AHSGE-Reading Review
Comprehension Strategies
When you begin your exam..
1. Read the passages carefully.
2. Read the questions.
3. Strategically underline important text/info
4. Go back and skim for answers-chunk
information as you go.
Find the topic of your paragraphs. The main idea
of a selection is usually stated in the first
sentence of the first paragraph, or the last
sentence of the first paragraph, such as a thesis
statement.
Skim- Quickly skim or “speed read”
through the passage stopping only at the
first sentence in each paragraph. The first
sentence will usually give you an idea of
what the paragraph will be about.
Read slowly and intently to find pertinent
information after reading the questions.
The key is TO READ the whole passage
or section.
Key Words/Clues
Find Key words or clues
– Each question will contain clues as to where
to find answers.
– Example: What caused Martin to suddenly
return to Paris?
– Key Words—MARTIN and PARIS
– Go back and skim the passage for those key
words, and the answer will be close by.
Sometimes key words are not repeated in the
passage.
In this case, search for the general idea of the
question.
Numbers, years, and quotes can also serve as
key words.
– Example: Which of the following best describes the
influence of Monet’s work in the 20th century?
– Key word – 20th century
Monitor your understanding
Summarize as you read.
Chunk your information by paragraphs.
Read a paragraph; stop and make notes in the
margins of your test. What is the main point in
the paragraph?
Underline key words or important names, dates,
etc. in the paragraph.
Jot down a GIST statement in the margin to help
you remember what you have read.
Question yourself as you read.
– Why is this important to the passage?
– What should I remember from this
– underline or star *all important facts, details,
names, events) This gives you a visual to find
the info when looking for the answers.
Predict what will come next
Use the process of elimination. Write on
your test and X out the choices you know
are the wrong answers!
Infer meanings- ”read between the lines”
Analyzing organizational patterns
and Sequence of Events
Look for signal words to identify patterns
– Chronological Order
First, then, after, later, and finally
– Cause-and-effect Order
Therefore, because, subsequently, as a result
– Comparison Contrast
Similarly, in contrast, likewise, or on the other hand
– Spatial Order-( the order of where things are)
Look for prepositions—under the couch, beside the
bed, around the corner
Using Context Clues
Look at words and sentences surrounding
a new word or an unfamiliar word.
Look before, at, and after the word or
phrase.
Connect what you know with what the
author has written (background
knowledge)
Use context clues by looking for synonyms
or antonyms nearby to determine meaning
Using reference materials
Dictionary, glossary, thesaurus, Internet
Look for guide words at the top of the
pages.
Look for part of speech, definition, or
synonyms, word origins.
Apply the meaning to what you have read.
Tips for reading graphic aids
Charts, maps, tables, and diagrams
PREVIEW and PREDICT the passage by
reading the subtitle, title, labels, and other
explanatory features
Apply the labels to the graphic aid
Maps include a compass rose and legend to
help you interpret direction and symbols.
Charts and graphs compare info in categories
running horizontally and vertically.
Chart
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
East
West
North
20
10
0
1st Qtr 2nd Qtr 3rd Qtr 4th Qtr
*Remember to read ALL fine print and look for asterisks if the chart or map
includes these!
Previewing Passages
PREVIEW-title, subtitle, key words,
captions, illustrations, footnotes, etc.
LOOK for bold words, italicized or
underlined print. (This will give you an idea
of the purpose of writing)
INFER meanings based on background
knowledge. Draw on past experiences and
readings
Propaganda/Fallacies
Propaganda-uses emotional tactics to
sway a reader’s opinion or to convince a
reader to do something he or she may not
ordinarily do.
Loaded language
Bandwagon
Testimonial
Fear
Loaded Language- a common technique with
specific implied or exaggerated meanings to sway
a reader
Our competition’s product is disgusting at
best. They take chicken parts, mush
them together, fry them in lard, and then
deep freeze them before finally disposing
of them in your stores to buy for your
children!
Bandwagon- uses peer pressure to convince the
reader to “join the crowd” because “everyone is
doing it” and you “don’t want to be left behind.”
Smart shoppers insist on using Tide with
bleach. It’s the smart choice for you and
your family! Don’t waste your money on
the other brand; no one else does!
Testimonials- using a famous person to
convince you to buy a product.
Michael Jordan drinks Purity brand milk! It
does his body good! You should drink
Purity, too!
Penelope Cruz is an “Easy, Breezy,
Beautiful, COVER GIRL!”
Fear-popular among political candidates to present
dreaded circumstances and follow it up with
something to prevent that horrible event.
H1N1 VaccineThe WHO says that ALL Americans should
take the H1N1 vaccine or face inevitable
death.
Literary Elements
Be familiar with all literary elements studied in
English class.
Common elements
– Simile( uses like or as)
– metaphor (compares two unlike things without like or
as) “The past is a bucket of ashes”
– allusion ( a reference to a well known person, place,
situation or character from history, music or art or
literature.) “Snowball , who had studied an old book of
Julius Caesar’s campaigns…”
– personification- giving human qualities to something
NOT HUMAN. Ex:The trees whispered a sweet lullaby.
Alliteration- the repetition of initial
consonant sounds
EX: “And the silken, sad, uncertain rustling of
each purple curtain/ Thrilled me—” from Poe’s
“The Raven”
Hyperbole- Extreme exaggeration
Ex: Her screaming split my ears open!
Theme
Theme- a central message in a work of
literature.
– Stated theme- message is stated directly in
the text.
– Implied theme- revealed gradually through
events, dialogue, or description. You will have
to infer meaning with implied themes.
– Use common sense when all else fails!
Making inferences
An inference involves using your reason
and experience to come up with an idea
based on what a writer implies or
suggests, but does not directly state.
Tone/mood
Tone- the writer’s attitude toward his/her
subject.
Mood- the feeling created in you, the
reader, as you read a piece of literature.
Fact/Opinion
Facts usually have no ambiguous words.
Can be proven in some way.
– For example, how long is a long time? What
defines an ordinary person?
Opinions may be set out in the context of
words like thought, believed,
understood, or wished.
Drawing Conclusions
Involves thinking or reasoning when all
facts are not given in the text.
You are using clues to discover what has
happened or if it is true
Think “The Cask of Amontillado”
Why was Fortunato dressed like he was?
Predicting Outcomes
Deciding what will happen next within a
story or after it has ended.
We can predict that Fortunato’s
punishment will be
– Fitting
– Mild
– Moderate
– Deadly**