ACT

Reading

Day 1

OverviewOverview 5 Strategies5 Strategies Rank orderingRank ordering Reading for Main IdeaReading for Main Idea

Total Score (36)Total Score (36) Two SubscoresTwo Subscores

– Humanities and prose fictionHumanities and prose fiction– Social studies and scienceSocial studies and science

ACT Reading Section Structure Four passages of 700 words eachFour passages of 700 words each

– Social studiesSocial studies– ScienceScience– Fiction (Prose)Fiction (Prose)– HumanitiesHumanities

Each passage has 10 questionsEach passage has 10 questions– 40 questions total40 questions total– 35 minutes35 minutes– Therefore, about 8 and a half minutes for each passage to read and answer questionsTherefore, about 8 and a half minutes for each passage to read and answer questions

What Makes the Reading Difficult?

No background givenNo background given

Can treat any subjectCan treat any subject

– Goal: test reading comprehension, not Goal: test reading comprehension, not subject knowledgesubject knowledge

– Everything is there Everything is there to answer the questionto answer the question– Do not be intimidated by the passagesDo not be intimidated by the passages

What Makes Reading Difficult? Passages are editedPassages are edited

Purposely designed for the types of Purposely designed for the types of questions askedquestions asked

Dense, highly packed textDense, highly packed text

No titles or subtitlesNo titles or subtitles

Tricks of the Trade

• Answer Easy and Medium Difficulties:Focus timing and strategy on correctly answering those items that you are SURE you are capable of answering correctly.

• Skip the questions that you do not know the first time through.

Tricks of the Trade

• Every Item Is Earned

Each item requires a process to find the correct answer, and when you try to avoid this you are much more likely to get the wrong answer; no answer can be found cheaply.

StrategiesStrategies

1. . Rank order passages, from easiest to most difficult.– Quickly scan first sentence description and number

from 1-4 on top of each page.

– Look for subject matter, vocabulary load

– Read passages in order, from easiest to most difficult– Rationale: Get the maximum number correct

Strategies

2. Read the first and last paragraph in your easiest selection for:– Main idea– Structure of the selection (The BIG Picture)

Question/answer Cause/effect Comparison/contrast Chronological Special listing

Strategies

3. Skim the question stems before reading the selection, but don’t waste time reading the choices.

Rationale: Know what to look for

Strategies

4. Mark the text

– Use a pencil to underline, circle, code in margin

– Goal: mark text to quickly locate information during question answering

– Highlighters are not allowed

Stategies

5. Answer all of the questions for the selection

Read and consider all options

Justify your choice

Refer back to the passage frequently

PracticeIn class exercise:

Big Book - Main Idea p. 283-285 Do #3, 5,7,9 together

Victory - Rank and order Practice test p. 502

Homework: Finish Main Idea exercise on p. 538-540 if it

was difficult for you.Read and answer questions for passage

you think will be easiest. Give yourself 10 minutes.

Day 26 Strategies for Reading

Carefully and Comprehensively

1. Main Idea Questions– Which of the following is the author’s main

point?– What is the unifying theme?– What is the main theme of the third paragraph?

Main Idea Hints

Answers are neither too general nor too specific. It will summarize the main theme of the selection.

Main Idea is stated at the beginning or end of the passage.

Circle, underline, bracket

2. Determine outline used to Develop Passage

-Identify the supporting ideas author has used to confirm or strengthen the main idea.

Mark these!!!

-Identify the primary facts or arguments the author uses to support the main theme.

Mark these also!!!

-Determine the order of ideas or information.

-Temporal – time ordered

-Sequential – smallest to largest

-Categorical – types of starts

-Geographical – east to west

-Logical – rational order

Emotional – saddest time to happiest time

3. Locate important specific details

– Look for signals the author is about to communicate something he/she thinks is important. (importantly, considerably, or critically, notably)

– Take special note whenever the author takes the time to provide a definition of a word, phrase, or idea.

– Watch for similarity words. (comparable, similar, like, or equal to)

– Contrast words that compare “prototype” and the “model”

– Example words – “For example” or “for instance”

4. Analyze the Arguments or Persuasive Devices

Examples of the types of evidence and/or support an author may use to prove his/her arguments

-Scientific data/research-Statistics-Historical Facts-Quotations from prominent individuals-Personal experiences-Logic-Statements or ideas from other experts-Emotional statements or stories

5. Consider the Author’s Point of View-Consider the author’s underlying intentions or assumptions.

What is he/she trying to say?

-Infer the implied or hidden reasons from the passage

6. Probe the Mood of the Passage-Take into account the overall feeling or tone of the passage.

-Author’s mood will give you cues about the author’s intention in writing the passage

Example moods: upbeat, sad, humorous, angry, depressed, analytical, entertaining, confused, scholoarly.

Practice

Homework: If these were difficult finish other exercises on p. 289-298.Finish Practice Reading test (last three passages) from p. 502 in Victory.

In class exercise: Big Book - p. 289-298p. 289 #4-6, p. 291 #1-2, p. 293 #9-10

p. 295 #7-11, p. 298 #1-2

Day 3

Roman Numeral questions

Timing Strategies

Trial Run

Format of Roman Numeral Questions

Waterford is:– I. A small community– II. A growing village– III. A place with industry– IV. A dying area

A. I & IV C. I only

B. II & IV D. I, II, & III

Treat it as a TRUE/FALSE question

Timing Strategy

Move quickly

Spend only 9 minutes on each passage

Don’t forget to MARK it up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Spend the majority of your time answering questions

Timing Strategy 2

Don’t get bogged down Choose an answer and move on Unsure? Go back into the passage and find

the answer. Your marked text will help you quickly locate the answer.

Use the process of elimination Better to give up one point in the middle

than 10 points at the end.

Timing Strategy 3

If you are running out of time….(less than 5 minutes left with a passage to read)– Skip reading the passage– Answer any detail or phrase in context

questions with a specific line number– Answer as many questions as possible and

guess the same answer on the rest

Timing Strategy 4

Answer all questions before moving on to the next passage.– By the time you get back to the question, the

passage will no longer be fresh in your mind

– NEVER leave an answer blank.

Practice

In class exercises: - -

Trial run Victory p. 562

Rank and order all 4

Preview question stems

Read and mark passage

8 ½ minutes per passage – I hope to get through three