Passing CUNY ACT - NY Times Articles

CUNY ACT Writing prompts generally cover issues of education, community health, community business, and other community issues. The more you read about these issues, the more likely you are to write a good essay or letter about these issues, and the more likely you are to perform well on the CUNY ACT Writing Exam. (Being knowledgeable, or well-read, in these ACT issues is only one aspect of preparing for ACT writing. You of course also need to have proficiency in other areas such as clarity and persuasiveness of your supporting ideas.)

One very simple practice I recommend for my students who need to pass the ACT Writing Exam is reading one article a day about ACT issues.

You may be asking, "How do I know which article is about ACT related issues?"

To make life easier for you, I am including below a list of New York Times articles about ACT issues. By the time you are done reading all these articles, you should have a good idea of what type of articles cover ACT issues and should be able to identify ACT related articles on your own. Again, you should read AT LEAST one a day until you pass the ACT. That should be very do-able. It's like taking a multi-vitamin - one a day.

Public Transportation

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/06/nyregion/06mta.html?_r=1&ref=nyregion

Rent, Landlord, Tenant Issues

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/06/nyregion/06rent.html?ref=nyregion

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/30/big-top-by-the-boardwalk/

Health Programs and Health

http://www.nytimes.com/1991/04/06/opinion/wic-works.html?scp=1&sq=w.i.c.&st=cse


http://www.nytimes.com/1984/05/27/nyregion/va-center-starts-counseling-service.html?scp=1&sq=counseling%20service&st=cse


http://www.nytimes.com/1988/02/07/weekinreview/ideas-trends-free-needles-for-addicts-experts-find-fault-in-new-city-aids-plan.html?scp=5&sq=drug%20treatment%20program&st=cse


http://www.nytimes.com/1994/05/18/nyregion/helping-parents-with-mental-illness.html?scp=7&sq=mental%20illness%20program&st=cse

Education and Related Issues
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/19/education/edlife/workstudy-t.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=work%20study&st=cse

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/09/opinion/l09berkeley.html?scp=5&sq=work%20study&st=cse

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/11/your-money/student-loans/loanprimer.html?_r=1&fta=y


http://www.nytimes.com/1991/03/15/nyregion/budget-crisis-will-end-schools-mentor-program.html?scp=2&sq=mentoring%20program&st=cse


Work Programs
http://www.nytimes.com/1996/04/25/us/on-daughters-at-work-day-some-are-including-the-sons.html?scp=2&sq=take%20your%20daughter%20to%20work%20program&st=cse


http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/16/jobs/16homefront.html?scp=1&sq=departing%20foster%20care&st=cse


http://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/11/opinion/new-york-s-displaced-workers.html?scp=1&sq=new%20york%27s%20displaced%20workers&st=cse

http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/2009/04/16/2009-04-16_the_work_of_finding_employment_can_begin_with_nycs_free_programs.html

http://www.nytimes.com/1990/08/19/nyregion/for-women-returning-to-job-market.html?scp=2&sq=for%20women%20returning%20to%20job%20market&st=cse


http://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/13/nyregion/back-to-the-second-shift.html?scp=1&sq=Back%20to%20the%20Second%20Shift&st=cse

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/03/26/earlyshow/series/jobsquad/main4894501.shtml

Other Issues
http://www.nytimes.com/1992/01/05/nyregion/a-shelter-reaches-out-to-children-in-crisis.html?scp=1&sq=a%20shelter%20reaches%20out&st=cse

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/03/nyregion/dumbo-remaking-white-elephant-brooklyn-waterfront-landmark-long-abandoned-awaits.html?&scp=8&sq=economic%20development%20brooklyn&st=cse

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C00EED8153EF934A25756C0A9609C8B63&sec=&spon=&scp=3&sq=economic%20development%20queens&st=cse


http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/11/arts/11juil.html?scp=1&sq=youth%20program&st=cse

http://www.nytimes.com/1982/03/05/nyregion/youth-crime-puzzle-defies-a-solution.html?&&scp=1&sq=deter%20youth%20crime&st=cse

http://www.nytimes.com/1996/05/29/nyregion/inmates-act-to-deter-youngsters-from-crime.html?scp=3&sq=deter%20youth%20crime&st=cse


http://www.nytimes.com/1996/05/31/us/politics-juvenile-curfews-clinton-backs-plan-to-deter-youthful-violence.html?n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/Subjects/C/Crime%20and%20Criminals&scp=8&sq=deter%20youth%20crime&st=cse

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/03/study-questions-whether-cameras-cut-crime/?scp=8&sq=deter%20youth%20crime&st=cse

http://www.nytimes.com/1988/11/13/opinion/how-to-deter-computer-sabotage.html?scp=9&sq=deter%20youth%20crime&st=cse

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Copyright: © 2009. This document is the sole property of Amadeo Constanzo. You may use this article for free on your web site, blog, or other publication if and only if you include this entire copyright notice including the following links and statement. Other free teachings from Amadeo Constanzo can be found at SpirFit.com and SpirFit.org

Shu Chan 陳樹中 Terence Chan LIU

Terence Chan LIU Long Island University