Critical Reading

Section 3: Strategies

PSAT Critical Reading SectionsThere are TWO 25 minute Critical Reading test

Sections on the PSAT that consist of 48 total items:13 Sentence Completion items35 Passage items

Four Types of Critical Reading: Passages Formats1.Long single passage selections (400-500 words/10

items)2.Long double passage selections (750-850 words/12

items)3.Short single paragraph selections (100 words/2 items)4.Short double paragraph selections (200 words/4 items)

PSAT Critical Reading SectionsFour passage topics, unfamiliar subjects

Natural ScienceSocial StudiesHumanitiesLiterary Fiction

Items test comprehension rather than subject knowledgeJosquin de Pres example

Passages test comprehension, not speed reading.Depth of understandingShorter passages

Objectives for this Core LessonBy the end of this lesson, you should:

Be more familiar with many of the concepts that are tested on the official test,

Be able to target the passages and item types that they are best equipped to answer, and

Read passages more efficiently with attention to comprehension levels.

Item Types: Passage One (p. 378)Read the passage silently. Look up at me when

you are finished.Item Types:1.Main Idea- What is the unifying theme?2.Explicit Detail- What is explicitly mentioned?3.Vocabulary- How are certain words used?4.Development- How are the ideas constructed and

arranged?5. Implied Idea- What can be inferred?6.Application- How can the information be applied to

new situations?7.Voice- What does the writer reveal through

attitude, tone, or voice?

Examples of Main Idea ItemsWhich of the following is the main point of

the passage?The primary purpose of the passage is to . .

.The author is primarily concerned with . . .Which of the following titles best describes

the content of the passage?

Items 1 and 2 on page 378.

Examples of Explicit Detail ItemsThe author mentions which of the

following?According to the passage . . .The author provides information that would

answer which of the following questions?

Items 3-5 (page 379)

Examples of Vocabulary ItemsThe word ______ in line ## means . . .In line ##, what is the best definition of

_______?

Item 6 (page 379)

Examples of Implied Idea ItemsThe passage implies that . . .The author uses the phrase “. . .” to mean .

. .It can be inferred from the passage that . . .Which of the following can be inferred from

the passage?

Items 9-11 (pages 379-380)

Examples of Development ItemsThe author develops the passage primarily

by . . .The author proceeds primarily by . . .The author mentions _____ in order to . . .Which of the following best explains why

the author introduces . . .?

Items 7-8 (page 379)

Examples of Application ItemsWith which of the following statements

would the author most likely agree?The author would probably consider which

of the following a good example of her theory?

The passage is most probably taken from which of the following sources?

Items 12-13 (page 380)

Examples of Voice ItemsThe tone of this passage can best be

described as . . .The author regards . . . as . . .Which of the following best describes the

author’s attitude toward . . . ?

Items 14-15 (page 380)

Shorter passagesPage 382 (16-22)

16. Main Idea17. Explicit Detail18.Vocabulary19.Development20.Implied Idea21.Application22.Voice

Shorter passagesPage 383 (23-29)

23. Main Idea24. Explicit Detail25. Vocabulary26. Development27. Implied Idea28. Application29. Voice

Homework1. Review the Strategy Summary Sheet- Critical

Reading: Passages (Item Types- pages 450-451).

2. Finish pages 382-383 (if we did not finish in class).

3. Do “Timed Practice Quiz I” on pages 430-431. Write down your start and stop time (15 minutes) and time yourself.

4. Do “Timed Practice Quiz II” on pages 432-433. Write down your start and stop time (15 minutes) and time yourself.

DUE TOMORROW!