Essential Reading Skills

1. Read Actively.


Starting With a Positive Attitude.



Previewing Before You Read.



Guide Questions.



Putting Your Positive Attitude to Work.



Reading Selection (Mastery Test 1-3) “To Love and Cherish.”



2. Build Vocabulary: Using Words in Context.


What Is Context?



Types of Context Clues.



Using All of the Context Clues.



Reading Selection (Mastery Test 2-3) “Climbing Mt. Everest.”



3. Build Vocabulary: Using Word Parts.


What are Word Parts?



Prefixes.



Roots.



Suffixes.



Using Word Parts.



Reading Selection (Mastery Test 3-3) “The Dolphin Affair.”



4. Locate Main Ideas.


What Is a Main Idea?



Understand General versus Specific Ideas.



Identify the Topic.



Find the Main Idea.



Learning More About Paragraphs.



Reading Selection (Mastery Test 4-3) “Don't Ask.”



5. Identify Supporting Details and Transitions.


What ARe Supporting Details?



Recognizing Transitions.



Types Putting It All Together.



Reading Selection (Mastery Test 5-3) “How to Ace a Job Interview.”



6. Understand Implied Main Ideas.


What Does Implied Mean?



Remembering General versus Specific Ideas.



How to find Implied Main Ideas in Paragraphs.



Working with Paragraphs.



Reading Selection (Mastery Test 6-3) “Primary Colors.”



7. Keeping Track of Information.


Why Keep Track of Information?



Good Reasons to Keep Track of Information.



What Vocabulary Have You Learned?



Reading Selection (Mastery Test 7-3) “Body Piercing and Tattooing.”



8. Recognize the Basic Patterns of Organization.


What Are Patterns of Organization?



Combining Patterns of Organization.



Reading Selection (Mastery Test 8-3) “Right Place, Wrong Face.”



9. Recognizing Comparison/Contrast and Cause/Effect.


Comparison and Contrast Patterns.



Cause and Effect Patterns.



Mixed Moving Beyond Patterns.



Reading Selection (Mastery Test 9-3) “Why Do Women Live Longer?”



10. Reading and Thinking Critically.


What Is Inference?



Understanding a Writer’s Purpose.



Identifying Tone.



Distinguishing Fact and Opinion.

Student Resource Guide.

A: Introduction to College Textbook Reading.
B: Understanding Sentences: A Review.
C: Using Your Dictionary: A Review.
D: Test-taking Strategies: A Review.
TEN ADDITIONAL READINGS.



Reading One: “Dreams for Sale” by Kenneth R. Weiss.



Reading Two: “Seoul Searching” by Rick Reilly.



Reading Three: “Coming Into My Own” by Ben Carson, M.D.



Reading Four: “Living Life to the Fullest” by Maya Angelou.



Reading Five: “A Guard's First Night on the Job” by William Recktenwald.



Reading Six: “She Said Yes! She Said Yes! She Said Yes!” by Michael Kernan.



Reading Seven: “Hispanic USA: The Conveyor-Belt Ladies” by Rose del Castillo Guilbault.



Reading Eight: “A Day on Wheels” by Cheryl A. Davis.



Reading Nine: “Blue Highways” by William Least Heat Moon.

Credits.

Index.