Mr Walton’s Guide to Reading Comprehensions

1. Mr Walton’s Guide to Reading Comprehensions March 2009

2. You need to be a reading detective • The clues are there in front of you. • They are normally in the text, not the pictures!

3. Detective skill number 1: Deduction • When the detective arrives at the scene of the crime, he needs to establish the facts. • Look for the clues in the text. Sometimes the answer is in front of you!

4. Detective skill number 1: Deduction • Theseus scrambled around in the dark, desperately looking for a way out of the maze. He was anxiously searching for .... • What did Theseus use in the maze to find his way out?

5. Detective skill number 2: Inference • If you’re trying to solve a difficult case, the clues might not be so obvious. • You need to infer what has happened, work something out from what you have read in a text even though you have NOT read it! (Reading between the lines).

6. Detective skill number 2: Inference • Theseus sent Ariadne ashore to buy wine and bread. While she was gone, he set sail and hurried away, breathing a sigh of relief. • Why did Theseus set sail without Ariadne?

7. Detective skill number 3: Prediction • If you’re chasing a master criminal you need to try and predict their next move. Speculate about what is going to happen. • Work out/say what you think will happen using your knowledge of what you have read.

8. Detective skill number 3: Prediction • King Aegeus paced up and down waiting for Theseus to return. Finally he caught sight of his son’s ship. But there flying from the ship’s mast was a black flag. Aegeus stood frozen still, he ... • What do you think is going to happen next?

9. Remember to join Mr Walton’s Detective Agency you need these key skills: • Deduction • Inference • Prediction