Lesson 1 – Adv. Comp Skills Reading for Literal Comprehension

Focus on Accurate Reading Rosa Parks Passage Straightforward style of writing Confidence and comfort? Very literal Awareness of the what the authors means Clear imagery Historical References Focus on Accurate Reading

The Brinkley reading demonstrates how specific details provide the reader with a clear sense of meaning. Names, dates, locations, and other CONCRETE information make the short passage on Parks’s childhood seem very familiar to us. The second paragraph that focuses on her house, is especially rich in detail. Rosa Parks - Continued

Describes with commentary the writer’s earliest years. Is Douglass more engaging? He is writing directly, and intimately about himself What characteristics make the piece meaningful? Concrete – specific details What is the general idea? Language Narrative of the Life…

Douglass Continued Effective use of narrative style – telling a story Experiences become real for the reader because he provides names and places Just by naming something, i.e. Lee’s Mill, he brings the place to life. Douglass Continued

Make a list of as many concrete facts about your life as you can Birthday Place of Birth Hometown A place you love A place you hate Favorite sports team Favorite color Favorite car Pet Your parents Your neighbors Your best friend(s) Details Activity

Now, replace every specific, concrete detail with basic information. I was born on October 4th at Aultman Hospital, in Canton, Ohio. I was born in the fall in Northeast Ohio. I drive a black Jeep Liberty. I drive an SUV. Try this now…

The Impact of Author’s Choices The Analytical essay invites you to explore the impact of the author’s choices, and discuss those with your potential audience Diction Syntax Tone Purpose Douglass’s essay prompts you to think about the author’s purpose within the particular features of the essay i.e. his mother’s history You must ask yourself, “Why did the author include this information?” Doing this will help you read with/for much deeper understanding. The Impact of Author’s Choices

Looking at the Essay Prompts The excerpt from Douglas Brinkley’s biography of Rosa Parks begins with a description of the house in which the subject was born and the religious background in which she grew up. Read the passage carefully, paying attention to the details the author chose to include in both those sections. Then write a well-organized essay in which you show how the author’s choice of details communicates his attitude toward his subject. Do not summarize the passage. Looking at the Essay Prompts

Looking at the Essay Prompts Frederick Douglass’s autobiography begins with a description of his early years as a slave. Read the passage carefully, and then write an essay in which you explain the writer’s purpose in recounting the details of his early childhood. Support your observations with details from the narrative. Do not merely summarize the passage. Looking at the Essay Prompts