THE “SECRETS” OF SUCCESS

PART I: WARM-UP

Chapter 1: Determining the Meaning of an Unfamiliar Word through Context

The Skill: Determining the Meaning of an Unfamiliar Word through Context

The Technique: Use Five Types of Context Clues

The Trainer: Applying the Skill of Using Context Clues

The Edge: Pointers from the Coach about Using Context Clues

The Replay: Remembering the Essential Information from the Chapter

The Practice: Apply the Skill of Using Context Clues

Three Sets of Practice Exercises

PART II: BASIC WORKOUT

Chapter 2: Determining the Topic of a Paragraph

The Skill: Determining the Topic of a Paragraph

The Technique: Use the Four Strategies for Determining the Topic

The Trainer: Applying the Skill of Determining the Topic

The Edge: Pointers from the Coach about Determining the Topic

The Replay: Remembering the Essential Information from the Chapter

The Practice: Apply the Skill of Determining the Topic of a Paragraph

Three Sets of Practice Exercises

Chapter 3: Identifying the Stated Main Idea Sentence and Supporting Details of a Paragraph

The Skill: Identifying the Stated Main Idea Sentence of a Paragraph

The Technique: Find the Sentence That Has the Characteristics of a Main Idea Sentence

The Trainer: Applying the Skill of Identifying the Stated Main Idea Sentence

The Edge: Pointers from the Coach about Identifying the Stated Main Idea Sentence

The Replay: Remembering the Essential Information from the Chapter (Stated Main Idea)

The Skill: Identifying the Supporting Details of a Paragraph

The Technique: Identify the Supporting Details

The Trainer: Applying the Skill of Identifying Supporting Details

The Edge: Pointers from the Coach about Identifying Supporting Details

The Replay: Remembering the Essential Information from the Chapter (Supporting Details)

The Practice: Apply the Skill of Identifying the Stated Main Idea Sentence

Three Sets of Practice Exercises

Chapter 4: Formulating the Implied Main Idea Sentence of a Paragraph

The Skill: Formulating the Implied Main Idea Sentence of a Paragraph

The Technique: Use the Three Formulas for Formulating an Implied Main Idea Sentence

The Trainer: Applying the Skill of Formulating the Implied Main Idea Sentence

The Edge: Pointers from the Coach about Formulating the Implied Main Idea Sentence

The Replay: Remembering the Essential Information from the Chapter

The Practice: Apply the Skill of Formulating the Implied Main Idea Sentence

Three Sets of Practice Exercises

Chapter 5: Recognizing Authors' Writing Patterns

The Skill: Recognizing Authors' Writing Patterns

The Technique: Learn the Characteristics of Authors’ Five Writing Patterns

The Trainer: Applying the Skill of Identifying Authors' Writing Patterns

The Edge: Pointers from the Coach about Identifying Authors' Writing Patterns

The Replay: Remembering the Essential Information from the Chapter

The Practice: Apply the Skill of Identifying Authors' Writing Patterns

Three Sets of Practice Exercises

PART III: BASIC STRETCHING

Chapter 6: Applying All the Basic Skills to Paragraphs

The Practice: Apply All of the Basic Skills to Paragraphs

Three Sets of Practice Exercises

PART IV: ADVANCED WORKOUT

Welcome to the Advanced Workout

Chapter 7: Distinguishing Facts from Opinions

The Skill: Distinguishing Facts from Opinions

The Technique: Apply the Characteristics of Facts and Opinions

The Trainer: Applying the Skill of Distinguishing Facts from Opinions

The Edge: Pointers from the Coach about Distinguishing Facts from Opinions

The Replay: Remembering the Essential Information from the Chapter

The Practice: Apply the Skill of Distinguishing Facts from Opinions

Three Sets of Practice Exercises

Chapter 8: Making Inferences and Drawing Conclusions

The Skill: Making Inferences and Drawing Conclusions

The Technique: Base Inferences and Conclusions on the Passage

The Trainer: Applying the Skill of Making Inferences and Drawing Conclusions

The Edge: Pointers from the Coach about Making Inferences and Drawing Conclusions

The Replay: Remembering the Essential Information from the Chapter

The Practice: Apply the Skill of Making Inferences and Drawing Conclusions

Three Sets of Practice Exercises

Chapter 9: Determining the Author’s Purpose, Tone, Point of View, and Intended Audience

The Skill: Determining the Author’s Purpose, Tone, Point of View, and Intended Audience

The Technique: Ask the Purpose, Tone, Point of View, and Intended Audience Questions

The Trainer: Applying the Skill of Determining the Author’s Purpose, Tone, Point of View, and Intended Audience

The Edge: Pointers from the Coach about Determining the Author’s Purpose, Tone, Point of View, and Intended Audience

The Replay: Remembering the Essential Information from the Chapter

The Practice: Apply the Skill of the Author’s Purpose, Tone, Point of View, and Intended Audience

Three Sets of Practice Exercises

Chapter 10: Evaluating an Author’s Argument

The Skill: Evaluating an Author’s Argument

The Technique: Identify the Issue and the Author's Argument, Then Ask the Evaluation Questions

The Trainer: Applying the Skill of Evaluating an Author’s Argument

The Edge: Pointers from the Coach about Evaluating an Author’s Argument

The Replay: Remembering the Essential Information from the Chapter

The Practice: Apply the Skill of Evaluating an Author’s Argument

Three Sets of Practice Exercises

PART V: ADVANCED STRETCHING

Chapter 11: Applying All the Advanced Skills to Single- and Multiple-Paragraph Selections

The Practice: Apply All of the Advanced Skills to Single- and Multiple-Paragraph Selections

Three Sets of Practice Exercises

Bonus Workout: Applying the Skills to Literary Selections

PART VI: FLEX YOUR LITERARY MUSCLES

Welcome to Flex Your Literary Muscles

Chapter 12: Interpreting Figures of Speech

The Skill: Interpreting Figures of Speech

The Technique: Recognize and Interpret Similes, Metaphors, Personification, Hyperboles, and Metonymy

The Trainer: Applying the Skill of Interpreting Figures of Speech

The Edge: Pointers from the Coach about Interpreting Figures of Speech

The Replay: Remembering the Essential Information from the Chapter

The Practice: Apply the Skill of Interpreting Figures of Speech

Three Sets of Practice Exercises

Chapter 13: Achieving Basic Comprehension of Literary Works

The Skill: Achieving Basic Comprehension of Literary Works

The Technique: Apply the Literary Counterparts of the Basic Comprehension Skills

The Trainer: Applying the Skill of Basic Comprehension of Literary Works

The Edge: Pointers from the Coach about Achieving Basic Comprehension of Literary Works

The Replay: Remembering the Essential Information from the Chapter

The Practice: Apply the Skill of Achieving Basic Comprehension of Literary Works

Three Sets of Practice Exercises

PART VII: COOL DOWN

Welcome to the Cool Down

Chapter 14: Interpreting Graphic Aids

The Skill: Interpreting Graphic Aids

The Technique: Interpret Bar Graphs, Line Graphs, Pie Charts, Flowcharts, and Tables

The Trainer: Applying the Skill of Interpreting Graphic Aids

The Edge: Pointers from the Coach about Interpreting Graphic Aids

The Replay: Remembering the Essential Information from the Chapter

The Practice: Apply the Skill of Interpreting Graphic Aids

Three Sets of Practice Exercises

Chapter 15: Organizing Information for Study

The Skill: Organizing Information for Study

The Technique: Mark and Annotate Textbooks, Take Notes, Make Outlines and Study Maps, and Write Summaries

The Edge: Pointers from the Coach about Organizing Information for Study

The Replay: Remembering the Essential Information from the Chapter

The Practice: Apply the Skill of Organizing Information for Study

Three Sets of Practice Exercises

PART VIII: GRAND SLAM: PLAYING IN THE BIG LEAGUES

Welcome to the Grand Slam

Transition Words and Metacomprehension

Chapter 16: Applying All the Skills You Have Learned

Selection 1: “Four Types of Computers” (computer science)

Selection 2: “Achieving What You Really Want in Life” (study skills)

Selection 3: Excerpt from The Man Who Listens to Horses (autobiography)

Selection 4: “Burglars and Burglary, Robbers and Robbery, and Hot Products” (criminology)

Selection 5: “Repressed Memories: Truth or Fiction?” (psychology)

Selection 6: “Choosing a Mate” (sociology)

Selection 7: “The Great Midlothian Sawdust War” (essay)

Selection 8: “To Robert Frost” (poem)

Selection 9: Major Sullivan Ballou’s Letter to His Wife, Sarah (letter)

Kudos from Your Coach

Appendix 1: A List of Word Parts

Appendix 2: “Tackling the Test”: Test-Taking Strategies and Tips

Appendix 3: Suggested Reading That You’ll Enjoy (bibliography)

Index