reading comprehension
Post on 04-Jan-2016
5 Views
Preview:
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
Welcome to the PCAT Reviewof the
Reading Comprehension and Writing Sections
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Kerr Hall
Instructor: Ashley Reed
Today’s Review
Reading Comprehension:• Basics• How to Prepare• Test-taking Strategies
Writing:• Basics• Essay Essentials• Scoring Criteria• Secrets to Success• Do’s and Don’ts• Hints for Stronger Writing
Reading Comprehension:Basics of the Test
Time: 50 minutes Number of questions: 48 Time per question: ~ 1 minute Format: 6 science-related reading
passages with 6-9 questions about each passage
Reading Comprehension:Basics of the Test What is actually being tested?
Comprehension: How well did you understand the passage?
Analysis: Can you make further inferences about the topic based on what you read in the passage?
Evaluation: Can you recognize the assumptions and biases embedded (but not stated) in the passage?
Reading Comprehension: How to Prepare Read articles with subject matter similar to the test.
Suggested journals:
• Science• Nature and Nature Physics• Scientific American• National Geographic• Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association
Practice “active reading”: underline main ideas, circle key words, note transition phrases and conclusions
After reading an article, jot down a short summary to make sure you’ve understood it
Reading Comprehension: How to Prepare When reading for practice, ask yourself the following
questions:• What is the main idea of the article?
• What does the author want me to know?
• What evidence does the author present to support his/her position? Does the author offer facts, opinions, or both?
• Is this article persuasive or simply informational?
Remember that you are practicing the skill of reading, not memorizing facts
Always read actively – don’t just read and forget!
Reading Comprehension: How to Prepare Practice under test-taking conditions (or as nearly
as you can simulate them for a computer-based test)
Complete the sample exercises in test prep books from Barron’s, Kaplan and the Princeton Review
If you practice using online sources, remember that they may not accurately reflect the format of the test
Follow time constraints and read answer explanations thoroughly and carefully
Reading Comprehension:Test-taking Strategies Allow 6-8 minutes for each passage and its
accompanying questions
Begin with EITHER
• the passage with the most questions OR
• the passage that seems easiest to you
Leave 30 seconds to a minute at the end of the section to fill in answers for the questions you skipped
Reading Comprehension:Test-taking Strategies For each passage…
Skim the questions before reading the passage
Read the passage quickly but carefully
Jot down notes on your whiteboard if it helps you and doesn’t slow you down
Pay attention to first and last sentences: they are often critical!
Reading Comprehension:Test-taking Strategies If you get stuck on a question, skip it and move on
Base your answers solely on information in the passage, not on prior knowledge of the topic
Look for key words that signal…• Contrast: however, nevertheless, despite,
alternatively, although, but, yet
• Emphasis: above all, essentially, especially, primarily, particularly
• Conclusions: therefore, thus, consequently, hence, in conclusion, it can be seen that
Reading Comprehension:Here We Go!
1 essay
7 questions
6 minutes
Reading Comprehension:Correct Answers
1) B
2) C
3) B
4) A
5) D
6) D
7) D
Writing:Basics of the Test
Two 30-minute essay sections
Tests the ability to reason through writing
Problem-solving essays: you will be asked to discuss a possible solution to a problem
Topics are not necessarily pharmacy- or even science-related
Writing:Basics of the Test Sample essay topics:
“Discuss a solution to the problem of developing affordable alternatives to fossil fuels.”
“Discuss a solution to the problem of voter apathy.”
“Discuss a solution to the problem of promoting healthy dietary habits.”
“Discuss a solution to the problems resulting from insufficient supplies of donated human organs.”
“Discuss a solution to the problem of protecting endangered species.”
Writing:How to Prepare
Be informed! Read newspapers and magazines, watch the news, and/or listen to news radio
Do 5-minute prewriting drills
Write timed practice essays and have a friend score them
Writing:Secrets to Success
Follow the three-step method:
• Prewrite and plan 5 minutes
• Write 23 minutes
• Proofread 2 minutes
Writing:Essay Essentials In your essay, you should:
1) Explain the problem
2) Offer a solution to the problem
3) Discuss the advantages of your solution; briefly mention drawbacks without letting them overwhelm the advantages
4) Evaluate alternative solutions to the problem
5) Conclude by resolving the drawbacks to your solution
Prewriting Practice
In the next 5 minutes, outline an essay that answers the following prompt:
“Discuss a solution to the problem of the rising cost of higher education.”
Writing:Scoring Criteria Argument
• Superior reasoning and argument, strong composition Solution
• Clearly relevant and developed with strong evidence Explanation
• Strong, integrated explanation of problem and solution Alternate solutions
• More than one solution evaluated Organization
• Logical, focused and coherent
Writing: Score Reporting
Writing scores are reported in two parts:
Conventions of Language Problem Solving
So even if your grammar and spelling aren’t perfect, you can still wow them with your critical thinking skills.
Writing:Do’s and Don’ts
Do:• Follow the prompt
• Take a few minutes to outline and prewrite
• Write a short, concise essay • Use objective, factual evidence
• Include clear transitions between paragraphs
• Proofread for clarity
Writing:Do’s and Don’ts
Don’t:
• Ignore the prompt and write an opinion piece or a political diatribe
• “Data dump” (include too much evidence or counter-evidence)
• Use overly complex sentence structures or big words if you aren’t certain of their meanings
Writing:Hints for Stronger Sentences Alternate sentence structures:
• Good: “A balanced diet is the foundation of good health. A variety of foods is the key to balanced nutrition. Most people have access to a wide range of fruits, vegetables, and other components of a balanced diet.”
• Better: “A balanced diet is the foundation of good health. Eating a variety of foods ensures balanced nutrition and tastes good too. Fortunately, most of us have access to a wide range of fruits, vegetables, and other components of a balanced diet.”
Writing:Hints for Stronger Sentences
Alternate sentence length:
• Good: “Fall is my favorite season. The air is crisp. The leaves are vibrant. Halloween is the best night of the year.
• Better: “Fall is my favorite season. The air is crisp, the leaves are vibrant, and Halloween is the best night of the year.”
Writing:Hints for Stronger Sentences Use sentence transitions to make your
writing smoother and more polished:
• “In addition to X, Y is also a possibility.”
• “Although X is the key factor in…, it is also important to note that Y….”
• “The final reason for X is that…”
Use paragraph transitions to move smoothly between sections of your essay
Questions?
If you have questions, feel free to email me: reeda@email.unc.edu
top related