The Master Reader Book

PART 1

1. A Reading System for Master Readers

Prior Knowledge

The Reading Process

 Before Reading: Survey and Question

 During Reading: Read and Recite

 After Reading: Review

Textbook Skills: Using SQ3R to Master Textbook Reading

Chapter Review

Applications

Review Tests

Mastery Tests

2. Vocabulary Skills

Before Reading About Vocabulary Skills

Words are Building Blocks

Context Clues: A SAGE Approach

 Synonyms

 Antonyms

 General Context

 Examples

Textbook Skills: Using a Glossary

Word Parts

 Roots

 Prefixes

 Suffixes

Textbook Skills: Visual Vocabulary

Chapter Review

Applications

Review Tests

After Reading About Vocabulary Skills

Mastery Tests

3. Stated Main Ideas
Before Reading About Stated Main Ideas

Traits of a Main Idea

 Identifying the Topic of a Paragraph

 Identifying a Topic Sentence

The Flow of Ideas and Placement of Topic Sentences

 Topic Sentence at the Beginning of a Paragraph

 Topic Sentence Within a Paragraph

 Topic Sentence at the End of a Paragraph

 Topic Sentence at the Beginning and the End of a Paragraph

The Central Idea and the Thesis Statement

Textbook Skills: Topics, Main Ideas, and Central Ideas in Textbooks

Chapter Review

Applications

Review Tests

After Reading About Stated Main Ideas 

4. Supporting Details

Before Reading About Supporting Main Ideas

Questions for Locating Supporting Details

Major and Minor Details

Creating a Summary from Annotations

Textbook Skills: Chapter-end Questions in aTextbook

Chapter Review

Applications

Review Tests

After Reading About Stated Main Ideas

Mastery Tests

 
5. Outlines and Concept Maps

Before Reading About Outlines and Concept Maps

Outlines

Concept Maps

Textbook Skills: The Table of Contents in a Textbook

Chapter Review

Applications

Review Tests

After Reading About Outlines and Concept Maps

Mastery Tests

6. Transitions and Thought Patterns

Before Reading about Transitions and Thought Patterns
Transition Words: Relationships Within a Sentence

Thought Patterns: Relationships Between Sentences

 The Time Order Pattern

 The Space Order Pattern

 The Listing Pattern

 The Classification Pattern

Textbook Skills: Thought Patterns in Textbooks

A Final Note

Chapter Review

Applications

Review Tests

After Reading about Transitions and Thought Patterns

Mastery Tests

7. More Thought Patterns

Before Reading about More Thought Patterns

The Comparison-and-Contrast Pattern

 Comparison

 Contrast

 Comparison and Contrast

The Cause-and-Effect Pattern

The Generalization-and-Example Pattern

The Definition Pattern

Textbook Skills: Thought Patterns and Textbooks

Chapter Review

Applications

Review Tests

After Reading about More Thought Patterns

Mastery Tests

8. Implied Main Ideas and Implied Central Ideas

Before Reading About Implied Main Ideas and Implied Central Ideas

What is an Implied Main Idea?

Using Supporting Details and Thought Patterns to Find Implied Main Ideas

Finding the Implied Main Ideas of Paragraphs

Creating a Summary from the Supporting Details

The Implied Central Idea

Textbook Skills: How to Read a Map

A Final Note About Experience and Perspective

Chapter Review

Applications

Review Tests

After Reading about Implied Main Ideas and Implied Central Ideas

Mastery Tests

9. Fact and Opinion

Before Reading About Fact and Opinion

What Is the Difference Between Fact and Opinion?

Ask Questions to Identify Opinions

Note Biased Words to Identify Opinions

Note Qualifiers to Identify Opinions

Think Carefully about Supposed "Facts"

Read Critically: Evaluate Details as Fact or Opinion in Context

 Evaluate the Context of the Passage

 Evaluate the Context of the Author

 Evaluate the Context of the Source

Textbook Skills: Fact and Opinion in a Textbook Passage

Chapter Review

Applications

Review Tests

After Reading About Fact and Opinion

Mastery Tests

10. Tone and Purpose

Before Reading about Tone and Purpose

What are Tone and Purpose?

Understand How Tone is Established

Identify Subjective and Objective Tone Words

Discover the General Purpose in the Main Idea

Figure Out the Primary Purpose

Recognize Irony Used for Special Effects

Textbook Skills: Author's Purpose and Tone

Chapter Review

Applications

Review Tests

After Reading about Tone and Purpose

Mastery Tests

11. Inferences

Before Reading about Inferences

Inferences: Educated Guesses

What is a Valid Inference?

Making VALID Inferences and Avoiding Invalid Conclusions

 Step 1: Verify and Value the Facts

 Step 2: Assess Prior Knowledge

 Step 3: Learn from the Text

 Step 4: Investigate for Bias

 Step 5: Detect Contradiction

Inferences in Creative Expression

Textbook Skills: Inferences and Visual Aids

Chapter Review

Applications

Review Tests

Before Reading about Inferences

Mastery Tests

12. The Basics of Argument
Before Reading about the Basics of Argument

What is an Argument?

Step 1. Identify the Author's Claim and Supports

Step 2. Decide If the Supports Are Relevant

Step 3. Decide If the Supports Are Adequate

Step 4: Check the Argument for Bias

Textbook Skills: The Logic of Arguments

Chapter Review

Applications

Review Tests

After Reading about the Basics of Argument

Mastery Tests

13. Advanced Argument: Persuasive Techniques

Before Reading About Advanced Argument

Biased Arguments

 What is a Fallacy in Logical Thought?

 What is Propaganda?

Irrelevant Arguments: Fallacies

 Personal Attack

 Straw Man

 Begging the Question

Irrelevant Arguments: Propaganda Techniques

 Name-Calling

 Testimonials

 Bandwagon

 Plain Folks

Inadequate Arguments: Fallacies

 Either-Or

 False Comparison

 False Cause

Inadequate Arguments: Propaganda Techniques

 Card Stacking

 Transfer

 Glittering Generalities

Textbook Skills: Examining Biased Arguments

Chapter Review

Applications

After Reading about Advanced Argument

Mastery Tests

PART 2

Additional Readings

The Connection Between Reading and Writing

 Step 1: Prewrite

 Step 2: Organize Your Ideas

 Step 3: Write

 Step 4: Edit and Revise

 Annotating a Text

 Writing a Summary

1. "Do Not Iron Clothes on Body" by George F. Will

2. "You Just Don't Understand" by Deborah Tannen

3. "The Four Reasons Why Good Communication is So Important" by Suzette Haden Elgin

4. "Binge Drinking, A Campus Killer" by Sabrina Rubin Erdely

5. "I Have a Dream" Speech by Martin Luther King Jr.

6. "The Education of an American" by Arnold Schwarzenegger

7. "How to Write with Style" by Kurt Vonnegut

8. From "It Takes a Village" by Hillary Rodham Clinton

9. From "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee

10. Chief Seattle's Speech in 1854 as recounted by Henry A. Smith (1887)

PART 3

Combined-Skills Tests

Credits

Index