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

2 Overview of the SAT Reading Test Passage TypesCategory 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 ComprehensionAdapted 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 StemIdentify keywords and line references in the question stem. Apply question type strategies as indicated in the following slides.

9 Step 3: Predict and AnswerPredict 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 LiteraturePassage 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 PracticeGo to page 336 of your text and complete the exercise with your teacher.

14 History/Social StudiesHas 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 passageIdentify 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 PracticeGo 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 PracticeGo 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.