CRCB - Chapters 1-4, Summaries and Exercise

Critical Reading for College and Beyond
Part One Chapters 1-4

Chapter 1 Exercises
Exercise 1A
Concentration Survey
Y 1. I know that concentraton is a skill that can be learned.
N 2. I have a study area, complete with study supplies, and this area is used only for studying.
N 3. I try to concentrate as I read, but my mind usually drifts to other things, such as bills I have to pay or people I have to call.
Y 4. If I get angry, I am unable to concentrate on my reading.
Y 5. I know how to minimize all distractions.
N 6. I cannot read unless my house, or study environment, is immaculate.
N 7. I have a system to let others know when I am reading ad that I do not want to be disturbed.
Y 8. I lose concentration easily when I am bored with what I’m reading.












Practice with Reading Passage
Letting Justice Flow

1. What was the problem that the author had in the essay?
b. She had to use the bathroom and could not find a bathroom stall on campus wide enough to accommodate her wheelchair.

2. How did she solve her problem?
d. She relieved herself outside in the meditation garden.

3. What did her professor do when she told her about her problem and what she had to do to solve her problem?
a. She told the students the school president’s name so that they could write letters.

4. What did the president of the school do when the author had a meeting with him to discuss the problem?
d. He said the school could not currently afford to build an accessible bathroom stall.

5. What did the author do to help resolve the problem?
b. She continued to relieve herself in the garden, complained in the halls, and wrote another letter to the president.





Chapter One Summary

Chapter One defines reading as an active process involving both the author, who conveys meaning through words, and the reader who establishes an interpretation of the meaning of the words. A learning journal can be a valuable tool to the reader by allowing one to think on paper. The journal will provide awareness to the reader of his strengths and weaknesses when it comes to reading.

Concentration requires patience and perseverance. It requires disciplining of the mind. One must first recognize what blocks your concentration. It is helpful to document these findings in your journal so that you can control and train your mind to work for you and not lose focus. Blocks can be either internal or external distracters. Internal is the things that are going on inside of you and external comes from the outside environment.

There are different learning styles we must be aware of. By knowing the style that works best for you, it would make reading and learning more pleasurable and effective. Auditory learning comes from what we hear. Visual learning is through what we see, watch or read. Kinesthetic learning involves touch, by practicing, drawing, “hands on”, or writing over and over.

By knowing how to concentrate, learning styles and how to create a positive attitude and study environment, you can make the necessary changes and become an effective reader.


Chapter Two Assignments


Context Clues
Exercise 2a

2. She was so overcome with joy by the birth of her baby that she was able to say nothing other than that the whole experience was simply ineffable.
c. Incapable of being expressed in words.

3. Most of us eventually reach our goals, but life’s path to success is often a circuitous one.
c. Marked by roundabout or indirect procedures.

4. The preacher took a pedagogic approach with his sermon, hoping that those attending would learn something meaningful from it.
a. Instructional

6. Although teaching is not a lucrative profession, I know that I wouldn’t want tot do anything else. Helping others learn is far more important to me that money.
b. well paying

6. Buying a lottery ticket is a very capricious way to plan for your future. The chances of winning are 1 in 10,000,000.
d. unpredictable


Context Clues in Textbooks
Exercise 2b

1. exacts – demands
b. Forces

2. circadian - the behavioral or physiological rhythms associated with the 24hr cycle of the earth’s rotation.
b; Daily behavioral cycle

3. conciliatory – to win over, make friendly
b. Agreeable, accommodating

4. desynchronized – out of rhythm

5. mitigate – to make or become less severe, less painful.












Chapter Two Summary


Developing your vocabulary is important because it allows you to understand what the author is saying. You should have a dictionary with you while reading, as it is an important reading strategy which will build your vocabulary. Having an extensive vocabulary will allow for a better concentration of your readings and also allow you to compete in the workforce. There are many ways to understand new vocabulary. One way is through different types of context clues. They are words found within the text that conveys the meaning of the words. They can be found by definitions, examples, punctuations, and personal experience, opinion and knowledge.

Words can be broken down into three parts, the root, prefix and suffix. The root is the most basic part of the word. A prefix attached to a word can change it’s meaning dramatically. Suffixes are added to the end of the word and doesn’t necessarily change the meaning of the word.

Creating word maps and the card review system (CRS) are other strategies that makes it easy to remember new vocabulary. Word maps are similar to mind maps with the new word written in the center. Then create a branch with the original sentence, your prediction of what the word means, followed by the definition. Next, create your own sentence and the last branch should tell the part of speech, verb, noun, adjective or adverb. You should have five branches with the definition in the middle. The CRS involves copying the new word on an index card with the definition on the back.

In order to improve your vocabulary, you must follow the different strategies as outlined in the text. Most importantly, use them in your everyday life and make learning work to your advantage.




































Chapter Three Assignments

Exercise 3e Organization for Retrieval

Set 1
Write in the requested items using the letters on the right at the beginning of each word.

Name a bird beginning with the letter B - bluejay
Name an animal C – Cat
Fruit P – pineapple
Metal L - Lead
Country G – Germany
Boy’s name M – Mike
Girl’s name J – Jessica
Weapon S – sword
Vegetable P – pickle
Classic fairytale C – Cinderella
Flower P – Petunia








Set 2
Write in the requested items using the letters on the right at the end of each word.

Name a bird beginning with the letter W sparrow
Name an animal G - dog
Fruit H - peach
Metal R - copper
Country Y - Germany
Boy’s name N - Justin
Girl’s name E - Michelle
Weapon W - Saw
Vegetable T - carrot
Classic fairytale E - Snowwhite
Flower T – violet
















Chapter Three Summary



Memory is the process of storing information. There are three stages in the memory process. The first stage is sensory memory, followed by short-term memory and then long-term memory. Chunking is a strategy used by condensing the amount of information into groups. Ultimately one wishes to have information stored in your long-term memory which is the final stage where information can be permanently stored. This can be obtained by using several different strategies such as organizing newly learned information, mastering technical vocabulary and by creating a memory matrix. Other strategies include connecting new information to information you already know and by going beyond textbook information. Another effective strategy can be by reviewing, reading out loud and teaching or lecturing the information.

Information can be recalled by using Mnemonics, which are tricks used after you understand it. Memory cues help you call up information whereas, key words represents the topic or main idea. Acronyms differ from acrostics in that acronyms use the first letter of each word or phrase to come up with a single word such as HOME or F.A.C.E. Acrostics use the first letter to make a phrase or sentence. It uses different words to stand for the actual word.





Chapter Four Assignments
Managing your Reading Time

Brothel: Mustang Ranch and Its Women


Rate: 3.22 min 112 words per min

1. Which of the following statements is not accurate according to the exerpt:
b: Prostitutes have flawed characters lackin in values.

2. Which of the following statements is true, according to the excerpt?
d: Almost nine out of 10 Ranch prostitutes had earned their general equivalency diplomas or had graduated from high school.

3. According to the excerpt, what is one reason why streetwalkers rarely become regular brothel prostitutes?
c: Brothels have lots of rules and mandatory confinement.

4. According to the author, the prostitutes she investigated at the Mustang ranch were:
b: Women who were very committed to their families.

5. In your opinion, the author’s attitude toward the prostitutes at Mustang Ranch is:
b: Accepting



Chapter Four Summary

Comprehension is more important in reading than how fast you read. You should develop a reading and study schedule. Efficient reading is comprehending text at an appropriate reading rate and understanding the information. Speed reading consists of grouping words and reading in chunks, only some of the words. Critical reading involves thinking about what you are reading. Skimming is reading groups of words instead or individual words. Regressing is rereading. Subvocalizing is reading out loud. Pacing is using your finger to guide your reading.