Week 1: Big Picture Reading

Question 1

We are not going to remember what we just read if we don’t have a workable ____________ to pin it down.

Answer 1

scheme

Question 2

Big Picture Reading has 3 elements

Answer 2

1. Finding Central Topic
2. Finding organizing framework
3. Reading w/ appetite for author’s voice

Question 3

1. Finding Central Topic

Answer 3

aka, warming up to the central topic of the passage.

Finding to Subject the main point is based on.

you want to try to picture what this ‘central topic’ is. Most times when you read the first sentence of the passage 1 or 2 times, it doesn’t mean anything (mainly cuz of complicated wording). Try to picture this central subject.

Question 4

Before talking about 2. Organizing frameworks, define chunking in RC passages.

Answer 4

Chunking is taking the big ideas from each paragraph, (dumbing them down) and putting them in simple (gossip like) terms.

Think of chunking like taking a lot of information (from a paragraph) and putting it in a box.

Question 5

As you’re chunking information in each paragraph, look for ______ _____________ and ______________.

it’s like a red light green light game.

When you reach a ______ ____________, red light. Recognize and _____________ that idea (& annotate), then move on.

When you reach a _______________ idea, green light. ___________ ideas usually come in the form of examples. Any paragraph that starts out w/ “for example,” and “another example,” is probably not going to have a big idea. If any thing, those paragraphs exemplify, using examples, a point the prior paragraph tried to make when introducing a ________ ______________.

Answer 5

big idea; support

big idea; UNDERSTAND

supporting; Supporting; big idea

Question 6

2. Organizing Frameworks

Answer 6

Organizing frameworks are like the labels we put on the boxes (chunked information).

It helps to organize the passage material as we go.

There are several, simple, frameworks you could use when labeling the chunks:

• Old / New
  • Remember the old, the new, and author’s opinion on the new.
• Present Debate
  • Remember Side 1, Side 2, and the Author’s position.
• Problem-Solution
• Challenge Position
• Defend Against Criticism
• Illustrate a Generalization
  • Remember the generalization & the specifics.
• Explain Something Curious
  • The funky question and the author’s answer
• Highlight Something Noteworthy

Question 7

3. Read with an Appetite for Author’s Voice

Answer 7

Have you heard the author’s voice yet, OR is it coming up?

You’ll likely find the author’s voice…

• End of the 1st paragraph,
• Beginning of the 2nd paragraph,
• after a pivot from opposing viewpoints / background info: “yet, but, however, recently”