28-Day Critical Reading Intensive
Sample Lessons
Each article and assignment should be completed in less than 20 minutes. Bonus
questions can be answered after the 20 minutes are up.
Use a timer.
Each lesson will include:
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An article
A detailed explanation of the lesson (written, video or both)
An SAT vocabulary sheet with definitions
A quiz relating to the article and lesson
An answer key
Bonus questions for new material
Bonus questions that test review material
Topic versus Main Idea
 Time yourself
 Take no more than no more than 7 minutes to identify the topic and
main idea
 Identify whether the argument is positive, negative or neutral (+, -, o)
 Summarize the main idea in a few words
Observations & Inference
 Opinion piece or review (instead of a news article)
 List three observations (using direct quotes from the article)
 List three inferences (conclusions you draw, based on each
observation)
Vocabulary Log
 Underline unfamiliar words
 Circle contextual clues
 Define each word based on those clues
 Define each word using the dictionary
 Using the dictionary’s definition for each word, do you see more
contextual clues that might have helped?
 Bonus exercise: Write your own sentence using each word.
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Word Roots
 Read through the attached list of Greek and Latin word roots
 Underline every Greek- and Latin-based word in the article
 Circle the words that have two roots
 Make a list of the words and their root(s) and create a definition,
using the root log (included with the assignment)
 Confirm the definitions using the dictionary
 Bonus exercise: Write your own sentence for each of the words.
 Bonus exercise: Invent your own word and definition by combining
roots.
Signal Words and Logic
 Go over the signal words lists
 Circle the signal words in the article
 Copy (in pencil) three sentences with signal words
 Erase the signal words
 Write a sentence about how the meaning of the sentence changed.
 Bonus exercise: Choose one signal word and describe its meaning and
its use in the sentences. Write a sentence using this word.
 Bonus exercise: Write a paragraph, using this signal word correctly as
many times as possible.
Main Idea
 Read the article
 Underline the main idea and note in the margins: “MI”
 Underline words, phrases and sentences that provide supporting
details for the main idea
 Bonus exercise: Underline words that are confusing, difficult or
unclear, and note in the margins: “?” Use the vocabulary list to help
interpret them.
Literal Comprehension
 Read the article in less than 5 minutes (use a timer)
 Identify the main idea
 Note the tone (+, -, o)
 Spend 15 minutes answering each question, referring back to the
article for answers
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Tone & Attitude
 Identify the main idea
 Identify how you know it’s the main idea
 What’s the relationship between the main idea and the topic?
 Circle words that reveal tone
 Underline words that support the author’s point of view
Inference
 Read the article in less than 5 minutes (use the timer)
 Identify the main idea
 Note the tone (+, -, o)
 Spend 15 minutes answering the questions, referring back to the
article for answers
 The questions will require you to make inferences based on what the
writer has stated
Sentence Completions
 I will list sentences with one or two words missing.
 Jot down words that you think might be the answer(s).
 Look at the SAT vocabulary lists (supplied with the articles) and see if
any words match your initial ideas.
 Email your answers to me.
Create Your Own Sentence Completions
 Choose any sentence from the articles used in past assignments and
post it to the group, with one or two vocabulary words missing.
 Sentences must give enough context and logic clues for a reader to be
able to insert words that make sense.
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