Transcript ACT
ACT
Reading
Day 1
Overview
5 Strategies
Rank ordering
Reading for Main Idea
Total Score (36)
Two Subscores
– Humanities and prose fiction
– Social studies and science
ACT Reading Section Structure
Four passages of 700 words each
–
–
–
–
Social studies
Science
Fiction (Prose)
Humanities
Each passage has 10 questions
– 40 questions total
– 35 minutes
– Therefore, about 8 and a half minutes for each passage
to read and answer questions
What Makes the Reading Difficult?
No background given
Can treat any subject
– Goal: test reading comprehension, not
subject knowledge
– Everything is there to answer the question
– Do not be intimidated by the passages
What Makes Reading Difficult?
Passages are edited
Purposely designed for the types of
questions asked
Dense, highly packed text
No titles or subtitles
Tricks of the Trade
• Answer Easy and Medium Difficulties:
Focus timing and strategy on correctly
answering those items that you are SURE
you are capable of answering correctly.
• Skip the questions that you do not know
the first time through.
Tricks of the Trade
• Every Item Is Earned
Each item requires a process to find the
correct answer, and when you try to avoid
this you are much more likely to get the
wrong answer; no answer can be found
cheaply.
Strategies
1. Rank order passages, from easiest to
most difficult.
– Quickly scan first sentence description and
number from 1-4 on top of each page.
– Look for subject matter, vocabulary load
– Read passages in order, from easiest to most
difficult
– Rationale: Get the maximum number correct
Strategies
2. Read the first and last paragraph in
your easiest selection for:
– Main idea
– Structure of the selection (The BIG Picture)
Question/answer
Cause/effect
Comparison/contrast
Chronological
Special listing
Strategies
3. Skim the question stems before reading
the selection, but don’t waste time reading
the choices.
Rationale: Know what to look for
Strategies
4. Mark the text
– Use a pencil to underline, circle, code in margin
– Goal: mark text to quickly locate information
during question answering
– Highlighters are not allowed
Stategies
5. Answer all of the questions for the
selection
Read and consider all options
Justify your choice
Refer back to the passage frequently
Practice
In class exercise:
Big Book - Main Idea p. 283-285 Do
#3, 5,7,9 together
Victory - Rank and order Practice
test p. 502
Homework:
Finish Main Idea exercise on p. 538-540 if it
was difficult for you.
Read and answer questions for passage
you think will be easiest. Give
yourself 10 minutes.
Day 2
6 Strategies for Reading
Carefully and Comprehensively
1. Main Idea Questions
– Which of the following is the author’s main
point?
– What is the unifying theme?
– What is the main theme of the third paragraph?
Main Idea Hints
Answers are neither too general nor too
specific. It will summarize the main theme
of the selection.
Main Idea is stated at the beginning or end
of the passage.
Circle, underline, bracket
2. Determine outline used to Develop
Passage
-Identify the supporting ideas author has used
to confirm or strengthen the main idea.
Mark these!!!
-Identify the primary facts or arguments the
author uses to support the main theme.
Mark these also!!!
-Determine the order of ideas or information.
-Temporal – time ordered
-Sequential – smallest to largest
-Categorical – types of starts
-Geographical – east to west
-Logical – rational order
Emotional – saddest time to
happiest time
3. Locate important specific details
– Look for signals the author is about to communicate
something he/she thinks is important. (importantly,
considerably, or critically, notably)
– Take special note whenever the author takes the time to
provide a definition of a word, phrase, or idea.
– Watch for similarity words. (comparable, similar, like, or
equal to)
– Contrast words that compare “prototype” and the
“model”
– Example words – “For example” or “for instance”
4. Analyze the Arguments or Persuasive Devices
Examples of the types of evidence and/or support
an author may use to prove his/her arguments
-Scientific data/research
-Statistics
-Historical Facts
-Quotations from prominent individuals
-Personal experiences
-Logic
-Statements or ideas from other experts
-Emotional statements or stories
5. Consider the Author’s Point of View
-Consider the author’s underlying intentions or assumptions.
What is he/she trying to say?
-Infer the implied or hidden reasons from the passage
6. Probe the Mood of the Passage
-Take into account the overall feeling or tone of the passage.
-Author’s mood will give you cues about the author’s intention in
writing the passage
Example moods: upbeat, sad, humorous, angry, depressed,
analytical, entertaining, confused, scholoarly.
Practice
In class exercise: Big Book - p. 289-298
p. 289 #4-6, p. 291 #1-2, p. 293 #9-10
p. 295 #7-11, p. 298 #1-2
Homework: If these were difficult finish
other exercises on p. 289-298.
Finish Practice Reading test (last three
passages) from p. 502 in Victory.
Day 3
Roman Numeral questions
Timing Strategies
Trial Run
Format of Roman Numeral
Questions
Waterford is:
–
–
–
–
I. A small community
II. A growing village
III. A place with industry
IV. A dying area
A. I & IV
B. II & IV
C. I only
D. I, II, & III
Treat it as a TRUE/FALSE question
Timing Strategy
Move quickly
Spend only 9 minutes on each passage
Don’t forget to MARK it up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Spend the majority of your time answering
questions
Timing Strategy 2
Don’t get bogged down
Choose an answer and move on
Unsure? Go back into the passage and find
the answer. Your marked text will help you
quickly locate the answer.
Use the process of elimination
Better to give up one point in the middle
than 10 points at the end.
Timing Strategy 3
If you are running out of time….(less than 5
minutes left with a passage to read)
– Skip reading the passage
– Answer any detail or phrase in context
questions with a specific line number
– Answer as many questions as possible and
guess the same answer on the rest
Timing Strategy 4
Answer all questions before moving on to
the next passage.
– By the time you get back to the question, the
passage will no longer be fresh in your mind
– NEVER leave an answer blank.
Practice
In class exercises: Trial run Victory p. 562
Rank and order all 4
Preview question stems
Read and mark passage
8 ½ minutes per passage – I hope to get
through three