Regents Exam: Part I: Listening and Writing for Information and Understanding

Your Task Listen to a selection read aloud twice Take notes Answer 6 multiple-choice questions, focusing on important ideas Write an extended response: an essay or article, for example

Turn to page 15 in blue book Look over prompt (directions): –Overview –The Situation –Your Task –Guidelines

Turn to page 19 in blue book Read prompt and answer questions 1-6

Strategies for Active Listening Keep in mind why you’re listening (to get specific information needed to answer mc questions and to write extended response) Make a conscious effort – stay focused Think about the ideas you hear – try to distinguish between important and unimportant information Listen for signals: therefore, most important, as a result, the biggest problem, my point is, the reasons that, etc.

Strategies for Active Listening Take notes Get your questions answered (During 1 st reading, jot down questions and uncertainties. During 2 nd reading, answer them)

Strategies for Taking Notes Write down only what’s important: key words & phrases, main ideas, important facts & details – your purpose will help you decide what is important Be concise – develop your own note taking system Organize your ideas Call attention to key points (underline, circle, caps)

Strategies for Taking Notes Use shortcuts I.D. quotations (use quotation marks!) Stay focused, but don’t panic! Leave in a blank space, and continue Fill in the blanks with reading #2

Now, let’s practice Open to a blank sheet and prepare to listen (p 25-26)

Lather, rinse, repeat Open to a blank sheet and prepare to listen (p 28)

The Central Point of a Selection The main focus that the writer wants to communicate – sometimes called the central idea, the controlling idea, or the thesis How to I.D: –Think about the title of the selection –Get a feel for all of the selection, not just part of it – pay special attention to first and last paragraphs –Weigh the main ideas – how are they related? What underlying idea connects them? –Look for the big picture. Ask yourself: What is the point of this selection? What is the author’s purpose in writing it?

The Main Idea of Each Paragraph What each paragraph is about May be stated – in the topic sentence or implied How to I.D.: –Ask yourself: what is the whole paragraph about? What is the most important point the writer makes? –Look for a topic sentence –Be alert for signals: the single most important, the greatest problem, the chief result, the main reason, most of all, above all, etc.

The Main Idea of Each Paragraph Will be developed and supported with information, facts, details, examples, reasons, statistics, and/or quotations How to I.D.: –First, I.D. the main idea –Then, look for facts, details, and other information that support or develop the main idea –Ask yourself the “5 W’s & H”: Who? What? Where? When? Why? How?

Now….turn to page 34 Read selection on page 34 and answer questions on page 35.

Lather, Rinse, Repeat Try again with the passage on page 37 and the questions on pages 37-38

Making Inferences and Drawing Conclusions To infer is to combine information you hear or read with your own knowledge and experience to make an educated guess Inferences are based on facts, but go beyond facts For example: –Facts: the phone rang 10 times, but no one answered –Inference/conclusion: No one is at home or whoever is home doesn’t want to answer or whoever is home is unable to answer

How to Make Inferences and Draw Conclusions Think carefully about ideas & supporting facts, details, and examples. Consider not only what they mean individually, but also how they fit together – try to see the “big picture” Watch for a pattern Consider the sequence of events Watch for comparisons Consider choice of language

Try it! Read selection on pages and answer questions on pages 44-45