Reading Techniques Handout Quiz

Understanding Topic and Main Idea

• Topic: the subject matter of a selection, what it is about
• Main Idea: a complete statement, the point the writer is making
• Main Idea can be a topic sentence (in a paragraph), thesis statement (in an essay or article), or theme (in a literary piece)

Generalization and Inference

• Generalization: a broad statement or idea that applies to a group of people or things
• Valid Generalization: a statement supported by facts, using logic and reasoning, and proven with examples
• Faulty Generalization: a statement poorly supported by facts
• Inference: the act of reaching a conclusion about something from known facts or evidence

Sentence and Clauses

• Sentence: a group of words expressing a complete thought
• Clause: a group of words with a subject and a verb
• Independent Clause: can stand alone, expressing a complete thought
• Dependent Clause: a subordinate clause, not expressing a complete thought

Types of Sentences

• Declarative Sentence: makes a statement, ending with a period
• Imperative Sentence: gives a command, usually ending with a period, but may end with an exclamation point
• Interrogative Sentence: asks a question, ending with a question mark
• Exclamatory Sentence: indicates strong emotion, ending with an exclamation point

Sentence Structure

• Simple Sentence: contains only one independent clause
• Compound Sentence: contains at least two independent clauses, connected by a comma and a coordinating conjunction
• Complex Sentence: contains an independent clause and at least one dependent clause, using a subordinating conjunction
• Compound-Complex Sentence: made up of a compound and a complex sentence, with two or more independent clauses and at least one subordinate clause

Paragraph

• Origin: from the Greek word "paragraphos" meaning "to write beside" or "written beside"
• Definition: a piece of writing focusing on one topic or idea
• Elements of a Paragraph: unified paragraph makes a clear reading, with orderly movement of ideas, cohesion, and emphasis

Reading Techniques

• Reading: a complex cognitive process of decoding symbols
• Techniques: styles, systems, or practices of decoding symbols for better comprehension
• Skimming: rapidly moving the eyes over the text for a general overview
• Scanning: rapidly covering a great deal of material to locate a specific fact or piece of information
• Phrase Reading: reading a phrase from a selection to understand its meaning
• Non-Prose Reading: illustrated visual form summarizing ideas and information

Note Taking Systems

• Note-taking: practice of writing down or recording key points of information
• The Cornell Method: a systematic format for condensing and organizing notes
• The Outlining Method: information begins at the left, with each more specific group of facts indented with spaces
• The Mapping Method: uses comprehension/concentration skills, relating each fact or idea to each other
• The Charting Method: drawing columns and labeling headings on a table