The Reading Edge Thirteen Ways to Build Reading Comprehension

by Johnson, Ben

• ISBN13: 9780618042685
• ISBN10: 0618042687
• Edition: 4th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-09-11
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing

Summary

This mid-level worktext by a leading exam expert focuses on 13 comprehension skills required to succeed academically and to perform well on reading competency tests. Each chapter, devoted to one of the 13 skills, includes clear, concise instructional material and a wealth of high-interest readings with accompanying exercises. Additional tests, exercises, and practical exam-taking tips prepare students for standardized tests.

Table of Contents

Preface to the Fourth Edition	xv
Pretest Present Skills and Diagnostic Test	1	(17)
Quick Tips for Mastering Reading and Reading Tests	18	(30)
How do you feel about reading?	18	(2)
Prereading activities in this textbook	20	(1)
Writing to comprehend	21	(1)
How not to read in college	22	(1)
How you should read everything	22	(7)
Always read with a pen in your hand	22	(1)
As you read, pace yourself	23	(1)
Don't underline as you read--mark the margins	24	(1)
Use margin marks	25	(2)
Use highlighters after reading and marking	27	(1)
Anticipate and prepare for reading-test questions	28	(1)
What are your thoughts?	29	(2)
Words to read by	31	(1)
Practice exercises	32	(16)
Reading-Related Study Skills for Building Comprehension	48	(16)
Take your reading seriously	49	(2)
Learn to concentrate on your reading	49	(1)
Set concentration goals	49	(1)
Establish priorities	50	(1)
Divide the big tasks into small chunks	50	(1)
Keep focused on your purpose	50	(1)
Treat yourself for reading well	51	(1)
Writing to comprehend	51	(1)
Take your reading assignment seriously	52	(4)
Table of contents	52	(1)
Preface and introduction	53	(1)
Chapter introductions, conclusions, and summaries	53	(1)
Chapter exercises or study/review/discussion questions	54	(1)
First and last paragraphs	54	(1)
Headings	54	(1)
Words or phases in italics or boldface	54	(1)
Charts, tables, maps, graphs, and illustrations	55	(1)
A word about graphs	55	(1)
Take your study system seriously	56	(2)
Reading and studying are parts of a system	56	(1)
There are many reading-study system from which to choose	56	(1)
Which is the best reading-study system?	57	(1)
The most popular reading-study systems	57	(1)
Create your own reading-study system	57	(1)
Practice exercises	58	(6)
Part One Literal Comprehension Skills
Determining the Meaning of Words from Context and Word Structure	64	(29)
Use the context to your advantage	65	(1)
Writing to comprehend	65	(1)
Awareness of context is crucial	66	(1)
Context clues define new words	67	(1)
When context doesn't help	68	(1)
Analyze word structure	69	(1)
What you need to learn	70	(1)
Root words	70	(1)
Keep the following things about roots in mind	70	(1)
Prefixes	71	(1)
Suffixes	72	(2)
What to look out for	74	(1)
New word margin mark	74	(1)
What are your thoughts?	74	(1)
Anticipate the topics	75	(1)
Practice exercises	76	(17)
Recognizing the Main Idea	93	(36)
How to recognize the main idea	94	(1)
The topic, the topic sentence, and the main idea	94	(1)
The importance of summarizing	95	(3)
The reinforced idea	98	(1)
Three key questions	98	(1)
Be aware of test answers that may confuse you	99	(1)
No more than one main idea, but...	99	(1)
Main idea margin mark	99	(1)
Anticipate the topics	100	(1)
What are your thoughts?	101	(1)
Writing to comprehend	102	(1)
Words to read by	103	(1)
Practice exercises	104	(17)
Practice essays	121	(8)
Identifying Supporting Details	129	(43)
Writing to comprehend	130	(1)
Not all details are important	131	(1)
What are your thoughts?	131	(1)
Sometimes there is too much emphasis on details	132	(1)
Some details may be very important	132	(1)
Questions that help determine important details	133	(1)
Answering test questions on supporting details	133	(1)
Don't be fooled by a paraphrase	134	(1)
What to look out for	134	(1)
Supporting-details margin mark	134	(1)
Reading on the Web: Can you trust what you read?	135	(2)
Words to read by	137	(1)
Anticipate the topics	138	(1)
Practice exercises	139	(17)
Practice essays	156	(16)
Literal Skills Test Part One Review and Diagnostic Test	162	(10)
Part Two Critical Comprehension Skills
Identifying the Author's Overall Pattern of Organization	172	(34)
Types of prose writing	173	(1)
Common overall patterns of organization and their clue words	173	(1)
Mixed patterns	174	(1)
What to look out for	174	(2)
Reading on the Web: Some effective Internet search strategies	176	(3)
Writing to comprehend	179	(1)
Words to read by	180	(1)
What are your thoughts?	181	(1)
Anticipate the topics	182	(1)
Practice exercises	183	(17)
Practice essays	200	(6)
Recognizing Relations within and between Sentences	206	(43)
Recognizing relations within sentences	206	(1)
A similar skill	207	(1)
Mixing relations	207	(1)
Two perspectives	207	(1)
Important note	208	(1)
Recognizing relations between sentences	208	(1)
What are your thoughts?	208	(1)
Why work at this technique?	209	(1)
What to look out for	209	(2)
Clue words	211	(1)
Words to read by	211	(1)
Reading on the Web: Be equally cautious about those Web links	212	(1)
Practice exercises	213	(20)
Practice essays	233	(16)
Mid-Test Mid-Course Review and Diagnostic Test	240	(9)
Drawing Logical Inferences and Conclusions	249	(29)
Reading between the lines	250	(1)
It's not as tough as it sounds	250	(1)
Why is skill at inference necessary in reading?	250	(1)
Inference questions are a little tricky	251	(1)
Inference questions to ask	251	(1)
Reading on the Web: Who is the author and what do we know about him or her?	252	(1)
Writing to comprehend	253	(1)
What are your thoughts?	254	(1)
Words to read by	255	(1)
Anticipate the topics	256	(1)
Practice exercises	257	(13)
Practice essays	270	(8)
Recognizing the Author's Purpose	278	(31)
Writing to manipulate	278	(1)
What are your thoughts?	279	(1)
Writing to comprehend	280	(1)
Purpose is related to the main idea	281	(1)
Possible purposes for writing	281	(1)
Clues to identifying purpose	282	(1)
Reading on the Web: What is the purpose of this Web page?	283	(1)
What to look out for	284	(1)
Words to read by	284	(2)
Anticipate the topics	286	(1)
Practice exercises	287	(11)
Practice essays	298	(11)
Recognizing the Author's Tone	309	(30)
Writing to comprehend	309	(1)
Why is tone important?	310	(1)
Tone is a clue to purpose	311	(1)
Don't let tone confuse you	311	(1)
Learn common tone words	311	(1)
Reading on the Web: Is this just for fun or is this serious stuff?	312	(2)
What are your thoughts?	314	(1)
Words to read by	314	(2)
Anticipate the topics	316	(1)
Practice exercises	317	(13)
Practice essays	330	(9)
Distinguishing between Statements of Fact and Statements of Opinion	339	(27)
What are your thoughts?	340	(1)
``Fact'' may be opinion	341	(1)
The difference between fact and opinion	341	(1)
Statements of opinion	341	(1)
Statements of fact	342	(1)
Remember these guidelines	342	(1)
Writing to comprehend	343	(1)
Words to read by	344	(1)
Reading on the Web: Seeking objectivity and accuracy on the Web	345	(2)
Practice exercises	347	(10)
Practice essays	357	(9)
Detecting Bias	366	(20)
Bias in textbooks	367	(1)
Writing to comprehend	367	(1)
The need to detect bias	368	(1)
How to recognize bias	368	(1)
What are your thoughts?	369	(1)
What to look out for	370	(1)
Anticipate the topics	370	(1)
Words to read by	370	(1)
Reading on the Web: Bias is present on the Web	371	(1)
Practice exercises	372	(7)
Practice essays	379	(7)
Recognizing Sound Arguments	386	(21)
What is a sound argument?	386	(1)
Two vital questions	387	(1)
Common unsound arguments (logical fallacies)	387	(3)
Writing to comprehend	390	(1)
What are your thoughts?	391	(1)
An important bit of advice	391	(1)
Reading on the Web: Why should anyone believe information from this site?	392	(1)
Words to read by	393	(1)
Practice exercises	394	(6)
Practice essays	400	(7)
Critical Skills Test Part Two Review and Diagnostic Test	407	(9)
Post-Test Text Review and Diagnostic Test	416	(18)
Skill Analysis Guide	434	(2)
Appendix Understanding and Interpreting Graphs in College Reading Assignments	436	(44)
Answers to ``Have you thought about ...''	480	(3)
Index	483