Farragut Career Academy
ACT Preparation
Course Syllabus
2011-2012 School Year
INSTRUCTOR: Mr. Dennis Banahan email: dmbanahan@cps.edu
Phone: 773-534-1300
TEXT/RESOURCES Kaplan Advantage ACT English and Reading
Kaplan Advantage ACT Mathematics and Science
online resource - www.kaptest.com
DESCRIPTION: This class is recommended for college-bound juniors planning to take
the ACT during this school year. Although the main objective of this
course is to help you obtain a good score on the Prairie State
Achievement Test, the skills that you learn will assist you in your
current classes, your college courses, and eventually the work
place. Almost all undergraduate colleges and universities require that
prospective students take the ACT. Taking this course will prepare
students for all question types found on the ACT. We will analyze
each of the test question areas and give special consideration to math
and verbal refreshers and techniques aimed at relieving test-taking
anxiety. Topics include sentence completions and reading
comprehension for the reading section, grammar and essay writing for
the writing section, scientific concepts for the science section, and
basic and advanced math concepts (including fractions, decimals,
percentages, ratios, proportions) and algebraic and geometric concepts
for the math sections.
OBJECTIVES: 1. Instruct students in effective test-taking strategies for the Prairie
State achievement Test (ACT and Work Keys).
2. Review reading, grammar, and writing skills to better prepare
students for success in current high school classes and future
college courses.
3. Instruct students in reading strategies such as previewing,
skimming and scanning, and identifying vocabulary in context.
4. Teach the writing process to enable students to effectively
brainstorm, outline, draft, and edit their own writing.
5. Understand the format and content requirements of the Math test.
6. Understand three multiple-choice strategies, which are
appropriate for the ACT Math test.
7. Review the content stressed by the ACT math test.
8. Identify the 3 types of passages on the Science test.
9. Understand that the main idea of the Science test is the scientific
process and not scientific content
EVALUATION: Student progress will be monitored daily through teacher observation
of interactions in the classroom with the teacher and other students.
Homework, quizzes, tests, writing samples, performance assessments,
and cooperative work will be the basis for a student’s grade.
GRADING SCALE: 90-100= A
89-80= B
79-70= C
69-60= D
59 - = F
Makeup Policy: Students are responsible to make arrangements with their teachers to
make up missing work (including tests) if they are absent on the day
they are assigned
Students are only allowed to make up missing work if they present an
official school reinstatement of the excused absence.
Materials: ***Pen/Pencil and paper
***Folder – Some sort of folder or binder is needed to hold
worksheets, papers, and practice tests.
***Calculator – A scientific or graphing calculator can be used on the
ACT Mathematics test (have in class when we are covering the math
portion of the exam).
Classroom Rules and 1. Each student is responsible for the textbook that he/she is
Regulations: assigned.
2. Make every effort to be in attendance. Inconsistent attendance
in class leads to irregular work.
3. Respect for one another is the guiding principle in this course.
Students shall not be talking when another person is speaking;
be it student or instructor. However, when called upon in class,
please speak up because your thoughts are valued.
4. Students are expected to maintain an academic atmosphere.
5. No students shall be out of his/her seat unless it is part of the
learning activity.
Disciplinary Procedures: Discipline in the classroom will be handled on a per case basis. In the
event that student expectations are not followed, the CPS Uniform
Discipline Code will be followed.
Student/Teacher Students are expected to:
Expectations: Wear IDs at all times
Be in class on time and prepared with all materials
Use appropriate language and show respect for others
Complete all classwork and homework assignments on time
Adhere to the school dress code
Follow the CPS Uniform Discipline Code