Summer Bootcamp Verbal Syllabus

Summer Bootcamp Verbal Syllabus

📚 Mr. John’s SAT Verbal 4-Week Bootcamp

Theme: Master the Foundations with PROVE-IT and Evidence-First Thinking
Schedule: 4 sessions, 1 hour each

WEEK 1: Introduction to SAT Verbal + PROVE-IT Method

Focus: Foundation of Success: Every Answer Must Be Proven

  • Overview of the SAT Verbal Section (RW structure, timing, types of passages)
  • Introduce the PROVE-IT Method: How to eliminate wrong answers systematically
  • Evidence-Based Thinking:
    • Why every correct answer must be explicitly stated or clearly demonstrated in the passage
    • How "trap" answers distort, exaggerate, or invent details
  • Mini-Drill:
    • Quick practice using PROVE-IT with 3–5 sample questions (mix of reading and grammar)
  • Homework Assignment:
    • Short PROVE-IT drill: 10 questions focusing on eliminating wrong answers with explicit proof

WEEK 2: Domain Focus — Craft and Structure + Information and Ideas

Focus: Reading Like a Detective

  • Craft and Structure:
    • Word-in-Context: Finding the closest meaning based on surrounding words
    • Analyzing author's choices, tone, and purpose
    • "What does this word, phrase, or sentence really do?"
  • Information and Ideas:
    • Finding explicit information
    • Making inferences that are logically guaranteed by the text (no imagination allowed!)
  • PROVE-IT Application:
    • Practice showing "evidence footprints" for every reading answer
  • Mini-Drill:
    • 2 Craft and Structure passages
    • 2 Information and Ideas passages
  • Homework Assignment:
    • Targeted worksheet: Craft and Structure + Information and Ideas (15 questions)

WEEK 3: Domain Focus — Standard English Conventions

Focus: Grammar: Clear, Correct, Concise

  • Standard English Conventions:
    • Core Grammar Rules: Subject-Verb Agreement, Pronouns, Modifiers, Parallelism
    • Punctuation: Commas, Colons, Dashes, Apostrophes
  • PROVE-IT Application:
    • Proving grammar rules with quick "grammar tests" (what rule is being violated?)
    • Eliminating grammatically "awkward" or incorrect options
  • Mini-Drill:
    • 8–10 Standard English Conventions questions
  • Homework Assignment:
    • Targeted grammar worksheet: Identify and fix errors (20 questions)

WEEK 4: Domain Focus — Expression of Ideas + Final Review

Focus: Making Writing Clear, Precise, and Logical

  • Expression of Ideas:
    • Transitions: Applying the IDEA method for analyzing transitions
    • Learning the three transition categories: Continuers, Contrast, and Cause and Effect
    • Rhetorical Synthesis method: how to apply the "no-look" method and when not to use it.
  • PROVE-IT Application:
    • Proving the best answer based on the text’s evidence
  • Final Mini-Mock:
    • 10 mixed verbal questions (Reading + Writing)
  • Homework (Post-Course Practice):
    • Continue practicing using PROVE-IT checklist with full sections

🌟 Special Notes

  • Every lesson starts with a 5-minute warmup reviewing the prior week’s concept.
  • PROVE-IT Quick Reference Card will be given to each student to keep practicing at home.
  • Emphasis at every step: If you can’t PROVE it, you can’t PICK it.