<p>So, what is the key towards achieving a higher critical reading score? Well, the first step, like many SAT prep books suggest, is to understand the passage. This is best achieved by becoming engaged in the passage. How does one exactly do this? The answer is obvious: by taking notes and summarizing information presented in the passage. But this leads to a new set of questions: How exactly do I take notes? What should I be looking for? How should I organize my information to help me answer the questions presented on the SAT?</p>
<p>One method I have found extremely useful in terms of engaging myself in the passage is the use of concept maps to summarize the long reading passages. </p>
<p>To read more: Critical</a> Reading - Long Passages.pdf</p>
<p>Warning: Depend on your learning style, you may or may find this method effective. If you are already proficient at critical reading, I would suggest that you continue using the strategies that you are currently using. However, if you struggle at critical reading, you may want to consider trying this method.</p>
<p>Please feel free to comment</p>
<p>Tell me what you think of this method.</p>
<p>Thank you in advance for your comments.</p>
<p>Step One: Draw the general structure of the concept map (the stage is done before you start reading the passage). Note that in this case, I created a circle for every paragraph, but you can adjust accordingly both to your learning style and to the style of the SAT passage. For example, if a passage contains several short paragraphs, you may want to combine two or three paragraphs in to one circle. Of course, you wont know how many circles to create if you dont whats presented in the passage. However, I would recommend that you create about six circles (you dont have to use them all): one for the main point (usually I like to place the main point in the center) and five others for main ideas of paragraph (s).<br>
Step Two: Read only the italicized introductions of the passage; write the main point of passage. The SAT long passages will always have italicized introductions at the beginning of the passage. You can usually deduce the main point of the entire passage just by reading these italicized introduces. Write it down in the appropriate circle (again, I like arranging the main point in the middle).
Step Three: Read the paragraphs one at a time (if the passage contains several short paragraphs, you may want to read a couple of paragraphs at a time). As you read through each paragraph or each couple of paragraphs, jot down the ideas present in these paragraph(s) in the appropriate circle. Usually, I like to jot down two points for every circle: one point taken from the beginning of the paragraph(s) and another taken from near the end of the paragraph(s).
Step Four: Repeat the process described in step three until you are finished reading the passage.
Step Five: Now you have finished reading the passage, you have a pretty decent idea of how each paragraph relates. At this time, I would draw in connecting lines to show the relationship between each circle/paragraph (maybe even add a few words to describe how one paragraph relates to the next one). This really helps when it comes to questions which ask you about the role of a specific paragraph (the primary function of paragraph 3 is
).</p>
<p>though I did not do this during the real SAT today, it helps me to underline EVERYTHING. Though it is an unorthodox way, it keeps me engaged and focused. Also, guess the answer to the question before u actually look at the answer choices. A lot of times, my guesses are exactly like the answer choice!</p>
<p>Thanks for your advices for the reading section. I guess that everyone has different reading styles and we must choose what serves us the best. But thank you for considering this method.</p>
<p>Here is my strategy for single long passages:
- I look at the first question that has line references (if the first one is a main idea question, skip it and go on to the next one that has line references)
- I read the italicized portion before the actual passage
- I read the passage up to the line reference of the first question
- Actually read what the first question is asking (do this part very carefully; many times people get questions wrong, because they misunderstand the question or jump to soon to conclusions based on what they think is right; if you know what the question is asking, chances are you won’t get the question wrong.
- If I need to, I reread the line references again. If not, I answer the question and move on to the next question with line references and read the passage up to those line references.
- Repeat the Process
Tips
1.Never box lines or mark them before reading the passage; it might not even be good to box line references while reading reason being that it wastes time and breaks your concentration; i also find it very distracting
- Always good to underline what you feel is important while reading the passage. Makes you more focused.
- If the question is an inference question, always eliminate choices that directly state stuff from the passage.
- Always keep the author’s purpose in mind!!! If an answer you pick is not in accord with the author’s purpose, that answer is mostly likely wrong.
- Also for ifnerence questions, keep in mind what the author’s intent.
- Save purpose of the passage and tone questions for the end after you read the whole passage (make sure you box those questions or circle them, so that way you remember to go back to them and not mess up your scantron)
- for tone questions, never pick extremem answer choices unless it is blatantly apparent that they are the answer.
- Always eliminate answers. Never try to justify each answer choice (that just makes you confused and think that you have the answer when you don’t). Rather, think about what is wrong with the answer choice.
- Always read all answer choices carefully before picking the answer. Cross out answers you think are wrong.
- Most importantly, A PARTIALLY WRONG ANSWER IS A WRONG ANSWER, IF THE ANSWER SEEMS HALF RIGHT, IT IS WRONG CROSS IT OUT.</p>
<p>I hope this helps everyone. If you have a real difficult time with critical reading, do a lot of college board produced critical reading passages (not any other test company,such as Princeton, Barron’s, Kaplan b/c their tests are not good and do not come close enough to mimcing college board tests).</p>
<p>I know that my method may sound a bit radical, but it worked for me. Please tell me how it works for you. Thanks</p>
<p>While useful for annotating long history passages for homework (and other similar things), this would take far too long on the SAT to be beneficial. If done correctly though, a concept map can be very handy. I’m just not convinced that the SAT is the proper place to use it.</p>
<p>Like SAT12345, I find any previous annotating distracting. I like to read through the whole thing (while underlining) and this helps me better understand the overall theme/mood/tone (there’s almost always an annoying question about one of those).</p>
<p>Thanks for the comment, fairy_dreams. I found that sometimes the SAT passages are complicated and long-winded, so I usually paraphrase information in the form of concept maps rather than underline key ideas.</p>
<p>Hmm… do you actually do this on the SAT? Kudos if it works well for you.</p>
<p>But is time an issue? I’ve found that I prefer to have enough time to double/triple check my answers.</p>
<p>To answer your question, fairy_dream: Yes, this is something that I actually do on the SAT.
I don’t find time to be issue. I usually have about 2-3 minutes left in the Critical Reading section left to check my answers. I think with practice, you get faster and more efficient at making concept maps.</p>
<p>Ah, I see… Well, I’m glad this works for you. It’s an interesting method and I do something similar with my dense history readings. </p>
<p>I prefer to have over 10 minutes left over for the SAT though (double/triple checking just makes me feel safer!).</p>
<p>Thanks, fairy_dreams, I don’t find double-checking my answers on the Critical Reading section very helpful (I don’t usually change my answers when I am double-checking). I like to spend more time focusing on answering the questions the first time.</p>
<p>Thanks for your comments so far, everyone.</p>
<p>Feel free to make criticisms as well. I know that time is a major factor in using this method.</p>