reading methods

after reading a scene in drama, it is important to

summarize it

which is a non sequitur?

swimming is good exercise, so swimmers are more fit than runners

record

take notes to further reinforce the information. list the main ideas and the major details.

non sequitur

teachers work with kids every day. they are good parents.

question

turn each heading into a question about what will be covered under that heading. ask the questions who, what, when, where, and why about it.

make generalizations

When you make a generalization, you piece together a related set of facts and details on one topic to make a broad statement about that topic.

syllogism

athletes must have good grades. nicole is on the soccer team. she must have good grades.

what is an analogy?

baking a cake is like completing a chemistry experiment

Which feature in a textbook can help you read and study the material?

chapter or unit overview

synthesize information

combine info from different sources in order to gain a more complex understanding of a topic

analogy

comparison of two things that are alike in a number of important ways. A good analogy can promote understanding of something unfamiliar by comparing it with something familiar. A false analogy ignores obvious and important differences between the things compared.

which strategy would help you get the most out of reading a poem?

connect structure and meaning to understand complete thoughts

the singer's high notes stabbed my ears like jagged knives.

connotation - words with positive or negative associations

logical fallacies

errors in logic

inductive reasoning

every time we take our dog to the park he comes home scratching. he must be allergic to something there.

evaluate credibility

Check to see that a writer has expertise or has done thorough research in the topic being covered.

author and you

These questions call on you to consider what the author says and connect it to what you know.

pictures, captions, and graphics

A picture can make a confusing idea clearer. Usually, next to a picture there is a caption—information describing the picture. Graphics—such as maps, charts, and diagrams—present complex information in a clear format.

unveil the symbols

A symbol is an object, a person, a place, or some other detail that stands for something other than what it appears to be. Its literal meaning is what it appears to be in the story. Its figurative meaning is what it represents. Noticing and appreciating the symbolic meaning of an event or an object in a story shows that you are seeing beyond the plot and discovering the hidden meaning.

recognize allusions

An allusion is an implied or indirect reference that is commonly found in literature. An allusion might be made to some character or situation in history or politics.

respond to the story

An important step in understanding a text is identifying your own reactions. Are you puzzled, thrilled, or scared? Is a character endearing? Disgusting? You may then judge whether your response was intended by the author, and you can analyze how the author evoked that reaction.

determine the point of view

As you begin reading, note how the story is being told: Is it a first-person narrative or is it narrated in the third-person objective? Is it limited omniscient or omniscient? Pay attention to the point of view, because it can change over the course of the novel or short story.

picture the action in your mind

As you read, try to picture in your mind how the play would look if it were being performed on stage. Use the stage directions, which appear in brackets, to help you envision the costumes, characters, setting, and action.

draw inferences

By implying meanings without stating them directly, writers offer us a world in which the mind can stretch itself, finding connections wherever it looks. Fictional characters and situations don't come neatly labeled with "Villain" or "Danger"—you have to infer information from significant word choices, patterns of events, and other clues in order to understand what a writer is saying between the lines.

deductive reasoning

Deductive reasoning starts with a general statement that is assumed to be true and applies that statement to a particular case. A deductive argument is typically stated in a three-part formula called a syllogism.

recognize persuasive techniques

Don't be swayed by appeals to emotion—even if the topic is one about which you have strong opinions.

summarize the events

Dramas are often broken into acts or scenes. These natural breaks give you an opportunity to review the action. After each scene or act, ask these questions: Who are the main characters? How are we supposed to feel about them? Have your feelings for them changed since the previous scene or act? Have any new conflicts arisen? As the play nears its end, evaluate whether the action has reached its climax and whether the conflicts have been resolved.

inductive reasoning

Inductive reasoning is a strategy that proceeds from specific facts to a conclusion, or generalization, based on those facts. A valid generalization is a statement supported by evidence and holds true in a large number of cases. To determine, for example, whether apples in a basket are sweet for eating or tart for cooking, you sample many of the apples. If the apples you taste are all sweet, then you might conclude that all the apples are good for eating. Of course, when you reason inductively like this, the more evidence you have, the sounder your generalization will be.

inflated language and jargon

Inflated language refers to overly scholarly or scientific language. One type of inflated language is called jargon. Jargon is the specialized vocabulary used by people in a particular field. In its place, it is useful, but jargon is often misused to impress the reader or to conceal meaning.

recognize the authors purpose or bias

It is important to recognize that every writer wants to achieve a specific purpose (reason for writing) through writing. Sometimes, this goal involves persuading readers or telling just one side of a story. When writing to persuade, writers usually have a bias, or point of view. Watch out for language and details that suggest a bias. (details that show only one side of a story, excessive praise or condemnation, or words that carry strongly emotional overtones).

speeches

Like diaries, letters, and journals, speeches can provide you with a firsthand view of historical events. In addition, they are a great source for learning about the various sides of political issues. When reading a speech, keep in mind that it was originally written to be presented orally to an audience. Also, consider that a speech presents a single point of view—that of the speaker. Many speeches, such as political speeches, have a persuasive purpose. As a result, speakers often carefully choose words and details to have an intended effect.

make inferences

Not every point a writer makes is stated directly. It is often left up to the reader to "read between the lines" by making inferences, or drawing conclusions, based on what the writer does provide. For example, if a writer points out the major impact of a specific battle, you might infer that the battle was an important one.

Evaluate the Writer's Points or Statements

Note each of the facts, statistics, and other evidence that a writer offers in support of his or her position. Evaluate whether the examples are strong ones and whether enough are presented.

overviews

Often, a chapter or unit will begin with an overview, an outline, or a summary of what will be covered. Use the overview to preview and review the chapter or unit.

draw conclusions about what you read

Once you have understood and thought about the events and characters in a story, make judgments about the author's message. What general notions about human nature or the world does the author want you to carry away from the text?

skimming

Skimming involves reading a text quickly to get a general overview of its contents. You skim a book when you are previewing it or trying to get a broad idea of its meaning. Skimming is perhaps most useful to review material that you have previously read more carefully. looking at a book to see whether its topics are those needed for a report.

read the poem aloud and listen

Pay attention to its tone and pace, as well as to the repetition of certain sounds. Consider how all of these attributes contribute to the mood and meaning of the poem.

drama

Plays are unique literary forms because they are written with a stage performance and an audience in mind. Unlike most works of fiction that rely heavily on narration, the story of a play is told mostly through dialogue and action and sometimes through monologues. When reading a play, you must place the text and the characters on stage. Use the following strategies for reading drama: Picture the action in your mind Connect the play to its historical context Summarize the event Recognize dramatic irony

envision the imagery

Poetry often appeals to the senses. When your imagination can hear the sounds, feel the textures, and smell the aromas that are described, you will find greater enjoyment and will see how the images contribute to the poem's meaning.

connect structure and meaning

Poets carefully craft their poems in lines, and they often use stanzas to group their ideas. How the poet chooses to place the words in the poem often relates to the meaning in the poem. Although it may be tempting to read a poem line by line, a thought may span several lines or an entire stanza. To understand complete thoughts, read in sentences.

titles, headings, and subheadings

Printed in large, heavy type and in different sizes and colors, headings give you an idea of what the material is about. They also divide the material into sections so that you can learn it more easily. Main topics usually have larger and more prominent headings; subtopics have smaller headings.

reading poetry

Read the poem aloud and listen Identify the poem's speaker Envision the imagery Connect structure and meaning Paraphrase Consider the historical context

identify the poems speaker

Recognizing the poem's speaker will give you insight into the drama of a poem. The voice "speaking" the poem is not necessarily that of the poet, although it can be.

Which method will help you recall information you read?

SQ4R

scanning

Scanning involves leafing through several pages at a time, paying attention to section heads and subheads and the general contents. You scan when you do research or when you are trying to locate a particular piece of information. gathering info from a book for a research paper

electronic texts

Some of the information on the Web is reliable and objective; some is biased or targeted toward a specific audience. When you read material on the Internet, do so with a critical eye. Determine the purpose behind the material. Often, you will discover that the material has a persuasive purpose. Look to see that any points made in a text on the Web are thoroughly supported by facts and details. Also, evaluate the credibility of the source.

think and search

The answer to this type of question is in the text, but you need to think about the question's answer and then search for evidence to support it.

on your own

The answers to these questions are not in the text. They require you to draw on your experiences.

recognize dramatic irony

The audience sometimes knows more about the characters' situations than the characters know themselves. This is dramatic irony, and it is another way the playwright creates tension for the audience.

analyze the theme

Understanding the theme, or main idea and truth, in a story means that you have moved from reading on a literal level to reading on a figurative one. The literal level is what happens in the story according to the plot development, and the figurative level is where the meaning lies. You can discover a story's theme by asking yourself: What does this story show me about human nature or about life? What did I learn from watching and observing these characters?

questions and exercises

These are often located at the end of a chapter. Review questions and exercises before you read the chapter to give you an idea of the main points to look for as you read. Afterward, answer the questions and exercises to retain the information you have read.

herringbone organizers

These can help you organize your main ideas and supporting details, show multiple causes of a complex event, or pinpoint areas for research.

describe the characters

These descriptions should encompass the character's physical qualities as well as the character's personality traits. Beyond that, you should try to analyze the character's motivation—the personality traits and goals that strongly direct a character's actions. Doing this will help you understand a character more fully and possibly predict a character's behavior.

right there

This type of question deals with answers that are right there in the text, usually in one or two sentences.

consider the historical context

Understanding the social, political, economic, and literary environment in which a poem was written helps you to see the poem in a more meaningful context. Research the time period in which the poem was written and the background of the poet.

venn diagrams

Venn diagrams are extremely useful tools for demonstrating points of similarity and differences between two or more subjects. They can be used to analyze different characters, settings, or themes. If you have two subjects to compare, use a Venn diagram with two circles; if you have three, use one with three circles.

connect the play to its historical context

What is the time period and setting in which the play takes place? What are the manners, customs, and morals of the time? Look in the stage directions for information about when the play is set.

understatement

When an idea is played down or treated casually, it is considered to be an understatement.

syllogism

When examining a syllogism, ask yourself the following three questions: -Is the major premise true? (Could it have been arrived at inductively through studying enough examples?) -Is the fact stated in the minor premise true? -Does the conclusion follow logically from each premise? Example: Syllogism All mammals are warmblooded. (major premise) Whales are mammals. (minor premise) Therefore, whales are warmblooded. (conclusion) If the premises of a syllogism are true and properly worded, the conclusion is sound, like the one above.

denotation and connotation

When speakers or writers have a neutral attitude toward their subject and are simply interested in conveying information, they will use language in its denotative, or literal, sense. Speakers or writers who want to subtly influence their audience's attitude will use more connotative language, or words with negative or positive associations surrounding them. Example: Denotation The team defeated its opponent. Example: Connotation The team soundly thrashed its opponent.

diaries, letters, and journals

When you are looking for a firsthand account of a historical or cultural event, you may want to consult diaries, letters, or journals. These sources let you experience what it was actually like to be a part of the events in question because they are written by people who actually lived through them. Often, you will be called on to consult these types of sources—referred to as primary sources—when you are doing research papers in school.

newspapers

When you are looking for up-to-the-minute information on current events or when you want to know how an event was reported at the time it occurred, newspapers are probably your best source. Newspapers are one of the most objective sources of information. However, articles do at times reflect a bias or present only one side of a story—particularly feature articles. In addition, newspapers contain editorials, which by definition present a point of view on a topic.

identify with the character or situation

When you identify with a situation in a novel or a short story, you live it with the character. You share the character's feelings and perceptions of the events. In this way, you may relate to experiences from your own life—or to experiences that you may never actually have had firsthand.

non sequitur

a conclusion is drawn that does not follow from the evidence given. Members of Congress are elected by the people. They make laws in Washington, D.C. They know what is best for the country.

hasty generalization

a generalization based on only a few facts or samples. Tasting only one apple and deciding that the whole basket contains sweet apples is an example of a hasty generalization.

analogy

a profitable company runs like a well-oiled machine

opinion

a statement that cannot be proved because it is subjective; that is, influenced by personal experiences and beliefs. Opinions are most often expressed as personal feelings, judgments, or predictions. Sometimes, facts and opinions can be hard to distinguish. In persuasive writing, such as editorials and speeches, opinions are often couched in what appear to be factual statements.

hasty generalization

all girls like pink

computers have had as large an influence on our lives as the printing press had on life during the Renaissance.

analogy - comparison of two things that are alike

glossary

gives an alphabetical list of all the specialized terms used in the book and defines them. use it to find definitions.

appendix

includes charts, lists, documents, or other material related to the subject of the book. use it as a reference source.

bibliography

includes lists of books and articles that the author has used or referred to in writing the book. use it for follow up study or for research projects.

the speaker's hour long explanation of the best way to press a shirt was the most fascinating thing I have ever heard.

irony - the writer says the explanation was fascinating, but she really means that it was boring.

index

lists alphabetically all topics covered in the book and the pages on which they can be found. use it to quickly locate specific topics.

table of contents

lists units and chapters with their page numbers. use it for a quick overview of the book.

survey

preview the material you are going to read for these features: chapter title, headings, subheadings, introduction, summary, and questions or exercises.

fiction

prose writing that is made up by the author. It contains characters and events that are not true. You can use the following strategies to analyze and evaluate works of fiction: -Identify with the character or situation -Draw inferences -Question and challenge the text -Draw conclusions about what you read -Respond to the story

question and challenge the text

question what is going on in the text. It will help reveal secrets in the text if, as a reader, you pursue questions such as, What is happening? Why did he say that? Why is this character behaving in this way? You may not always find answers right away, but pieces of the story will start to collect around your questions, and a larger picture will take shape. Then, challenge the story: Are the characters and situations true? Do you accept the author's view of the world?

preface or introduction

states the author's purpose in writing the book and may give suggestions for using the book.

close reading

reading a text closely to understand and remember its main ideas, to find relationships between ideas, and to draw conclusions. You read closely when you are studying a text and trying to make sense of and retain information. studying a textbook chapter for an upcoming test

recite

recall questions and their related answers.

irony

refers to a contrast between perception and reality; between what is said and what is actually meant. Writers use irony to highlight key points and to create humor. Example: Irony The game flew by, lasting only five hours and extending into the time of night when only the worst of insomniacs are still awake.

review

review the material on a regular basis, using some or all steps above.

example of inductive reasoning

sasha made As in all her classes, so she must be a good student

read

search for the answers to the questions that have been posed in the step above.

cause and effect

something is caused by one or more events that happened previously. false cause and effect reasoning makes a connection between two unrelated events.

which statement provides evidence that Jordan High School has achieved academic excellence?

students get high scores on standardized tests

fact

the most reliable type of information because it can be verified, or proved true objectively. A fact can be verified in several ways: records searching, experimentation, and personal observation. The method you choose to determine whether or not a fact is accurate will depend on the type of statement made.

slanting

the writing of a passage so that it leans toward one point of view or presents just one side of the story. Choosing words with either positive or negative connotations is one type of slanting. Another type of slanting is presenting only one side of an issue by leaving out important facts that would support another point of view. For example, a story on the negative impact of a tax increase would be slanted if it failed to mention the benefits of the increase.

If you wanted to get an idea of what a book is about without reading it, which text features could you utilize?

titles, headings, and subheadings

paraphrase

to restate in other words

the day I failed geometry, crashed into the garage door, and broke my arm was not the best day of my life.

understatement - by saying it was not the best day of my life, the writer is playing down, or understating, how awful his day was.

context charts

useful for seeing a work of literature in its literary, cultural, and historical context.

the works of Shakespeare are still read today. you can infer that Shakespeare

was a great writer

euphemism

word or phrase used to replace words that may be considered offensive.

nonfiction

writing that has a basis in fact Make inferences Make generalizations Recognize the author's purpose or bias Evaluate the writer's points or statements Evaluate credibility Recognize persuasive techniques