PSAT Writing
PSAT Writing teaches students to master grammar, punctuation, and effective writing skills needed for the PSAT and beyond.
Basic Concepts
Punctuation & Sentence Structure
Punctuation Power
Punctuation marks like commas, semicolons, and dashes help organize ideas and clarify meaning.
Common Marks
- Comma (,): Separates items or clauses.
- Semicolon (;): Joins two related sentences.
- Dash (—): Adds emphasis or extra detail.
Sentence Structure
Sentences can be simple, compound, or complex. Using a mix makes writing interesting!
- Simple: One idea. "She smiled."
- Compound: Two ideas joined. "She smiled, and he waved."
- Complex: Main idea with extra info. "She smiled because she was happy."
Why It Matters
Using punctuation correctly makes your writing easier to read and understand—helpful for essays, texts, and work emails.
Examples
I bought apples, oranges, and bananas. (Correct comma use)
He was late; the bus broke down. (Correct semicolon use)
In a Nutshell
Punctuation and sentence variety make writing clear and engaging.