Reading Comprehension

Introduction

"Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body." —Richard Steele

Reading comprehension is an important skill in English Language Arts.  In this lesson you will review reading comprehension strategies and apply those on your final assessment in the course. 

Resources

NOTES
suggestions for writing "Part B"
multiple choice strategies
PPT - "Part B" diploma exam preparation

Website
Alberta Education - Preparing for Diploma Exams

Video Tutorial

Lesson

Readings

The reading examination is an assessment of students’ ability to read a variety of literary texts closely. Critical reading and thinking skills, understanding of vocabulary, appreciation of tone and literary and rhetorical devices, understanding of the purpose and effect of writers’ choices, and appreciation of human experience and values reflected in literature will be assessed at the level of challenge appropriate for graduating English Language Arts 30–2 students.

Texts will include:

• Modern drama - may include television or radio scripts or screenplays
• Poetry - may include song lyrics
• Nonfiction and response to nonfiction
• A number of fiction and nonfiction readings representing a broad selection of literary texts that include persuasive, personal, expository, biographical and autobiographical essays, and visual texts
• Texts chosen will reflect a minimum of one-third Canadian literature and will also reflect a variety of cultural perspectives.
• One set of questions is based on a “revision exercise” composed by a hypothetical student from Prosper High School. The passage that precedes the student’s composition introduces the student’s writing topic. The questions require the student to make decisions about the revisions relative to topic, purpose, and audience.

Questions
The questions on the reading examination progress through each selection in a manner intended to assist students with their reading. For this reason, and with the inclusion of linked readings and items, students should read the passages and answer the questions in the order that they appear in the booklets.

Visual texts will be present within a text to enhance the students’ reading, or presented independently as a reading selection with questions. Students will be asked to identify how elements of a photographic composition, photograph, poster, advertisement, or artwork convey meaning, relate to the purpose of the text, or contribute to the total effect of the text.

Linked Passages and Questions
Literary texts may be linked to reading selections that offer interpretations, background information, or parallel thematic presentations. Students may be asked to identify similar or contradictory ideas, or they may be asked to assess the appropriateness of a conclusion drawn from the context created by the passages collectively.

Students may be asked to identify biases evident in a passage. When presented with texts in combination or in sequence, students are expected to maintain a critical awareness over multiple texts.

Read the document, suggestions for writing "Part B".

View the video tutorial on Multiple Choice Reading Comprehension Strategies (Resources page).

Review the following NOTES found in Unit One:

• poetry
• short story
• non-fiction
• visual
• persuasive writing
• essay writing
• LITERARY TERMS PPT you created in Unit One Lesson Seven

Assignments

ASSIGNMENT (63 MARKS)

Open the Unit 5 Readings below.  This document contains the readings you will need to complete the Unit 5 Reading Assessment.

Unit 5 Readings

Instructions:

Please be sure you have 2.5 hours to sit down and do this assessment before starting.

There are 7 readings and 63 questions in the Unit 5 Reading Assessment.  You will need to down load the Unit 5 Readings.  Each reading has corresponding questions in the Unit 5 Reading Assessment Quiz.

For each question please select the best answer.

Answer all questions.

You may NOT use a dictionary or a thesaurus.

Good luck!