CRITICAL REASONINGClass 1

GENERAL GUIDELINES

SAT: 48/67 CR (40 L, 8 S) compared to 19 SC).

GRE: 20/40 CR, 12 SC, 8 SE.

RC QUESTION FORMATS:

SAT: Select one answer choice (MCQ).GRE: Select one or more answer choice (MCQ). Select a line in the passage.

RC QUESTION TYPES:

Words in context Specific Information Attitude or tone Main & secondary Ideas Conclusion Implied Information Themes and Arguments Technique

THE 9 VERBAL SKILLS BEING TESTED:

1. Understanding the meaning of individual words and sentences.

2. Understanding the meaning, relationship and structure of paragraphs and larger bodies of text.

3. Distinguishing between minor and major points.4. Summarizing a passage.5. Drawing conclusions from the information provided

both the author’s conclusions and your own.6. Identifying the author's assumptions and perspective. 7. Identifying strengths and weaknesses of a position.8. Developing and considering alternative explanations. 9. Reasoning from incomplete data to infer missing

information.

PACING GUIDELINES:

The truth is that RC questions and passages differ so much that in reality there is no easy rule in pacing (Rule of thumb 1-1.5 minutes per question including reading time).

Know when to move on. Identify easy questions. Leave at least 1 long passage for the end.

TO SKIM OR NOT TO SKIM?

What is skimming?

Does it work for you?

When does it become imperative?

MY PERSONAL PREFERENCE:

Focus on ideas. Gloss over facts. I do my first read extensively for a global

understanding, reading critically, then I read the question stem and scan, but if I am short on time I skim.

5-STEP APPROACH TO ANSWER ANY READING COMPREHENSION

Step 1: Read the material strategically & critically.

Step 2: Read the question stem.

Step 3: Locate the material

Step 4: Predict an answer

Step 5: Evaluate the best answer choice

STEP 1. READING STRATEGICALLY: MENTAL SUMMARY

Put the thoughts in order do a quick review scan.

STEP 1. READING STRATEGICALLY: MAIN IDEAS, SECONDARY IDEAS, DIFFERING PERSPECTIVE, EVIDENCE / SUPPORT, CONCLUSION.

STEP 1 READING STRATEGICALLY: HOW TO DEAL WITH MANY IDEAS IN A LONG PASSAGE

Try to distinguish main ideas from supporting ideas or evidence.

Try to distinguish ideas that the author is advancing from those he or she is merely reporting.

Try to distinguish ideas that the author is strongly committed to from those he or she advances as hypothetical or speculative.

Try to identify the main transitions from one idea to the next.

Try to identify the relationship between different ideas. For example: Are they contrasting? Are they consistent? Does one support the other? Does one spell the other out in greater detail? Does one apply the other to a particular circumstance?

STEP 1. READING STRATEGICALLY: NOTE TAKING / HIGHLIGHTING

STEP 1. INCORPORATING IDEAS IN STRATEGIC READING: GUIDED PRACTICE SET

Example 1a: Identify and make a mental summary of the main & secondary ideas, the evidence, and the conclusion.You may try skimming and scanning the passage or extensive reading, you may also take minimal notes or underline.

GUIDED PRACTICE SET: EXAMPLE 1A

Main Idea: Orion the hunter for whom a constellation is named.

Secondary Idea: There is a second constellation related to Orion.

Evidence / Support: Stories of how Orion was both loved and hated by the Gods.

Conclusion: The Ancient Greek explanation of how the Orion constellation and other stars were formed is a myth in tribute of important Greeks.

STEP 1. READING CRITICALLY: GET INTO THE AUTHORS MIND

STEP 1. READ STRATEGICALLY: GET INTO THE AUTHORS MIND

Example 1b: For the last two hours I have been watching President Lincoln and General McClellan as they sat together in earnest conversation on the deck of a steamer close to us. I am thankful, I am happy, that the President has come—has sprung across that dreadful intervening Washington, and come to see and hear and judge for his own wise and noble self.

How does the author feel toward Lincoln?(A) She trusts his judgment.(B) She suspects his motives.(C) She regrets his arrival.(D) She finds him undistinguished.(E) She has no opinion.

STEP 1. READ CRITICALLY: OVERALL PICTURE, TONE, TOPIC, PURPOSE

STEP 1. READING CRITICALLY: OVERALL PICTURE, TOPIC, TONE, PURPOSE

Example 1c: Identify and make a mental summary of, overall picture, topic, purpose and tone / attitude of both authors.

STEP 1. READING CRITICALLY: OVERALL PICTURE, TOPIC, TONE, PURPOSE

Example 1c

Overall Picture: The cruel realities of servitude.Topic: The biographical lives of slaves and servants who took care of children.Tone Author 1 “Curry”: Disgust Tone Author 2 “Tagore” : IronyPurpose: To provide two biographical accounts and describe the life of slaves who were significant caretakers.

STEP 1: READING STRATEGICALLY AND CRITICALLY

Saves time (have less to refer to). Analyzes, sorts, and evaluates information. Leads you to the best answer.

STEPS 2 & 3. STEM AND LOCATING STRATEGIES: SIGNAL WORDS / KEY WORDS / EMOTIONAL WORDS

STEP 4. STRATEGIES FOR PREDICTING: PREDICT AN ANSWER / MAIN IDEA IN YOUR OWN WORDS

STEP 4. STRATEGIES FOR PREDICTING: MAKING INFERENCES

She was wearing a heavy over coat.

Q) What was the weather like outside?

STEP 4. STRATEGIES FOR PREDICTING: MAKING INFERENCES

Example 4a: It can be inferred that the “reluctance” mentioned in the passage is being ascribed to

A most composers since MendelssohnB Schumann and BrahmsC the music-listening publicD music critics generallyE Haggin exclusively

STEP 4. STRATEGIES FOR PREDICTING: READING THE CONTEXTUAL CLUES

STEP 5. STRATEGIES FOR ANSWERING: THE ROLE OF PRIOR KNOWLEDGE

STEP 5. STRATEGIES FOR ANSWERING: FACTUALLY CORRECT BUT ACTUALLY WRONG

STEP 5. STRATEGIES FOR ANSWERING: FACTUALLY CORRECT BUT ACTUALLY WRONG

Example 5a. A person who agrees to serve as mediator between two warring factions at the request of both abandons by so agreeing the right to take sides later. To take sides at a later point would be to suggest that the earlier presumptive impartiality was a sham.The passage above emphasizes which of the following points about mediators?

A) They should try to form no opinions of their own about any issue that is related to the dispute.

B) They should not agree to serve unless they are committed to maintaining a stance of impartiality.

C) They should not agree to serve unless they are equally acceptable to all parties to a dispute.

D) They should feel free to take sides in the dispute right from the start, provided that they make their biases publicly known.

E) They should reserve the right to abandon their impartiality so as not to be open to the charge of having been deceitful.

STEP 5. STRATEGIES FOR ANSWERING: WATCH OUT FOR EXTREME ANSWERS

STEP 5. STRATEGIES FOR ANSWERING: DON’T BE A PERFECTIONIST

STEP 5: EVALUATING ANSWERS GUIDED PRACTICE

Example 5b: Evaluating Answers