What to Expect 1 hour 45-60 objective questions 4 to 5 prose passages May come from fiction or nonfiction Includes a variety of time periods, styles, and purposes At least 1 will include citation, attribution, footnote, etc. TIP: Do not let the subject matter throw you. Strong analytical skills will work on any passage. What to Expect

Strategies for Close Reading Underline, circle, and annotate the text Read closely, paying attention to punctuation, syntax, diction, pacing, and organization Read as though you were reading the passage aloud to an audience, emphasizing meaning and intent Use your finger to underscore the line as you are reading aloud in your head Use all of the information given to you about the passage Be aware of organizational and rhetorical devices and techniques Quickly skim the questions, ignoring the choices to get an idea of what is expected of you as a reader Strategies for Close Reading

General Guidelines Work in order Write on the exam booklet Do not spend too much time on any one question Consider all of the choices in a given question Maintain an open mind as you answer subsequent questions Remember that all parts of an answer must be correct When in doubt, go back to the text General Guidelines

Specific Techniques Process of Elimination Eliminate choices which are obviously wrong, too narrow or too broad, illogical, synonymous, or contradictory Substitution/Fill in the Blank Rephrase the question, leaving a blank where the answer should go; use each choice to fill in the blank until you find the best fit Using Context Locate the given word, phrase, or sentence and the sentence before and after Anticipation While reading, mark details and ideas you would ask a question about Intuition/The Educated Guess Have confidence on your wealth of skills and knowledge! Specific Techniques

Scan the remaining questions and look for the shortest questions or questions that point you to a line Look for specific detail/definition questions Look for self-contained questions “The jail sentence was a bitter winter for his plan” is an example of C. an analogy TIP: Answer all of the questions – there is no penalty for wrong answers Time is Running Out!