1. The Kaplan Method for Reading Comprehension
Content based upon chapter 13 in
Kaplan’s
SAT Premier 2017

2. Overview of the SAT Reading Test Passage Types
Category
Passages/Questions
U.S. and World Literature
1 passage; questions
History/Social Studies
2 passages OR 1 passage and 1 paired-passage set; questions each
Science
SAT Reading Test Passage Distribution

3. Three Steps for Reading Comprehension
Adapted from Kaplan
SAT Premier 2017
Chapter 27

4. Step 1: Read Actively
Ask questions and take notes as you read the passage.
Why did the author write this word/detail/paragraph?
Is the author taking a side? If so, what side is he/she taking?
What are the tone and purpose of the passage?

5. Passage Mapping
Guides you through the passage to lead you to the correct answers
Take notes on…
The “why” or central idea or thesis statement
Transitions or changes in direction in a passage’s logic
The author’s opinions and other opinions the author cites
The author’s tone and purpose

6. Passage mapping can be tedious at first.
With practice, it gets easier.
By SAT Test Day, you will find that you need less time searching for answers to the questions.
The answer is ALWAYS in the passage (either directly or implied)!

7. Identify the type of passage. There are three types…
U.S. and World Lit
History/Social Studies
Science

8. Step 2: Examine the Question Stem
Identify keywords and line references in the question stem.
Apply question type strategies as indicated in the following slides.

9. Step 3: Predict and Answer
Predict an answer before you even look at the choices.
Predict before you peek!
Predicting first helps eliminate the possibility of falling into wrong answer traps.
Select the best match.

10. Question-type Strategies…
Literature, Social Studies, Science
Question-type Strategies…

11. U.S. and World Literature
Passage has multiple characters and multiple opinions
Tone will be more emotion-based than informative or expository

12. Focus Areas…
Identify the characters and evaluate how the author describes them.
What do they want?
What are they doing?
What adjectives describe them?
Assess the characters’ opinions of each other and themselves.
Do they like each other? Dislike each other?
What motivates the characters to do what they do?
What do their decisions/acti ons say about them?
Identify the themes of the story.
What are the turning points?
Is there a moral?

13. Literature/World Literature Passage Practice
Go to page 336 of your text and complete the exercise with your teacher.

14. History/Social Studies
Has a clearly stated topic, well-defined scope (extent), and specific purpose
At least one primary source passage will have antiquated (outdated) language

15. Focus Areas Summarize the purpose of the passage
Identify the topic and scope of the passage
Can usually be found in the first paragraph
Identify the topic sentence of each paragraph
What does the paragraph accomplish?
Does is give evidence to support a previous statement?
Does it introduce questions about an earlier claim?
Summarize the purpose
of the passage
-inform
- refute
-promote
-explore

16. Don’t go back to reread large parts of a passage!
As long as you create a Passage Map you will be able to answer the questions without looking back.
This will save you time on test day.

17. History/Social Studies Passage Practice
Go to pages of your text and complete the exercise with your teacher.

18. Science They often contain a lot of jargon and technical terms.
They can utilize unfamiliar terms and concepts.

19. Focus Areas Locate central ideas in the first paragraph.
Note how each paragraph relates to the central idea.
Does the paragraph…
Explain?
Support?
Refute?
Summarize?
Don’t be distracted by jargon or technical terms.
Most likely they will be defined or explained in the passage or via a footnote.

20. When a passage has more than one theory or idea, paraphrase each using minimal words!

21. Science Passage Practice
Go to pages in your text and complete the exercise with your teacher.

22. Putting It All Together

23. Challenge yourself to time and complete the exercises on pages 346-349 in the text.
Try the recommended 6 minutes per passage/answer as suggested.
See how many you left blank or didn’t answer. Then, finish, adding your additional time, before correcting your answers.
This is a good way to measure your improvement as the course progresses.