Identifying Supporting Details Week 3: Cy-Fair Library’s PSAT Prep Workshop October 4, 2012

Organization Strategies Determining how the sentences are related in the reading passages and the sentence completion sections of the PSAT may help you improve your score. Examining the writer’s organizational pattern can lead us to clues needed to help us comprehend what we have read in the passages and sentences on the PSAT. For example: If you recognize that the writer is employing the compare/contrast strategy then you can read actively to examine the items that the writer is comparing and contrasting. You will also know to look for similarities and differences.

Organization Strategies Rhetorical Modes (Patterns) Let’s look at some common rhetorical modes

Narration It involves the retelling of a story. In a narrative, the writer attempts to show more than tell; The writer provides a description of significant scenes and people; The writer tells the story in chronological order The significance is revealed ( sometimes anecdotes are used to draw readers in or as evidence in argumentation)

Description The writer creates an image or paints a picture with words It too relies on descriptive details (either objective or subjective) It employs figurative language It appeals to the five senses It creates a dominant impression

Definition The writer offers a definition that is different from the literal, dictionary definition; It is often extended into anecdotes and descriptions; The writer will locate a term by placing it in its class and then differentiates the term from other terms in the same class. Volcanoes are landforms that are built of molten material

Compare and Contrast It points out the similarities and differences in items or ideas to reveal information; It reveals relationships that are not always obvious It often relies on transitional words and phrases:

Exemplification The writer uses a series of examples to explain a theory or concept so that the readers will understand him or her; The examples are often extended into anecdotes or descriptions

Causal Analysis Examines causes as to why something occurs or the result of an occurrence Writers will consider causes for a phenomenon or a trend or examine its effects

Simple to Complex Explores relationships among various pieces of information or evidence Explore evidence and arguments for contradictions