QUOTE TOEFL READING

OBJECTIVES You will…. Understand the format of the TOEFL Reading Understand and complete “context clues” Understand the format of a reading Pick out the important parts of an essay

WARM-UP On a separate piece of paper write your name, high school, and write about who the ideal teacher is. FOR EXAMPLE: You can write about how an ideal teacher acts with students, or how they react to other teachers, etc… 10 minutes You will be passing this in

WHY IS READING IMPORTANT? Take 5 minutes and talk with a partner about why reading is important…

SOME IDEAS Increase vocabulary Encountering new words and seeing them in context helps you to more easily use and recognize them in conversation, writing, or reading A model for writing Reading helps introduce you to different writing styles, and will help you create your own structure for writing Understanding “correct” English The way one writes vs. speaking is very different. Reading can help you see and understand “correct” English grammar and vocabulary

TOEFL READINGS: WHY LEARN THE TYPES OF ESSAYS USED? The questions are based off of the types of essays used. It defines your note taking!!!! FOR EXAMPLE: if you are reading an argumentative essay, most questions will revolve around the argument. If you know the argument, then you can more easily answer the questions.

NOTE TAKING Note taking is a critical part in reading and answering questions If you read and take notes, you do not have to go back through the reading to find your answers, they are already there!!!! It saves time and energy!!!!

EXPOSITION/EXPOSITORY ESSAY Purpose: to give information, explain or describe a subject Basically it will focus on one subject, one idea, and give you that information Taking notes: Focus on the main ideas, supporting details Questions: Overview questions and detail questions. These will also ask you inference questions (given the information, what have you learned) EXAMPLE: An expository essay about Septemeber 11 th will give you basic information Who was involved, where it took place, etc.

ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAYS Purpose: To convince YOU of their side in an argument Note taking: focus on problems, the arguments, and solutions Questions: include questions about PROBLEMS and SOLUTIONS. Also, inference questions EXAMPLE: An argumentative essay about September 11 th would ARGUE it was conspiracy that the US government made.

HISTORICAL/PERSONAL ESSAYS Purpose: give information about a singular event or person Note taking: focus on the BIG happenings, dates Questions: Fact based questions about someone’s life or event, also summary questions EXAMPLE: A historical/biographical essay would tell you about a specific person, such as former President George W. Bush, or Osama Bin Laden

CONTEXT CLUES What are context clues? A method in reading and vocabulary building. It is when the reader doesn’t know a word, BUT instead of going to the dictionary the reader tries to figure out the word through the sentence. 1. Candles, flashlights, and lamps illuminate the room. Using the example clue, the word illuminate in this sentence means… LOWER WEAKEN LIGHT UP DARKEN Why is this important? You will not have a dictionary at the test You will increase your vocabulary and sentence structure by learning this method

FORMAT OF ESSAYS Introduction Broad sentence: Introduce you to the topic EXAMPLE: Child obesity is raising at staggering rates in the United States. Personal experiences, more information. A TRANSITIONAL statement Thesis, or topic sentence: the argument, or what the essay will show EXAMPLE FOR AN ARGUMENT ESSAY: As child obesity leads to early death, conditions such as diabetes, and continual unhealthy choices, schools, parents and students should be required to attend nutrition classes. FOR A BIOGRAPHY/HISTORICAL ESSAY: Comedian Chris Farley’s death is closely linked to his problem with obesity. FOR AN EXPOSITORY ESSAY: Child obesity is the leading cause of death for children.

FORMAT OF AN ESSAY Body paragraphs All body paragraphs will follow this format Transitional sentence Topic sentences ALREADY mentioned in first paragraph Supporting details Transitional sentence Conclusion Restates the thesis/topic Restates arguments/supporting details Asks a question, makes you think more

LET’S LOOK AT A READING!!!! First paragraph of a biography Jim Henson, the man behind the Muppets, was born on September 24, 1936, in Greenville, Mississippi. Henson began working as a puppeteer in college, creating characters like Kermit the Frog. He worked as a producer on Sesame Street, a popular kids' show that launched in 1969, and created The Muppet Show in The Muppet Movie, the first of many movies featuring Henson's famous characters, appeared in Henson received several accolades for his work, including Emmys, Grammys and a Peadbody Award. He died of pneumonia on May 16, 1990.

SOME QUESTIONS Who is Jim Henson? What did he create? Why is he important? What awards did he receive? What was his birthday and death day? How did he die?

QUESTIONS??????????? HOMEWORK!!!! Finish the Jim Henson reading and questions. Write about the phrase, “the pen is mightier than the sword.” You can write anything you want about the phrase, such as… Do you agree/disagree Is there a historical reference What this means to people ETC