Week 1 - Foundations of Verbal

In this week, we discuss the specific verbal skills the SAT is testing and how best to go about acquiring these skills. We explore techniques for distilling the main idea from a text, review core grammar terminology, and begin our vocabulary study.

Week 2 - Passages, Sentences, Words

We practice reading for meaning, structure and purpose at the passage level. We discuss what makes a sentence, and begin working on how to use punctuation both correctly and expressively. We continue our vocabulary study with an introduction to etymology; we learn how to use spaced repetition as part of an effective memorization program.

Week 3 - Working at the sentence level

We learn how to toggle between the big picture and details in a passage and how to read for meaning and function at the sentence level. We dissect complex sentences to understand the difference between essential and non-essential elements, and we continue practicing skillful punctuation. In our vocabulary lesson, we learn how to use roots to speed up our word acquisition.

Week 4 - Comparing passages and taking notes

We practice using written notes to support our verbal problem-solving and discuss how to compare the what, why, and how across passages. We conclude our four week arc on sentence structure and punctuation, and discuss what to do if you can’t get a word to stick.

Week 5 - Cumulative Review: Focus on Science Passages 

We do a mixed review of the reading question types we have covered so far, with a focus on science passages and techniques for decoding them. We learn a process for applying our new grammar knowledge to Standard English Convention questions. We learn how to review problems effectively. We discuss Alan Turing’s essay “Computing Machinery and Intelligence.”

Week 6 - Introduction to logic

We learn how to use our note-taking skills to dissect an author’s train of thought and how to logically complete a text. We practice choosing verbs and dive deeper into using etymologies, roots, suffixes, and prefixes to bolster our vocabulary.

Week 7 - Strengthen & Weaken

We define premise, claim, and assumption and practice identifying these elements in SAT arguments. We learn how to answer strengthen/weaken questions. We review subject-modifier errors and commonly confused word pairs.

Week 8 - Literary Passages & Supporting Claims

We learn how to use historical context to help decipher literary texts and how to use literary texts to build vocabulary. We practice using literary quotations to support claims. We learn about common errors relating to nouns and pronouns and how to avoid them.

Week 9 - Reading Graphs

We learn to distill a narrative from a graph and apply these techniques to SAT bar graphs and tables. We practice using quantitative evidence to support a claim. We return to our work on sentence structure and noun function, with a focus on creating logical transitions.

Week 10 - Cumulative Review: Focus on Social Studies

We practice the SAT question types covered in classes 6-9, with a focus on social studies passages. We learn about active and passive verbs and discuss how to review a practice test. We discuss George Orwell’s essay “Politics and the English Language.”

Week 11 – Words in Context 1 - Most Logical

We discuss word choice and consider Orwell’s maxim “never use a long word where a short one will do.” We practice a process for completing words in context questions. We learn about how to work effectively with words that have multiple meanings. We begin an overview of classical rhetorical devices, focusing on metaphor and simile.

Week 12 - Words in Context 2 - Most Precise

We practice revising sentences for precision and concision, following Orwell’s maxim, “if it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.” We continue practice with SAT Words in Context questions. We continue our study of classical rhetorical devices with poly- and asyndeton, chiasmus, and tricolon crescens.

Week  13 - Outlines and Essays   

We discuss the writing process and learn how to complete SAT outline questions. We learn about diction and tone, and practice varying these elements in our own sentences. We conclude our overview of classical rhetorical devices with poly- and asyndeton.

Week 14 - Cumulative Review: Focus on Humanities Passages

We review the question types covered in weeks 11-13 and do mixed practice. We practice using our new sentence-making skills to maximum effect; we consider Orwell’s suggestion to “break any of these rules sooner than say something outright barbarous. We discuss Virginia Woolf’s essay “A Room of One’s Own.”

Week 15 and 16: Practice, Review, and Individualized Guidance

Mixed practice; navigating time pressure; individual guidance.