ACT English: Adding and Deleting Sentences

Mastering the skill of adding and deleting sentences is crucial for conquering the ACT English section. These questions test your ability to be an effective editor, evaluating whether a change sharpens a paragraph's argument or muddies its focus. Your success hinges on understanding the purpose of every sentence and its relationship to the paragraph's core message.

Understanding the Core Logic of Paragraphs

Every well-written paragraph is built around a controlling idea, a central point that guides all the information within it. Supporting sentences must directly bolster this main idea with evidence, examples, or explanation. When you encounter an add/delete question, your first task is to identify this controlling idea. Ask yourself: "What is this paragraph primarily trying to say or prove?" The correct answer will always align with strengthening that primary objective.

Questions typically ask, "The writer is considering adding/deleting the following sentence..." followed by four answer choices. The standard choices are:

• Yes, because it [supports the paragraph's focus].
• Yes, because it [provides necessary logical support].
• No, because it [is irrelevant to the paragraph's focus].
• No, because it [repeats or contradicts established information].

Your job is to select the choice that accurately completes the statement. The "because" portion is just as important as the "yes" or "no"; the ACT will often tempt you with a correct "yes/no" paired with an incorrect reason.

The Strategic Approach to Adding Sentences

When considering an addition, you must determine if the new sentence provides relevant support or introduces an irrelevant detail. A sentence should be added only if it fulfills one of these roles:

1. Provides a Needed Example or Clarification: Does the paragraph make a claim that feels unsupported? The proposed sentence might offer a concrete example that illustrates the abstract point.
2. Creates a Logical Transition: Does the shift from one idea to the next feel abrupt? A good addition can bridge two thoughts, using keywords like "for instance," "however," or "therefore."
3. Introduces Essential Background: Is there a concept mentioned that the reader needs to understand for the paragraph to make sense? A defining sentence might be necessary.

Example Analysis: A paragraph discusses how urban green spaces improve community well-being by reducing stress. The proposed addition is: "For example, a 2019 study found that residents with access to community gardens reported significantly lower anxiety levels."

• Reasoning: This sentence should be added. It directly supports the paragraph's controlling idea by providing a specific, relevant example of how green spaces reduce stress (the claimed benefit). It bolsters the argument with concrete evidence.

The Strategic Approach to Deleting Sentences

When considering a deletion, you must decide if the sentence is essential information or a distracting digression. A sentence should be deleted if it commits one of these common errors:

1. Shifts the Focus: It introduces a new, tangential idea that steers the paragraph away from its main point.
2. Repeats Information: It rephrases something already stated without adding new insight, making the writing redundant.
3. Contradicts the Argument: It presents information that undermines the paragraph's central claim without a transition like "although some believe..."
4. Is Excessively Specific: It delves into minor details that do not help the reader understand the primary idea.

Example Analysis: The same paragraph on urban green spaces continues: "These spaces also provide habitat for local pollinators. Many cities are now requiring new buildings to include rooftop gardens." The writer considers deleting the second sentence.

• Reasoning: This sentence should be deleted. While related to green spaces, the paragraph's focus is on human well-being. Shifting to municipal building codes is a tangential detail that distracts from the paragraph's controlling idea about community health.

Applying the Process to ACT Questions

To solve these questions efficiently, follow a consistent, step-by-step process:

1. Read for the Gist: First, read the paragraph (and often the surrounding sentences) to firmly grasp the controlling idea.
2. Evaluate the Proposed Sentence: Read the sentence in question carefully. Determine its precise function.
3. Match Function to Purpose: Does the sentence's function support the paragraph's purpose? If yes, it likely stays or is added. If no, it likely goes or is not added.
4. Predict the Answer: Before looking at the choices, decide in your own words: "This should be [added/deleted] because..." Then, find the answer choice that matches your reasoning.
5. Plug It In: For "add" questions, physically read the paragraph with the new sentence inserted. Does it flow logically? Does it feel like it belongs?

Common Pitfalls

Pitfall 1: Choosing an Answer Because the Sentence is "Interesting" or "True."

• Error: A sentence might contain cool facts or accurate information, but if it doesn't serve the paragraph's specific point, it is irrelevant.
• Correction: Ignore the inherent truth or interest of a sentence. Judge it solely on its relevance to the paragraph's immediate goal. A fact can be true but still be a distracting digression.

Pitfall 2: Misidentifying the Scope.

• Error: Assuming the paragraph is about a broader topic than it actually is. For instance, a paragraph might be specifically about the economic benefits of recycling, not recycling in general. A sentence about environmental benefits would then be off-topic.
• Correction: Pinpoint the exact angle the paragraph takes. Look for keywords and repeated concepts to define the narrow scope.

Pitfall 3: Overlooking the "Because" Clause.

• Error: Seeing a "Yes" or "No" that matches your initial instinct and selecting it without reading the full justification. The ACT frequently offers a correct yes/no with an incorrect reason.
• Correction: Always treat the answer as a complete statement. The reason must be logically sound and accurately describe the sentence's relationship to the text.

Pitfall 4: Deleting a Sentence That Sets Up the Next Idea.

• Error: Sometimes a sentence that seems like a minor detail is actually crucial for understanding the sentence that follows. Deleting it would make the subsequent text confusing.
• Correction: Read the sentences before and after the text in question. Ensure the deletion doesn't break the logical chain of ideas.

Summary

• Your primary task is to protect and clarify the paragraph's controlling idea. Every editing decision must serve this goal.
• Add a sentence only if it provides direct support, a necessary example, or a logical transition that bolsters the main point.
• Delete a sentence if it shifts focus, repeats information, contradicts the argument, or provides irrelevant detail.
• Always evaluate the function of a sentence, not just its factual content. An interesting true statement can still be irrelevant.
• Treat the answer choices as complete statements. The justification (the "because" part) is non-negotiable and must be accurate.
• Use the strategy of reading the sentence in context and predicting the answer before looking at the choices to avoid tempting distractors.