Exercise Your College Reading Skills: Developing More Powerful Comprehension

To the Instructor

Introduction

The “Secrets” of Success

A User’s Guide to the Brain

Handle Textbooks and Textbook Assignments Like a Pro

PART ONE: WARM-UP

Chapter 1: Determine the Meaning of an Unfamiliar Word through Context

The Skill: Determine the Meaning of an Unfamiliar Word by Using the Context
The Technique: Use Five Types of Context Clues
The Trainer: Applying the Skill of Using Context Clues
The Edge: Pointers about Using Context Clues
The Replay: Remember the Essential Information from the Chapter
The Practice: Apply the Skill of Using Context Clues
Three Sets of Practice Exercises

Chapter 2: Analyze Word Structure

The Skill: Analyze Word Structure

The Technique: Use Prefixes, Roots, and Suffixes to Unlock Word Meanings
The Trainer: Applying the Skill of Analyzing Word Structure
The Edge: Pointers about Analyzing Word Structure
The Replay: Remember the Essential Information from the Chapter
The Practice: Apply the Skill of Analyzing Word Structure
Three Sets of Practice Exercises

PART TWO: BASIC WORKOUT

Chapter 3: Determine the Topic of a Paragraph

The Skill: Determine the Topic of a Paragraph
The Technique: Use the Four Clues to the Topic
The Trainer: Applying the Skill of Determining the Topic of a Paragraph
The Edge: Pointers about Determining the Topic of a Paragraph
The Replay: Remember the Essential Information from the Chapter
The Practice: Apply the Skill of Determining the Topic of a Paragraph
Three Sets of Practice Exercises

Chapter 4: Identify the Stated Main Idea Sentence and the Supporting Details of a Paragraph

The Skill: Identify Stated Main Ideas
The Technique: Find the Sentence that Has the Characteristics of a Main Idea Sentence
The Trainer: Applying the Skill of Identifying Stated Main Ideas
The Edge: Pointers about Identifying Stated Main Ideas
The Replay: Remember the Essential Information from the Chapter (Stated Main Idea)
The Skill: Identify the Supporting Details of a Paragraph
The Technique: Identify Supporting Details
The Trainer: Applying the Skill of Identifying Supporting Details
The Edge: Pointers about Identifying Supporting Details
The Replay: Remember the Essential Information from the Chapter (Supporting Details)
The Practice: Apply the Skill of Identifying Stated Main Ideas
Three Sets of Practice Exercises

Chapter 5: Formulate the Implied Main Idea Sentence of a Paragraph

The Skill: Formulate the Implied Main Idea Sentence of a Paragraph
The Technique: Use the Three Formulas for Formulating an Implied Main Idea
The Trainer: Applying the Skill of Formulating an Implied Main Idea
The Edge: Pointers about Formulating an Implied Main Idea
The Replay: Remember the Essential Information from the Chapter

Transition Words, Metacognition, and Relationships Within and Between Sentences
The Practice: Apply the Skill of Formulating an Implied Main Idea
Three Sets of Practice Exercises

Chapter 6: Recognize Authors’ Writing Patterns

The Skill: Recognize Authors’ Writing Patterns
The Technique: Learn the Characteristics of Authors’ Writing Patterns
The Trainer: Applying the Skill of Recognizing Authors’ Writing Patterns
The Edge: Pointers about Recognizing Authors’ Writing Patterns
The Replay: Remember the Essential Information from the Chapter
The Practice: Apply the Skill of Recognizing Authors’ Writing Patterns
Three Sets of Practice Exercises

PART THREE: BASIC STRETCHING

Chapter 7: Apply All the Basic Skills to Paragraphs

The Practice: Apply All the Basic Skills to Paragraphs
Three Sets of Practice Exercises

PART FOUR: ADVANCED WORKOUT

Chapter 8: Distinguish Facts from Opinions

The Skill: Distinguish Facts from Opinions
The Technique: Apply the Characteristics of Facts and Opinions
The Trainer: Applying the Skill of Distinguishing Facts from Opinions
The Edge: Pointers about Distinguishing Facts from Opinions
The Replay: Remember the Essential Information from the Chapter
The Practice: Apply the Skill of Distinguishing Facts from Opinions
Three Sets of Practice Exercises

Chapter 9: Make Inferences and Draw Conclusions

The Skill: Make Inferences and Draw Conclusions
The Technique: Base Inferences and Conclusions on the Passage
The Trainer: Applying the Skill of Making Inferences and Drawing Conclusions
The Edge: Pointers about Making Inferences and Drawing Conclusions
The Replay: Remember the Essential Information from the Chapter
The Practice: Apply the Skill of Making Inferences and Drawing Conclusions
Three Sets of Practice Exercises
Bonus Items

Chapter 10: Determine an Author’s Purpose, Tone, Point of View, and Intended Audience

The Skill: Determine an Author’s Purpose, Tone, Point of View, and Intended Audience
The Technique: Ask the Purpose, Tone, Point of View, and Intended Audience Questions
The Trainer: Applying the Skills of Determining an Author’s Purpose, Tone, Point of View, and Intended Audience
The Edge: Pointers about Determining an Author’s Purpose, Tone, Point of View, and Intended Audience
The Replay: Remember the Essential Information from the Chapter
The Practice: Apply the Skill of Determining an Author’s Purpose, Tone, Point of View, and Intended Audience
Three Sets of Practice Exercises

Chapter 11: Evaluate an Author’s Argument

The Skill: Evaluate an Author’s Argument
The Technique: Identify the Issue and the Author’s Argument, Then Ask the Evaluation Questions
The Trainer: Applying the Skill of Evaluating an Author’s Argument
The Edge: Pointers about Evaluating an Author’s Argument
The Replay: Remember the Essential Information from the Chapter
The Practice: Apply the Skill of Evaluating an Author’s Argument
Three Sets of Practice Exercises

PART FIVE: ADVANCED STRETCHING

Chapter 12: Apply All the Advanced Skills to Single- and Multiple-Paragraph Selections

The Practice: Apply All the Advanced Skills to Paragraphs
Three Sets of Practice Exercises

PART SIX: COOLDOWN

Chapter 13: Interpret Graphic Aids

The Skill: Interpret Graphic Aids
The Technique: Interpret Bar Graphs, Line Graphs, Pie charts, Flowcharts, and Tables
The Trainer: Applying the Skill of Interpreting Graphic Aids
The Edge: Pointers about Interpreting Graphic Aids
The Replay: Remember the Essential Information from the Chapter
The Practice: Apply the Skill of Interpreting Graphic Aids
Three Sets of Practice Exercises

Chapter 14: Organize Information for Study

The Skill: Organize Information for Study
The Technique: Mark and Annotate Textbooks, Take Notes, Make Outlines and Study Maps, and Write Summaries
The Trainer: Applying the Skill of Organizing Information for Study
The Edge: Pointers about Organizing Information for Study
The Replay: Remember the Essential Information from the Chapter
The Practice: Apply the Skill of Organizing Information for Study
Three Sets of Practice Exercises

PART SEVEN: GRAND SLAM: PLAYING IN THE BIG LEAGUES

Chapter 15: Apply All the Skills You Have Learned

Reading Selections:
Selection 1: “Threats to Computer Security” (Computer Science)
Selection 2: “Achieving What You Really Want in Life” (Personal Success)
Selection 3: “The Stem Cell Controversy” (Biology/Ethics)
Selection 4: “Burglars and Burglary, Robbers and Robbery, and Hot Products” (Criminology)
Selection 5: “Repressed Memories: Truth or Fiction?” (Psychology)
Selection 6: “Do You Know What Video Games Your Children Are Playing?” (Psychology/Popular Culture)
Selection 7: “Reality Bytes: Eight Myths about Video Games Debunked” (Psychology/Popular Culture)
Selection 8: “Summer Vacation of Our Discontent” (Education)
Selection 9: “Adulthood: Baby Boomers and Generation Xers” (Human Development)
Selection 10: “A Strategy for Managing Cash” (Personal Finance)
Selection 11: “Legal Rights of Gays and Lesbians” (Political Science)
Selection 12: “Terrorism and Political Geography” (Geography)

Kudos to You from Your Coach!

Appendixes

Appendix 1: List of Word Parts

Appendix 2: Test-taking

Appendix 3: Recognizing Propaganda and Fallacies

Appendix 4: Conducting Research Using the Internet and Evaluating Websites

Appendix 5: Learning Style Tips

Appendix 6: Four Common Figures of Speech

Photo Credits

Index