Strategy 1: Understand Main Idea and Supporting Details
Main idea is the most important idea in reading. When someone asks what is this about? the answer in the main idea. The main idea is often in the first sentence in a passage but it can be in the last sentence too.
SIGNAL QUESTIONS: Main Idea
What is the best titke for the reading passage?
What is the topic sentence in paragraph 1?
Which of the following best states the main point of the poem?
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Supporting details help you understand the main idea. They are specific, not general.
Signal Questions: Supporting Details
wh-questions: who, what, where, when, how much, or how many
Example: Who is john? Where is he from? How old is he?
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Strategy 2: Recognizing Sequence and Chronology
Chronological order is time order.
2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006
Alphabetical order is letter order.
a b c d e f g h i j k l...
Numerical order is number order.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ...
Signal Word: Sequence and Chronology
First Middle Last
At first Second/third/fourt... At last
In the beginning Then/Next Finally
At the start After/After that In the end
Later/Following that
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Strategy 3: Compare and Contrast
To compare: Find what is alike (similar) or the same.
To contrast: Find what is different (dissimilar)
Signal Words: Compare and Contrast
Compare Contrast
and, also, similarly, both all/except, but, however, instead, even though, although, while
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BUILD HIGHER ORDER READING SKILLS
Strategy 4: Understanding Cause and Effect
A cause makes something happen. An effect is what happens. (the cause always happens first. The effect happens after the cause)
CAUSE
as a result of, because, for , since | EXAMPLES
- Maria passed her class because she studied hard.
- Since it was snowing very hard, the schools were closed.
| EFFECT
brought about, consequently, led to, which is why, so, therefore
| EXAMPLES - Jose didn't do his homework so he failed his class.
- The teacher was sick therefore he went to the doctor.
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Signal Questions: Cause and Effect
To find a cause, ask: To find an effect, ask:
Why did that happen? What happened after that?
What made that happen? What was the result of that?
How did that happen? What did that do?
What caused that?
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Strategy 5: Make inferences
Writers don't put everything in a reading. Somethimes the reader has to make an inference, or guess, about the reading. This guess is also like drawing conclusions.
Signal Questions and Phrases: Making Inferences
Questions Phrases
How do you know that...? From the passage, the reader can conclude that...
What can you conclude about...? According to the paragraph 5, you can infer that...
What does it mean when the narrator says...? In this paragraph, you can tell that...
What can you tell about...?
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Strategy 6: Distinguish Fact from Opinion
Facts can be proved. Facts are real information. Places, names. dates and events are facts. Measures and weights are facts.
FACTS OPINIONS
Mr. Serin is an ESL teacher at ITHS. Mr. Serin is a great ESL teacher.
Division is a math operation. Division is difficult.
The sun rises in the east. That is a beautiful sunrise.
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Signal Questions: Facts and Opinions
Facts Opinions
Who is the ESL teacher at ITHS? Mr. Serin is a great ESL teacher. Agree or disagree.
Where does the sun rise? Why is it a beautiful sunrise? |
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