I am going to divide Reading Comprehension approach into two categories, each of which I need to master
1. Reading the main passage
2. Answering the questions.
1. Reading the main passage This is a tentative approach I am planning to adopt, I will modify accordingly as I practice
1. Read the para 1, trying to find out why the author is writing out this passage- mainly to weed out the key idea he is trying to represent. If para 1 doesn't mention such, I will flag para 1 as back ground info and move ahead trying to find out the main idea of the passage.
2. Once I find out the main idea of the passage, I will register it in my brain and will ask a question of what will come a head, such as present more details or contrast it or deny it etc.,
3. I will quickly glance through the rest of the details and will remember what each para contains, and will not focus on any one detail or get bogged down on any keywords etc., At the end of each para, I would paraphrase very little what that paragraph contains.
4. Once I am done with the passage; I will look at each para and will say to myself, first para is back ground info, second para gives the main idea about, and what is that main idea, third para contains details about the main idea. Also, I will note the topic/Scope of the passage and tone of the author.
Practice Final Goals:
Shorter Passage : 2 minutes
Longer Passage: 3 minutes
Other Points:
1. Imagine while you read
2. Will try to predict what will come next
2. Answering the questions. We can classify RC questions into two categories
1. General Questions (Main idea, tone, structure, in order to, whats in para 2 etc.,)
2. Detailed Questions (Specific point, Inference)
1. General Questions: Based on the paraphrase I have on reading the main passage most of these questions can be answered, with out going back to the passage.
Approach: Main Idea 1. Find Key verbs in the choice
2. Eliminate those which dont match
3. In the rest account each word whether its defined directly in the passage, else remove
4. Select the one which closely matches your paraphrase.
Approach: Structure of the passage 1. Paraphrase whats in each paragraph and go through each choice
2. Account for each word in the choice
3. Select the one which falls in
4. Your choice should match closely with Topic + Scope+ Primary Purpose of the passage
Approach: Tone 1. Once you read the passage, you know how the authors tone is in general
2. Donot select answers which are too negative or too positive, unless the author is so strongly condemning(rarely i see). Usually the author stays in the middle of negative or positive.
General Questions Timing: 1 minute
2.Detailed Questions: My approach would be
1. Find what the question is asking
2. Find which paragraph it belongs to
3. Read that paragraph and paraphrase your answer
4. Eliminate and Select
5. Avoid Answers which are not mentioned in the passage.
6. Every word in the answer choice should be accounted for, else remove that choice with no concern
7.
Timing: 1.5 mins - 2 mins
Practicing : At this point of time below are some material I have:
1. OG 10/11/12; Verbal Reviews (Completed in my previous attempt)
2. GRockit (20% completed - Easy-Middle difficulty level)
3. BeatTheGMAT Practice Questions (Haven't looked at, but assuming Medium level)
4. LSAT 30 Tests (Completed 5-10 tests, definitely hard and time taking)
I think since I am done practicing RC with OG10/11/12, there is no point keeping time for it now. I will keep them for end. I will probably start with GRockit and then move to BTG PQ and finally to LSAT. My focus would not be on quantity but will be on sharpening my approach on reading the passage and answering the questions and reducing time.
I will practice 1 RC, go through it on how did I approach the passage and how did I approach'd the questions. I will try to find any other better ways I could have improved. This would be my focus.
My goal is to attempt atleast 2 passages a day on weekdays and 4 on weekends.
I will write down whatever I learnt or mistakes I have done in a microsoft word document and will review it before I start my next day prep.
Goals Until November 1st for RC:
1. Complete GRockit - 15 days ( 9/25/2010) - Has around 30-40 passages in total
2. Complete BTG Practice Q - 15 days (10/10/2010) - Assuming around 30 passages in total
3. Complete LSAT - 10 days (20/10/2010) - Will practice only for 10 days
4. Complete OG - 10 days (1/11/2010) - Will go aggressive here.
