Syllabus​: ​ACT Prep

Chillicothe High School

Instructor Contact Information
Name: Fallon Forbes
Phone: (660) 646-0700
Website: ​https://mrsforbeschs.weebly.com/
Email: [email protected]

Course Description
The ACT Prep course will emphasize ACT test-taking strategies, specifically math skills, language skills, reading skills,
science-reasoning skills, and writing skills. Students will study and practice listening and note taking techniques, test
taking strategies, questioning and thinking skills, information retrieval, pre-ACT test practice, memory techniques,
reading in the content areas, and vocabulary development with the central goal to increase both test scores and
composite scores. All ACT tests will be reviewed: English, Math, Reading, Science Reasoning, and Writing.

College Readiness Benchmarks

ACT has identified the minimum score needed on each ACT test to indicate a 50% chance of obtaining a B or higher or
about a 75% chance of obtaining a C or higher in the corresponding first-year college course.

ACT Test ACT Benchmark Score College Course

English 18 English Composition

Math 22 Algebra

Reading 21 Social Sciences/Humanities

Science 24 Biology
On the ACT Writing Test, ACT’s research to date suggests that examinees with a Writing subscore of 7 or higher possess
sufficient general writing skills to be ready for college-level writing assignments. ​Cite: ACT, Inc. (2011). The Real ACT Prep
Guide 3rd edition. Iowa City, IA: ACT Publications.

Course Goals
● ACT English Test:
○ Review the six elements of effective writing included in the English Test.
○ Effectively use punctuation, grammar and usage, sentence structure, strategy, organization, and style.
● ACT Reading Test:
○ Enhance reading skills through the understanding of key ideas and details/craft and structure and the
integration of key ideas and details.
○ Use reasoning skills to determine main ideas, locate and interpret significant details, understand
sequences of events, make comparisons, comprehend cause-effect relationships, determine the
meaning of context-dependent words, phrases, and statements, draw generalizations, analyze the
author's or narrator's voice and method.
● ACT Math Test:
○ Use basic operations using whole numbers, decimals, fractions, and integers; place value; square roots
and approximations; the concept of exponents; scientific notation; factors; ratio, proportion, and
percent; linear equations in one variable; absolute value and ordering numbers by value; elementary
counting techniques and simple probability; data collection, representation, and interpretation; and
understanding simple descriptive statistics.
○ Graph the relations between equations, including points, lines, polynomials, circles, and other curves;
graphing inequalities; slope; parallel and perpendicular lines; distance; midpoints; and conics.
 ○ Understand trigonometric relations in right triangles; values and properties of trigonometric functions;
graphing trigonometric functions; modeling using trigonometric functions; use of trigonometric
identities; and solving trigonometric equations.
● ACT Science Reasoning Test:
○ Apply scientific reasoning skills in biology, chemistry, physics, and the Earth/space sciences (for example,
geology, astronomy, and meteorology).
● Writing ACT Test:
○ Use effective essay writing components to demonstrate college-readiness writing skills, including
expressing judgments, focusing on topics, developing ideas, organizing ideas, and using language.
● ACT Vocabulary Development:
○ Demonstrate mastery of comprehensive ACT vocabulary, including the most commonly used words in
passages as well as academic cross curricular vocabulary and content/domain specific vocabulary.
● ACT Strategies:
○ Effectively use ACT strategies, including general strategies, content-specific strategies, plug-in method,
comma sandwich, identical answer choices, shorter is better, made-up values, reasonable
interpretation, and yes/yes/no/no.

Materials
● Writing utensil
● Paper
● One pocket-folder for handouts
● Chromebook and charger
● Earbuds or earphones

Tentative Course Outline

● Week 1 (August 25-28)
○ Introduction to Course Syllabus
○ ACT Student, ACT Academy, PrepFactory, Quia, and Google Classroom Setup
○ Digital Data Binder
○ ACT Test-Taking Strategies

● Week 2 (August 31-September 4)

○ ACT Test-Taking Strategies
○ ACT Punctuation, Grammar, and Transitions
○ Vocabulary Quiz 1

● Week 3 (September 7-11)

○ No School--Labor Day (September 7)
○ ACT English Passages

● Week 4 (September 14-18)

○ ACT Grammar, Punctuation, and Transitions
○ Vocabulary Quiz 2
○ ACT English Test
○ No Class--Homecoming (September 18)
○ First Quarter Midterm (September 18)

● Week 5 (September 21-25)

○ ACT Algebra
● Week 6 (September 28-October 2)
○ No School (September 28)
○ ACT Functions and Equations
○ Vocabulary Quiz 3

● Week 7 (October 5-9)

○ ACT Coordinate and Plane Geometry

● Week 8 (October 12-16)

○ ACT Trigonometry
○ ACT Math Test
○ Vocabulary Quiz 4
○ First Quarter Ends (October 16)

● Week 9 (October 19-23)

○ ACT Reading Steps
○ ACT Reading Passage Types
○ No Class--Parent-Teacher Conferences (October 22)
○ No School (October 23)

● Week 10 (October 26-30)

○ ACT Fiction Passages
○ ACT Social Science Passages
○ Vocabulary Quiz 5

● Week 11 (November 2-6)

○ No School (November 2)
○ ACT Humanities Passages
○ ACT Natural Science Passages

● Week 12 (November 9-13)

○ ACT Reading Passages (All types)
○ Vocabulary Quiz 6
○ ACT Reading Test
○ Second Quarter Midterm (November 13)

● Week 13 (November 16-20)

○ ACT Graphing
○ ACT Science Passages

● Week 14 (November 23-27)

○ Vocabulary Quiz 7
○ No School--Thanksgiving Break (November 25-27)

● Week 15 (November 30-December 4)

○ ACT Science Passages

● Week 16 (December 7-11)

○ ACT Writing Review
○ ACT Post-Test Practice

● Week 17 (December 14-18)

○ ACT Post-Tests
 ● Week 18 (December 21-22)
○ Final
○ No Class--Christmas Break begins (December 22)
○ Second Quarter Ends (December 22)

Classroom Expectations
● Class will begin and end on time.
● We will value instructional time. We will be engaged learners!
● Everyone in class will be prepared.
● We will respect each other. We will engage in open and respectful communication and collaboration.
● We will have a positive mindset. We will learn from our mistakes.
● We will celebrate each other’s successes. We are a TEAM!

Grading Scale
96-100 A 73-76 C
90-95 A- 70-72 C-
87-89 B+ 67-69 D+
83-86 B 63-66 D
80-82 B- 60-62 D-
77-79 C+ 59-0 F

Grading
Emphasis is placed on the strategies and skills required for students to achieve the ACT Benchmark scores for College
and Career Readiness in English, Math, Reading, Science Reasoning, and Writing (see College Readiness Benchmarks
above).

Grades will be weighted as follows:

● 30%--Tests (Includes ACT subject tests and ACT practice test, excluding the writing test)
● 25%--Quizzes (Includes ACT vocabulary quizzes and ACT strategies quizzes)
● 25%--Homework (Includes online module work via PrepFactory)
● 10%--Classwork (Includes Digital Data Binder creation and updates)
● 10%--Participation (includes participation in collaborative learning activities)

Note: Grades in this course reflect the student’s level of achievement of the learning outcomes, which are based on
course goals and student learning objectives that have been aligned to the ACT Prep course. A student’s grade in this
course is not a predictor of the student’s score on the ACT test that is given as a national college admissions examination.

Late Work Policy

When a student has an excused absence (such as illness), he/she will be given ​two days​ for each missed day to get
make-up work turned in without it being considered late. A pre-arranged absence (such as a doctor’s appointment) or an
absence due to a school activity requires students to communicate the situation with me ​prior​ to the absence; ​work is
still due on the assigned day​. (There may be instances that are unique, and students are encouraged to discuss any
absence with me so that they are able to complete work and receive credit.)

If a student does not turn work in on time, that work will be capped according to CHS’s grading policy. A cap means that
students can earn credit up to the determined percentage (cap).

● Late Homework: ​Students can earn ​80 percent (cap​) on late homework until two weeks after the due date.
Homework turned in after two weeks but BEFORE the end of the quarter will result in a ​60 percent (cap)​. After
the quarter ends, all grades are final and no late homework from that quarter will be accepted.
 ○ Example: If a student turned in a late homework assignment by two weeks after the due date and
earned an 85 percent, that student’s grade would be capped at an 80 percent. If the student earned a 70
percent, the student would earn the 70 percent since the score was below the cap for late assignments
turned in before the end of the two-week grace period. If the assignment was turned in AFTER the
two-week grace period, the student would earn a 60 percent.

● Late Projects/Papers: ​If a student turns a project or paper in late, that project or paper will be capped at a
certain percentage based on how late the paper or project is. Papers and projects can be turned in until the end
of the quarter. After the quarter ends, all grades are final and no late papers or projects from that quarter will
be accepted.
○ 1 day late=90 percent (cap)
○ 2 days late = 80 percent (cap)
○ 3 days late = 70 percent (cap)
○ 4 or more days late = 60 percent (cap)

○ Example: If a student turned in a paper 1 day late and earned a 95 percent, that student’s grade would
be capped at a 90 percent. If the student earned an 80 percent, the student would earn the 80 percent
since the score is below the cap for a paper that is 1 day late.

Absentees
It is the student’s responsibility to acquire make-up work. Please check with Mrs. Forbes for make-up work.

Academic Dishonesty
Cheating includes attempting to obtain answers from an external source during a quiz or test and copying someone
else’s assignment. Plagiarism is copying from another source without giving proper credit to that source or submitting
another person’s work or ideas as one’s own. It is also plagiarism to copy or cut and paste from the Internet and to
present that information as the student’s personal work.

Neither cheating nor plagiarism will be tolerated under any circumstances. Infractions will result in a referral to the
office and the student’s parent/guardian will be notified. This course is designed to help you improve your ACT scores,
not to test your ability to cheat.

During the ACT test, examinees who are dismissed due to prohibited behavior forfeit their registration for that test date.
There are no options for refunds or appeals in situations involving prohibited behavior.
 Student-Parent Contract: ACT Prep

Parent Name_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Student Name________________________________________________________________________________________________

Relationship to student_________________________________________________________________________________________

Phone contact number(s) (please specify home, work, or cell)

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Email Address_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Would you prefer to be contacted through phone or email?

_____Phone _____ Email

Please take this opportunity to tell me anything about your student that you feel is important for me to know—strengths,
weaknesses, outside of school commitments, etc. I strongly believe that a student’s performance is directly affected by the stress in
his or her life, and it is helpful to me to know as much about your student as I can early on in the school year.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Please read through the syllabus with your student and then discuss the course. What is your and your student’s expectation for his
or her grade in this class?

_____ A _____ B+ _____ C+

_____ A- _____ B _____ C

_____ B-

By signing below, you verify that you and your student have read through and understand the syllabus.

Parent Signature_______________________________________________________________ Date___________________________

Student Signature_______________________________________________________________ Date__________________________