Active Reading Skills Reading and Critical Thinking in College

by McWhorter, Kathleen T.; Sember, Brette M

• ISBN13: 9780205028436
• ISBN10: 0205028438
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2011-02-23
• Publisher: Pearson

Summary

Active Reading Skillsfocuses on essential skill areas for college-reading success, and improves students'reading through concise instruction, and extensive practice and testing. Each chapter focuses on a specific reading and thinking skill, and contains exercises that get students applying the learned skill to textbooks and ends with a vocabulary enrichment exercise.

Table of Contents

PART ONE:  COLLEGE READING SKILLS    

 

Chapter 1:  READING COLLEGE TEXTBOOKS: AN ACTIVE APPROACH

Keys to Academic Success

    Control External Distractions

    Increase Your Attention Span

Read and Learn Actively

Preview Before Reading

    How to Preview

    Demonstration of Previewing

    Making Predictions

Use Guide Questions

Textbook Reading Skills

    Textbook Learning Aids

    The SQ3R Reading/Study Method

    Learning/Recall Strategies

An Introduction to Critical Thinking

The Textbook Challenge: Reading in Communication/Speech Disciplines:  Kinesics

Chapter Summary Self-Test

Practice Test 1

Practice Test 2

Mastery Test 1

Mastery Test 2

Mastery Test 3:  Diversity in U.S. Families  (Textbook Excerpt)

                               

Chapter 2:  STRENGTHENING YOUR VOCABULARY                         

What is Context?

Types of Context Clues

     Definition Clues

    Synonym Clues

    Example Clues

    Contrast Clues

    Inference Clues

What Are Word Parts?

    Prefixes

    Roots

    Suffixes

Thinking Critically About Vocabulary

Textbook Challenge: Reading in Science Disciplines: What Causes Extinction?

Chapter Summary Self-Test

Practice Test 1

Practice Test 2

Mastery Test 1

Mastery Test 2

Mastery Test 3: Greenwashing

 

Chapter 3:  IDENTIFYING AND ANALYZING MAIN IDEAS                                 

Why Are Main Ideas Important?

Distinguishing Between General and Specific Ideas

Locating the Topic

Locating the Main Idea

    Tips for Finding the Main Idea

    Tips for Locating the Topic Sentence

Locating the Central Thought

Thinking Critically About Main Ideas

Textbook Challenge: Reading in Business Disciplines: Guerrilla Marketing

Chapter Summary Self-Test

Practice Test 1

Practice Test 2

Mastery Test 1

Mastery Test 2

Mastery Test 3: Stop Asking Me My Major

 

Chapter 4:  EXAMINING DETAILS AND TRANSITIONS

Why Are Supporting Details Important?

UsingTransitions

Thinking Critically About: Details

Textbook Challenge: Reading in Career Fields: Fear of Crime

Chapter Summary Self-Test

Practice Test 1

Practice Test 2

Mastery Test 1

Mastery Test 2

Mastery Test 3: Talking A Stranger Through the Night

 

Chapter 5:  WORKING WITH IMPLIED MAIN IDEAS                              

What Does Implied Mean?

Distinguishing Between General and Specific Ideas

Identifying Implied Main Ideas in Paragraphs

Finding Implied Main Ideas in Visuals

Thinking Critically About: Details

Textbook Challenge: Reading in the Social Sciences: Who Should Live and Who Should Die? The Dilemma of Rationing Medical Care

Chapter Summary Self-Test

Practice Test 1

Practice Test 2

Mastery Test 1

Mastery Test 2

Mastery Test 3:  Friendship for Guys (No Tears!) 

 

Chapter 6:  ORGANIZING INFORMATION

Why Keep Track of Information?

Highlighting and Marking

    Highlighting Effectively

    Marking  to Record Ideas

Outlining

Mapping

Summarizing

Good Reasons to Keep Track Of Information

Thinking Critically About: Keeping Track of Information

Textbook Challenge: Reading in Health Fields: Gender Differences and Health

Chapter Summary Self-Test

Practice Test 1

Practice Test 2

Mastery Test 1

Mastery Test 2

Mastery Test 3:  Employee Speech in the Digital Age

 

Chapter 7:  EXAMINING BASIC PATTERNS OR ORGANIZATION

What Are Patterns of Organization?

Example 

Definition

    Combining Definition and Example

Chronological Order and Process

Listing

Combining Patterns of Organization

Thinking Critically About the Example Pattern

Textbook Challenge: Reading Literature: What is Fiction? (includes a short short , "A Gentleman's C" by Padgett Powell)

Chapter Summary Self-Test

Practice Test 1

Practice Test 2

Mastery Test 1

Mastery Test 2

Mastery Test 3: Animals at Play  (Textbook Excerpt)

 

Chapter 8:  EXAMINING COMPARISON/CONTRAST AND CAUSE/EFFECT PATTERNS

Comparison/Contrast Patterns

    Comparison

    Contrast

    Using Both Comparison and Contrast

Cause and Effect Patterns

Other Useful  Patterns

    Classification

    Statement and Clarification

    Summary

    Addition

    Spatial Order

Thinking Critically About Comparison/Contrast and Cause/Effect

Textbook Challenge: Reading History: Whether to Vote: A Citizen's First Choice

Chapter Summary Self-Test

Practice Test 1

Practice Test 2

Mastery Test 1

Mastery Test 2

Mastery Test 3: Global Warming

 

                                               

PART TWO: CRITICAL READING SKILLS

 

Chapter 9:  MAKING INFERENCES AND ANALYZING THE AUTHOR’S PURPOSE

What Is Inference? 

How to Make Inferences

Making Inferences about Graphics

Understanding Author’s Purpose

Considering Style and Intended Audience

Analyzing Language:  Denotation and Connotation

Critical Thinking Challenge: Reading Blogs: Green Exercise Better Than Just Plain Exercise

Chapter Summary Self-Test

Practice Test 1

Practice Test 2

Mastery Test 1

Mastery Test 2

Mastery Test 3:  Boots on the Ground: A Day in the Life of a Border Sheriff

 

Chapter 10:  DISTINGUISHING FACT FROM OPINION

Is It Fact or Opinion?

    Fact

    Opinion

    Judgment Words

Mixing Fact and Opinion

Evaluating Fact and Opinion

Recognizing Informed Opinion

The Critical Thinking  Challenge: Reading Newspapers: College Apologizes After Instructor Says Spanish Can't Be Spoken in Class

Chapter Summary Self-Test

Practice Test 1

Practice Test 2

Mastery Test 1

Mastery Test 2

Mastery Test 3:  Therapy Dogs

 

Chapter 11:  ANALYZING TONE AND BIAS

RecognizingTone

    Tone and Connotative Meanings

    Identifying Tone

    Tone:  The Relationship Between the Writer and Reader

Understanding Irony and Sarcasm

Analyzing Bias

    What is Bias?

    How to Detect Bias

The Critical Thinking  Challenge: Reading Magazine Articles: Fear Itself

Chapter Summary Self-Test

Practice Test 1

Practice Test 2

Mastery Test 1

Mastery Test 2

Mastery Test 3:  Love on the Internet and Video Dating (Textbook Excerpt)  

 

Chapter 12:  READING ARGUMENTS 

What is an Argument?

Parts of an Argument

    The Issue

    The Claim

    The Support

Questions for EvaluatingArguments

    Is the Evidence Relevant?

    Is the Evidence Sufficient?

    Does the Author Use Emotional Appeals and Are They Used Unfairly?

Errors in Logical Reasoning

    Circular Reasoning

    Hasty Generalization

    Non Sequitur

    False Cause

    Either-Or Fallacy

Arguments in Academic Writing

The Critical Thinking Challenge: Reading Editorials: Our View on Your Health: What Can Be Done to Shake America's Salt Habit?

Chapter Summary Self-Test

Practice Test 1

Practice Test 2

Mastery Test 1

Mastery Test 2

Mastery Test 3:  Don’t Panic

 

 

PART THREE:  STUDENT RESOURCE GUIDE

Appendix A: Exit Exams and Comptency Tests  

Appendix B: Evaluating Internet Sources