SAT Reading section techniques, strategies & approaches: Difference between revisions

adding to elimination
(→‎BIG IDEAS: adding designed to trick you)
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'''SAT Reading section'''
'''SAT Reading section techniques and strategies'''
 
[[Category:SAT Verbal]]
[[Category:SAT Verbal]]
[[Category:SAT Prep]]
[[Category:SAT Prep]]
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** [[Rhetorical analysis]] (t.b.d)
** [[Rhetorical analysis]] (t.b.d)
** [[SAT Writing]]
** [[SAT Writing]]
* here for videos [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyC6Fj2OdXlrS_2vRYBHtzPwu2WOLSCVQ modeling some of these techniques and correcting student errors on SAT Reading section practice tests (by Michael Bromley)]




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== BIG IDEAS ==
== BIG IDEAS ==
* the SAT Reading test is designed to trick you
* the SAT Reading test questions are designed to trick you
* 3 of the 4 possible answers contain an error
** 3 of the 4 possible answers contain an error
* the 1 "correct" answer is not the ''best'' answer
** the 1 "correct" answer is not the ''best'' answer
** it is the ONLY answer that does not contain an error
** it is the ONLY answer that does not contain an error
* focus on questions!
** identify information in them
** learn about the passage from them
** recognize them in the passage as you read
*** which means previewing them before reading & flipping back and forth between questions and text while you read
* read questions carefully, taking in every word, when you answer them


=== Difficulty level ===  
=== Difficulty level ===  
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* TRUST your eliminations
* TRUST your eliminations
** even if you don't like the correct answer, if you can't eliminate it and you can eliminate the others, it is likely correct
** even if you don't like the correct answer, if you can't eliminate it and you can eliminate the others, it is likely correct
* multi-part questions or possible answers: you only need to eliminate one part in order to eliminate the possible answer
=== Error types in wrong answers ===
* 3 of 4 possible answers contain one or more errors
* types of errors include:
** textual evidence that is unrelated to the question
** or, an incorrect association with a word in the passage
**


=== Perspective shift ===
=== Perspective shift ===
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== Strategies & approaches for Reading passages ==
== Strategies & approaches for Reading passages ==
 
* SAT Reading test "Directions" instruct students, "After reading each passage or pair, choose the best answer to each question"
* The test "Directions" instruct students, "After reading each passage or pair, choose the best answer to each question"
* Other approaches include:
* Other approaches include:
** read carefully and annotate
** read carefully and annotate
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=== Elimination ===  
=== Elimination ===  
* eliminate aggressively: there is a definitive error in three answers, make them justify themselves
* eliminate aggressively: there is a definitive error in three answers, make them justify themselves
** remember that the correct answer may not be the best answer, just the one without an error
** remember that the correct answer may not be the best answer, it is the one without an error
** when questions contain two qualifiers, or descriptive words, if you can eliminate one then the possible answer is incorrect
** when questions contain two qualifiers, or descriptive words, if you can eliminate one then the possible answer is incorrect
** ex.: “Thoreau indicates that some unjust aspects of government are:”
** ex.: “Thoreau indicates that some unjust aspects of government are:”
A) superficial and can be fixed easily
A) superficial and can be fixed easily
** if you can eliminate either “superficial” or “fixed easily” then A is incorrect
** if you can eliminate either “superficial” or “fixed easily” then A is incorrect
* if the question has two parts:
** if the possible answer does not address both or conflicts with one of the parts of the question it is wrong
* this elimination strategy helps students get around unfamiliar vocabular words
click EXPAND for an example of this elimination technique from CB practice test 1, question 6:
<pre>
In the passage, Akira addresses Chie with
A) affection but not genuine love.
B) objectivity but not complete impartiality.
C) amusement but not mocking disparagement.
D) respect but not utter deference.</pre>
* if you do not know what "disparagement means," but the text does not have evidence for "amusement," then C) is wrong
* if you do not know what "deference" means, but the text shows evidence for "respect" then you cannot eliminate
</div>
=== Skipping ===  
=== Skipping ===  
* consider skipping “main point” “passage development” questions until completing others first
* consider skipping “main point” “passage development” questions until completing others first