ACT Advice

COON RAPIDS,MN-John Granoulis, an Americor Developmental Class speaker, promised, on Wednesday the 20^th, to higher students ACT scores by three points.

            Granoulis agreed that it may take several tries but following a few simple tips, it may boost up the points.

-          Eliminate answer choices.

-          Don’t be afraid to skip problems!

-          Don’t lose track of time.

-          Underline or highlight key words.

Granoulis started off by keying off the main point, “Really the best way to improve your score is really to practice. I am here to help you know what to do or to know the plan of attack in any emergency.”

Handing out worksheets with helpful hints, he allowed us to stay active by asking questions and communicating with other students.

One of the first things mentioned was that out of so many choices, we can lower the probability of getting the correct answer. “Process of elimination,” is what Granoulis called it, “You may not always know the right answer, but usually you can at least identify one wrong choice and make an educated guess. The probability that you’d do better is higher.” Looking at the reading section, he advised to always select the answer choice that is as short as possible. Considering this, it’s connected to always eliminating the longest answer choices.

Working on a math problem usually doesn’t give shorter answers and longer answers. So Granoulis suggested using the skip method. “Don’t be afraid to skip problems! Each problem is worth one point. Some problems you’ll finish in ten seconds. Other problems can take ten minutes.” Experiencing the math section live, Granoulis challenged students on a mini test to see how well they can skip.

Skipping those that take long also keeps time saved. Time is something everyone should keep in their head, while the testing is being done. Don’t lose track of time. Keep a look out on what’s ticking. “Don’t relax too much,” mentioned Granoulis clearly.

Another method that Granoulis spoke of was, “make sure to highlight, make notes and/or write summary statements.” It’s a guarantee that it will save lots of time. When highlighting and underling key points, it will prohibit students from glancing back to text or picture. Taking an example from the reading section of the ACT, Granoulis mentions that, “it’s easier to take the reading paragraph, browsing through it, and on the side writing down the major topic in one-to-three words. So that when a question approaches, you’ll know where to look.”

Taking the majority of the time to do hands on work, John Granoulis allowed students to practice each section, with timing. A student, Martin Mcshane reacts, “I definitely think this helped me understand and get a taste of what will happen.”

Ending the session and meeting, Granoulis comments, “I hope that everyone that came learned something new. I have actually seen students finish in flying stars and I believe I will keep seeing it.”

A Girls Memory

[Hannah with her parents at one of her volleyball games.]

Some call it ability, others call it a talent but Hannah Swanson calls it a dream. Living with it, doing it and loving it, Hannah enjoys playing volleyball at any chance she can get.

Many times, in first and second grade, she’d find herself watching her sister, spike, hit, tip, and serve the volleyball and an interest was born that had lasted and still lasts. As life went on, she would on occasion play with her family. “A lot of summers we would just go outside and play a game or two with the family or even with some neighborhood friends. It’s an interest of the whole family,” she says. They would teach her the basics and she played and practiced.

Hitting the teen years, Swanson soon joined her school team. Playing from seventh grade to tenth grade, she grew in her knowledge and love of volleyball. After games, her family would encourage and coach her on what could be worked on. Expressing her level, she says, “I would say that I’m okay! I’m pretty good at blocking and serving, but I don’t have the technique down for hitting very well. Also, since I’m tall, being in the back row is sometimes a challenge.”

Now a junior in school, Hannah Swanson, can no longer play volleyball because of some stomach issues. If life hadn’t taken this course, Swanson without any doubt says she would return to playing volleyball. A dream she wishes to fulfill.

Though she is not able to play, memories still do exist. Some highlights that she remembers most are the games. On a particular game, she served about 10 times in a row to comeback and they won the game. Another memorable event that occurred was when their volleyball team all wore pink jerseys and they sold pink shirts for fans, to raise money for breast cancer research.

Volleyball had left smiles and hopes of something more for Hannah. She shares a piece of advice, “Always believe in yourself and don’t let other people bring you down, play because you love it and want to have fun, and play the best you can, even if you aren’t the best.”

Volleyball Love interview transcript

My Interview with Hannah Swanson

Q: So, tell me about some things you do! I read your introduction on your blog and see that you want to be a sports broadcaster! Does that mean you play a sport? What sport?

               A: I am thinking about being a sports broadcaster, but as of right now I'm not playing a sport. I might weightlift some in the winter and maybe try golf in the spring, but I know and like volleyball the most...so if you want to interview me about that. That would probably be the best!

 Q: How long have you had the interest in volley ball?

               A: I have had an interest in volleyball ever since my sisters started playing, which was when I was in about 1st or 2nd grade.

 Q: Have you ever played for a team? If yes, then for what team?

               A: I played for my high school team from 7th grade until 10th grade and did some camps before and during that. I didn't join this year because of some issues with my stomach, but I really miss it.

 Q: What about with the family? Do you ever play with your family?

               A: I played a lot with my family. They first taught me how to play and then after the games they would coach me on what I could work on. A lot of summers we would just go outside and play a game or two with our family or even some neighbor friends. It's an interest of the whole family!

Q: Do you consider yourself good at it?

               A: I would say that I'm okay! I'm pretty good at blocking and serving, but I don't have the technique down for hitting very well. Also, since I'm tall, being in the back row is sometimes a challenge!

 Q: What is a moment about volleyball that you remember most? Like a highlight or a big event.

               A: Some highlights that I remember most are the game I had a lot of good hits in, the game I served about 10 in a row to come back and win the game, winning the same tournament two years in a row, and an event our volleyball team did last year called Dig Pink. That was a game where we all wore pink jerseys and sold pink shirts for fans to raise money for breast cancer research.

Q: can you remember the date on when you began playing volleyball?

               A: I'm pretty sure that it was 5th grade when I started playing with a team, so that would be 2005.

Q: What advice would you give to someone about volleyball?

               A: My advice would be to always believe in yourself and don't let other people bring you down, play because you love it and want to have fun, and play the best you can, even if you aren't the best.

Q: If you could, would you play volleyball again?

              A: I would definitely play volleyball again if I could!

Horror Scene Comes Alive!

Nina Cortez, a bookkeeper at the North Point Inn, experienced a horror scene, come alive.

About 9 A.M yesterday, money was stolen and a man was killed. Nina Cortez and Kevin Blohm, one of the cooks, who had come in to work had not suspected anything except a strange car in the parking lot.

Blohm, after making coffee for Cortez, walked back down the corridor and Cortez had begun going through the receipts and cash from the previous night.

She described, “A minute or so after I began counting, a man came around the corner, carrying a knife. I started screaming and kicking. My chair was on rollers, and when I started kicking, it fell. I fell on the floor, and he reached across my desk and grabbed $130 in $5 bills.” Moments before police arrived, the man walked out.

Cortez and police walked out into the hallway and discovered Blohms dead body. “It was awful,” Cortez expressed, “There was blood on the walls and floor. Kevin was lying on the floor, dead. He had a large knife wound in his chest and another on one hand.”

No other information was given. Further investigation is to be done.