EBR - Reading Comprehension Lesson

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Reading Comprehension

image of child reading a book. Difficult reading passages on the SAT can be hard to comprehend. There are some things students can do to help improve their reading comprehension skills. Try using the Think-Aloud strategy. As you read the passage, ask yourself these questions: What is the topic? What do I already know about the topic? What do I want to know about this topic? What does the author want me to know about this topic?

It is also important to seek context clues. If you are reading a passage and come across an unknown word, read the sentence without the unknown word. Look for clues in the surrounding sentences. Make a guess. Try your guess in the sentence. If you are just preparing for the SAT, check your guess in the dictionary.

Furthermore, it is important to know the structure of a paragraph. Good writers construct paragraphs that have a beginning, middle, and end. Many times the main idea is located in the first sentence. Moreover, a strong reader needs to anticipate and predict. Smart readers try to predict future ideas and questions. If you are right, it reinforces your understanding. If you are wrong, you can make adjustments more quickly.

In addition, students can rely too much on the passage itself. Read a portion of the passage and look away from it. What can you recall? You do not need this method to memorize but to understand. Always look up words you don't know, and read to the end of the passage. Don't get discouraged and quit.

SQ3R

There is also a method called SQ3R. This method helps many students to read more quickly and efficiently. SQ3R stands for Scan, Question, Read, Review, and Recite.

Scanning provides a rapid overview. Questioning is a natural, instinctive, second step. In the scanning process, questions usually arise. Reading can occur rapidly if a systematic plan is followed. Determine the main idea by looking at the title, the first paragraph, and the last paragraph. Read the passage in its entirety. Finally, review as often as necessary to keep focused. Once you start becoming a more effective reader, you will find that you are also becoming a faster reader.

Let's look at the following paragraph in order to practice reading comprehension skills:

The energy which the sun radiates goes in every direction, and only a minute part of it falls on the earth. Even so, it represents power of approximately 5,000,000 horsepower per square mile per day: the sun gives us as much energy every minute as mankind utilizes in a year.

In which place is the word minute used to mean 60 seconds?

How do we know that the other place minute is used is not representing 60 seconds?

Look again:

The energy which the sun radiates goes in every direction, and only a minute  part of it falls on the earth. Even so, it represents power of approximately 5,000,000 horsepower per square mile per day: the sun gives us as much energy every minute  as mankind utilizes in a year.

From these sentences we learn: Man cannot utilize all the solar energy falling on the earth because

  • Only a minute part of the solar energy reaches the earth.
  • The sun produces different heating effects in different places.
  • It takes thousands of years for the formation of coal deposits.
  • The sun is too distant from the earth.
  • Scientific knowledge is insufficient.

Reading: Literature How-to Part 1; Watch Sal work through Part 1 of an SAT Reading: Literature Passage

Reading: Literature How-to Part 1; Watch Sal work through Part 2 of an SAT Reading: Literature Passage

 

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