ten steps to building college reading skills fifth edition john langan © 2011 townsend press

TEN STEPS to

BUILDING COLLEGE READING SKILLS

FIFTH EDITION

John Langan

© 2011 Townsend Press

This Chapter in a Nutshell• To help make their ideas clear, authors use transitions—

signal words that carry the reader from one sentence or idea to the next.

— Typical addition transitions are for one thing, in addition, also, and finally.

— Typical time transitions are first, next, then, after, and last.

• In addition to transitions, authors also use patterns of organization to show relationships between ideas and to make their ideas clear.

— The list of items pattern presents a series of reasons, examples, or other points.

— The time order pattern presents steps or events in the order in which they happen.

CHAPTER 6 Relationships I

This Chapter in a Nutshell

Ideas in a reading selection are almost always connected to each other. Learning to recognize these connections, or relationships, will help you become a better reader.

Authors use two common methods to show relationships and make their ideas clear.


This Chapter in a Nutshell

These two methods are transitions and patterns of organization.


TransitionsWhich item below is easier to read and understand?

A. Paperback books cost less than hardbacks. They are easier to carry.

B. Paperback books cost less than hardbacks. Also, they are easier to carry.


TransitionsYou probably found the second item easier to read and follow.

The word also makes it clear that the writer is discussing the advantages of paperback books. One advantage is that the books are less expensive. An additional advantage is that they are easier to carry.

A. Paperback books cost less than hardbacks. They are easier to carry.



Transitions

Transitions are words or phrases (such as also) that show the relationship between ideas.


They are “bridge” words, carrying the reader across from one idea to the next.


Transitions

Words That Show Addition

Which item below is easier to read and understand?

A. Climbing stairs is good exercise for your muscles. It burns a lot of calories.

B. Climbing stairs is good exercise for your muscles. In addition, it burns a lot of calories.


Transitions

Words That Show Addition

A. Climbing stairs is good exercise for your muscles. It burns a lot of calories.

B. Climbing stairs is good exercise for your muscles. In addition, it burns a lot of calories.

The words In addition in the second item help make the relationship between the two sentences clear. The author is listing the benefits of climbing stairs. The first benefit is good exercise for the muscles. In addition, climbing stairs burns a lot of calories.



Transitions

B. Climbing stairs is good exercise for your muscles. In addition, it burns a lot of calories

/ Words That Show Addition

In addition and words like it are known as addition words.


Transitions/ Words That Show Addition

Addition words signal added ideas. These words tell you a writer is presenting one or more ideas that continue along the same line of thought as a previous idea.



In the cartoon above, the words To begin with introduce a list. The words Second and Also add to the list of reasons why the dog should be hired.



Addition Words

Here are some common words that show addition:

Examples

• The human body has six pounds of skin. Furthermore, it contains sixty thousand miles of blood vessels.

• One reason people have dogs is for companionship; another reason is for protection.

• Hippos give birth under water. They also nurse their young there.


Transitions

Words That Show Time


A. I had blood work done. I went to the doctor.

B. I had blood work done. Then I went to the doctor.


Transitions

Words That Show Time


A. I had blood work done. I went to the doctor.


The word Then in the second item clarifies the relationship between the sentences. After having blood work done, the speaker goes to the doctor.


Transitions


/ Words That Show Time

Then and words like it are time words.


Transitions/ Words That Show Time

Time words indicate a time relationship. These transitions tell us when something happened in relation to when something else happened. They help writers organize and make clear the order of events, stages, and steps in a process.



In this cartoon, the words First, Then, and Finally mark different stages in “growing up.”



Time Words

Here are some common time words :

Examples

• After our kids take their morning showers, there is usually no hot water left.

• It used to take me thirty-five minutes to get to school. Now, because of road construction, that time has nearly tripled.• I begin my “Things To Do” list by writing down everything I need to do the next day. Then I label each item A (very important), B (important), or C (not important).



Time Words


Transitions

Helpful Tips about Transitions

TIP TIP 1 Some transition words have the same meaning.

For example, also, moreover, and furthermore all mean “in addition.” Authors typically use a variety of transitions to avoid repetition.


Transitions

TIP TIP 2 Certain words can serve as two different types of transitions, depending on how they are used.

For example, the word first may be used as an addition word to show that the author is presenting a series of points, as in the following sentences:

/ Helpful Tips about Transitions

• My mother has some strange kitchen habits. First, she loves to cook with the television on full blast. Moreover, she . . .

First may also be used to signal a time sequence, as in this sentence:

• The paramedics raced to the man who had collapsed on the sidewalk. First, they checked his pulse and breathing. Then . . .


Patterns of Organization

You have learned that transitions show the relationships between ideas in sentences. In the same way, patterns of organization show the relationships between supporting details in paragraphs, essays, and chapters. Two important patterns of organization are:

• The list of items pattern (Addition words are often used in this pattern of organization.)

• The time order pattern (Time words are often used in this pattern of organization.)



The List of Items Pattern

A list of items is a series of reasons, examples, or other points that support an idea.

The items are listed in the order the author prefers.


Patterns of Organization/ The List of Items Pattern

Addition words are often used in a list of items to tell us that another supporting point is being added to one or more points already mentioned.

Addition Words Used in the List of Items Pattern



In the paragraph below, notice that each of the supporting details is introduced by an addition transition.

Walking can be a rewarding experience. For one thing, walking lets you see firsthand what’s going on in your neighborhood. Also, when you’re on foot, you are more likely to meet neighbors and make new friends. Finally, a brisk walk is an excellent and inexpensive form of exercise.



A number of different theories attempt to explain crime. One theory says that crime is caused by biology. This explanation says that people inherit the tendency to commit crime much as they inherit eye color. Another theory suggests that crime is caused by psychological factors. According to this view, anger caused in childhood—by such painful events as abuse and neglect—drives people to commit crimes. A third, more recent view is that crime is caused by social forces. According to this theory, economic, social, and political inequalities create an environment in which crime is likely to happen.

The paragraph below lists three theories that attempt to explain crime. As you read the paragraph, pick out the addition words that introduce the three major details.

Addition word

Addition word

Addition word




What major details are needed to complete the outline below the passage?

Main idea: A number of different theories attempt to explain crime.

1. 2.

3.





Main idea: A number of different theories attempt to explain crime.

1. Biology 2. Psychological factors

3. Social forces



The Time Order Pattern

Authors usually present events in the order in which they happen.This results in a pattern of organization known as time order.


Patterns of Organization/ The Time Order Pattern

See if you can arrange the following sentences in an order that makes sense. Which sentence should come first? Second? Third? Last?

A. After the dish had been brought to Germany, a German cook decided to broil the meat, calling it Hamburg steak.

B. Finally, German immigrants took the dish to the United States, where it became known as “hamburger.”

C. For centuries, a dish made of raw ground beef was eaten by the Tartars, a group living in central Asia.

D. Then a merchant from Germany discovered the Tartars’ recipe for ground beef and took it to his hometown, Hamburg.



For centuries, a dish made of raw ground beef was eaten by the Tartars, a group living in central Asia. Then a merchant from Germany discovered the Tartars’ recipe for ground beef and took it to his hometown, Hamburg. After the dish had been brought to Germany, a German cook decided to broil the meat, calling it Hamburg steak. Finally, German immigrants took the dish to the United States, where it became known as “hamburger.”

Time words are clues to the proper order of the sentences.

The sentences should read as follows:

Time word

Time word

Time word



When authors arrange their information in a time order pattern, they use time words to introduce the supporting details.

Time Words Used in the Time Order Pattern

In addition to time transitions, signals for the time order pattern include dates, times, and such words as stages, series, steps, and process.



The two most common kinds of time order are

1) a series of events or stages and

2) a series of steps (directions for how to do something).



Series of Events or Stages

Authors sometimes describe a series of events—for example, the financial mistakes that led to the major recession that began in 2008 in the United States.

Or authors may explain a series of stages, such as those that turn a caterpillar into a butterfly.



Series of Events or Stages

In both cases, they use time order.

Very young children in a hospital often go through three stages of separation anxiety. In the first stage, “protest,” these children try actively to get the parent (especially the mother) back. For instance, they may shake their cribs and hurl themselves about. In the second stage, “despair,” the babies and children become inactive and withdrawn. They may cry, but generally they are so quiet that they are mistakenly assumed to have accepted the hospital. In the final stage, “detachment,” they respond to hospital workers—they eat, play with toys, and are friendly. But they fail to respond to a visiting parent.


Patterns of Organization/ Series of Events or Stages

Time word

Here is a paragraph that is organized according to time order. As you read the paragraph, pick out the time words that introduce each stage of the process.

Time word

Time word





1. 2.

3.

Main idea: Very young children in a hospital often go through three stages of separation anxiety.






1. Protest

2. Despair

3. Detachment


Series of Steps (Directions)


When authors give directions, they use time order. They explain step 1, then step 2, and so on through the entire series of steps that must be taken toward a specific goal.


Patterns of Organization/ Series of Steps (Directions)

To improve your memory for names, follow this procedure. First, when you are introduced to someone, make sure you hear the person’s name clearly. Next, repeat the name with your greeting: “Nice to meet you, Ms. Baron.” Then take a good look at the person and concentrate on matching the face with the name. Last, repeat the name again when you are leaving the person: “Good meeting you, Ms. Baron.”

Time word

Here is a paragraph that is gives directions. As you read the paragraph, pick out the time words that introduce each step in the sequence.

Time word

Time word

Time word






1. 2.

3. 4.






1. Make sure you hear the person’s name clearly during an introduction. 2. Repeat the name as you greet the person.

3. Concentrate on matching the name with the face.

4. When you leave the person, repeat his or her name.

1

2

3

4

1. Make sure you hear the person’s name clearly during an introduction. 2. Repeat the name as you greet the person.

3. Concentrate on matching the name with the face.

4. When you leave the person, repeat his or her name.

ten steps to building college reading skills fifth edition john langan © 2011 townsend press

Documents

relationships ithis

item easier

relationships itransitionsb

good exercise

relationships itransitionsyou

ideas clear

benefits of climbing

lot of calories