SAT 2 P ASSAGE B ASED S TRATEGIES Short, Long, and Paired Passage Strategies

A LL P ASSAGES Include fiction and nonfiction Majority will be nonfiction Topics include Natural science : scientific discovery, theory, or controversy Social studies : history, politics, economics Humanities : artist, music, philosophy But don’t worry : You are not expected to draw from outside knowledge. Everything you need to know will be in the passages themselves.

T YPES OF Q UESTIONS Vocabulary in context However: the vocabulary is going to fit in the context of the passage Not stand alone Extended Reasoning Ask you to draw conclusions from or evaluate info from passage Ask about overall theme, message, purpose, attitude, sometimes even “tone” of the writer Include words like “probably, apparently, seems, suggests, the author implies”

C ONTINUED …. Literal comprehension Information that is DIRECTLY presented from the text Example: Find the place in the text where a particular detail is discussed. “line 1, 2, or 3” Recognize different interpretations of the same fact or idea

F ACTS, A SSUMPTIONS, AND INFERENCES Facts Statements known to be true A foot has 12 inches Assumptions Suppositions or propositions that author makes to reach their conclusions Not proven fact “According to the author...” Inferences Conclusions you reach based on what has been said in a passage This requires you to read between the lines

T YPES OF P ASSAGES Short words Approximately 2-3 questions Long words Approximately 8-13 questions Paired Passages Two passages Require you to make connections

S HORT P ASSAGES Key Strategy : Read the questions FIRST Remember: there are only 2 or 3. Why? Keep the questions in mind while you read Know what you are looking for Given line references, so you know WHERE to look

L ETS P RACTICE ! Short Reading: Problem set 4 Read the questions! What are you looking for when you read the passage?

L ONG P ASSAGES Do NOT want to use the same strategy as Short passages WHY? With 8-13 questions it is more difficult to remember what to look for Too time consuming Key Strategy: Taking Notes/Concept Maps Underlining the main points Track the main idea throughout

L ETS P RACTICE ! Practice Passage 1 Read the Blurb (Words in italics above the prompt) Underline the main point Circle/take notes in the margins of other KEY words/info that relates to the main point

P AIRED P ASSAGES Given 2 passages Different aspects of the same topic Two opinions Asked to compare or relate them to one another Key Strategy: Answer questions about Passage 1 first. Answer questions about Passage 2 second. Lastly, answer questions about BOTH. Questions regarding both passages will always be last.

L ETS P RACTICE ! Practice Passage 7 Read Passage 1 Find and answer questions about passage 1 Read Passage 2 Find and answer questions about passage 2 Answer questions about BOTH passages last