Before undertaking this exercise, please study the passage tactics I recommend. For reference, included below as a collapsible outline is the list and description of passage content you'll articulate in this exercise.
Read for the content the SAT/ACT tests.
◦ Non-fiction Passages
◦ Fiction Passages
◦ Paired Passages
Subject
• What the passage's main message is about, whether broad or narrow; not always the first topic mentioned nor the one appearing most frequently in the passage.
Author's Purpose
• The author's primary reason for writing this text.
Main Idea
• The author's main message, which we can only know confidently after completing a thorough reading of the passage. Sometimes the main idea is articulated one or more times in the passage, but only by thoroughly reading the entire passage can we determine if/where the main idea is stated. Often, though, we must synthesize several key ideas from the passage to construct the main idea.
Passage Sections - The functional components of the passage's organization.
• Each non-fiction passage is organized into sections - each a single paragraph or a group of paragraphs - each of which has a function within the passage as a whole and relative to the preceding and following sections.
Key Ideas - Crucially important nodes in the passage structure.
◦ Accompanied before or after by:
• Support
• Detail
◦ Key ideas occupy crucial positions within passage sections and often define a section's primary function.
• Detail
Focal Points - Noteworthy author's choices; "things that make you go, 'hmm...'"
◦ E.g., when the author:
• defines a term
• makes an important transition
• makes an unexpected choice
• uses pointed/charged wording
• limits a claim/acknowledges an opposing view
• momentarily digresses from the main discussion
• plays with words
• makes an important transition
• makes an unexpected choice
• uses pointed/charged wording
• limits a claim/acknowledges an opposing view
• momentarily digresses from the main discussion
• plays with words
◦ Fiction Passages
Setting
• The time, place, and any relevant events or developments taking place.
Characters
• All characters referred to, major and minor, their interactions and dialogue, feelings, conflicts, key characteristics.
Sequence of Events
• Often presented in a nonlinear path including flashbacks from the present and allusions to past events.
Passage Sections - The functional components of the passage's organization.
• Fiction passages are typically more flexible in their organization, but like non-fiction passages, they consist of passage sections determined by the function of each section within the passage as a whole.
Focal Points - Noteworthy author's choices; "things that make you go, 'hmm...'"
◦ E.g., when the author:
• uses a particular literary device or technique
• makes an important transition
• makes an unexpected choice
• uses pointed/charged wording
• plays with words
• makes an important transition
• makes an unexpected choice
• uses pointed/charged wording
• plays with words
◦ Paired Passages
• In addition to reading each passage for the key components above, when passages are paired, include in your reading of the second passage comparisons and contrasts with the first passage in the dimensions of:
◦ Subject and Scope
◦ Content
◦ Writing Style and Devices
◦ Content
◦ Writing Style and Devices
When you've studied and absorbed the list and descriptions above, perform the passage briefing drill by reading the passage - without a time limit but timing yourself to note how long you take - and then articulating in writing all of the passage content listed in "Read for the content the SAT/ACT tests" above. Use the form below to submit your exercise to me for evaluation and discussion.
