Lesson: Critical Reading - 15t07

Keywords: The Secret Of Active Reading

[Page 15 of 19]
Keywords are words and phrases that authors employ for the purposes of structure.

ALL authors use Keywords. But authors of test passages use them with special frequency, largely as a way of rewarding critical readers. If Keywords act on you unconsciously, you may or may not pick up their hints. But if you are consciously seeking out and interpreting Keywords, you will save an enormous amount of time and improve your comprehension, to boot.

Review each of the six common Keyword categories that follow. For each category, consider other words and phrases that might be used to accomplish the same structural goal. Type these examples into the textboxes that follow, and then click Continue to view our example list.

1. Emphasis Keywords: any word or phrase that an author uses to say, "Here's what I consider important or significant."

Examples:
  • most of all
  • especially
   
   
2. Continuation Keywords: any word or phrase that says "Here comes more of the same."

Examples:
  • and
  • moreover
3. Conclusion Keywords: any word or phrase that says "Here's my ultimate point."

Examples:
  • therefore
  • thus
4. Contrast Keywords: any word or phrase that says "A shift or change in opinion is about to take place."

Examples:
  • but
  • however


Unlike Continuation Keywords, Contrast Keywords signal a change in the passage's direction, and therefore are strong indicators of passage structure. The author, for example, may support a particular view at the beginning of a passage, but then shift his opinion to argue against it.

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