriate level offormal-on the exam:ity. Avoid jargon (technical or specialized lan-guage) and slang. Don’t try to use big words

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just to sound more intelligent. Often, the

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time (10–15 minutes): planningmore simple words are the most clear and2

time (20–25 minutes): writingeffective. Besides, you may end up misusingvocabulary and saying things you don’t4

time (10–15 minutes): revising and editingmean.