Attack the Passage 2.0 If the question is from the text…attack the passage. This is a “book” question. --> This is what’s found in the text. Phrases like: “the author says,” “based on the passage,” If the question is a “thinking question” or brain question….attack the passage 2.0--> These you have to think about. Phrases like: “most likely agree,” “which describes,”

Book vs. Brain Stated fact vs. opinion Details Sequential Order Stated Main Ideas Prefixes and Suffixes Cause and effect Plot, Setting, & Mood Compare/Contrast Graphic Aides Following Directions

Book Questions Here Attack the Passage 1.0 is perfect to use. Read the first couple of questions Go paragraph by paragraph creating a table of contents Process of elimination Circle the answers to the questions

Book Questions Which entry in the timeline, graph, or chart is the main idea? According to the passage… In this passage/selection… In the story/at the beginning of the story… At the end of the story… A stated FACT or OPINION expressed in this passage…

Book Questions Clues and Cues: Very specific questions with very specific answers Seek and find questions Underlined words or passages The answer is in the text

Brain Questions-You figure it out Persuasive devices (this is where +/- next to each paragraph help you figure out the answer) Making judgments Generalizations Implied sequential order Implied main idea Inferences Summary Author’s point of view (+/- again helps) Author’s purpose: To entertain? To inform? Predicting outcomes Theme

How to Spot Brain Questions Questions are asked like this: Ends in “-ly”: likely, possibly, mostly, probably, mostly, partly The author/writer thinks… Which of the following is the BEST summary, explanation, conclusion, etc. What do you think… Could, would, should, expect, intend To suggest/to believe/to feel

How to Spot Brain Questions The use of quotation marks “ “ Very general questions with very general answer possibilities Think and find questions (inferring from the text)

Now What? Read the questions Circle the key words in the question to identify if it is a “book” question you can answer from the passage, or to see if it’s a brain question you have to think about to answer. Label it “Book” or “Brain” Read the passage Then…

Then… If it’s a book question you… Skim the passage Locate the exact answer and circle it. Write the question number Return to the answers and choose the matching answer choice If it’s a brain question you… Skim the passage Locate the evidence to answer the question and circle it. Write the question number. Return to the question and eliminate as many wrong answers as possible. Choose the Brain answer supported by the text.

How to Skim… Read the first and last sentence of each paragraph noting the main ideas. Look for words or synonyms of words in the questions. Look at your table of contents.

Strategy for Reading Directions: CUCC C-Circle (circle the words you need to find, interpret, or locate). U-Underline (Underline the supporting evidence that helps you answer the question. C-Count (How many elements to the question do you have to answer? C-Count Off/Complete-eliminate the wrong answers and complete answering the question.

How to Infer He put down $30.00 at the window. The woman behind the window gave $5.00. The person next to him gave him $12.50, but he gave it back to her. So, when they went inside, she bought him a large bag of popcorn. What’s going on here?

How to Infer The text doesn’t tell you what exactly is going on. You have to figure out, or infer, what the underlying factors are… You have to take the clues and conclude what is going on.