Lesson: Reading Comprehension Basic - 12t02

More Tricks Of The Trade: Focusing On Passage Structure

The good critical reader:

• anticipates at each moment where the author is likely to go
• paraphrases the text as he or she reads
• uses Keywords to follow the author's train of thought

Do you do these three things as you make your way through a passage? You should!

Take a few seconds to think about what these techniques mean to you, and whether they're currently a part of your Reading Comp approach. Then click Continue for the lowdown on these techniques.

Countinue

Anticipating implies taking an active stance toward the text. The passive reader, by contrast, lets the text simply wash over him, which is no way to pick out the relevant aspects that will translate into points. Remember, the key word is "Attack"! And that means constantly asking yourself "How does this new stuff fit in with what I just read? What's the main point to take out of this part of the passage? Where is this going to go from here?"

To paraphrase means to put the text into your own words. Don't be a parrot! You get points for understanding the gist of the text, not for repeating it back. If you can put the author's ideas into your own words, then you're staying one step ahead of the game.

Keywords are structural signals supplied by the author that give you hints as to the direction the text is going - they're words or phrases that provide clues about the author's train of thought. Contrast keywords like "but" or "however" signal that a shift is coming up. Sequence keywords like "moreover" and "additionally" tell you to expect more of the same. Use these structural signals to help you navigate through the passage. If you need to, review an extensive list of these in your CAT course materials.