Comprehension Skills

1. Comprehension Skills Answering techniques Paraphrasing Parts of speech

2. PAPER 2 FORMAT MJC Paper II Skills

3. OBJECTIVES Comprehension, interpretation and application of a range of subject matter. This includes the ability to • comprehend the text in detail and as a whole • infer relevant information • summarise information • evaluate information • make observations of patterns and relationships • apply understanding and interpretation in a task derived from the text(s) MJC Paper II Skills

4. Comprehension Skills I Answering techniques ID Main Idea Requirements of Qn Types of Qns Answering Qns

5. Identifying Main Idea in the Passage • Preview the Passage • Skim through quickly • Isolate the main idea • Or identify the topic sentences. • Mind Mapping as a tool MJC Paper II Skills

6. Read through the Qns… before the second reading of the passage. Allows you to focus on the passage. Check for marks allocation amount of information needed. Understanding the Requirements of the Qn MJC Paper II Skills

7. Types of Questions • Content Questions • Explanation of ideas/ information • Explanation of writer’s attitude • Articulation of main idea. • Vocabulary Questions • Summary Question • ≤ 150 words MJC Paper II Skills

8. Content Questions: Examples • Put in your own words what is meant by ‘intolerant of all speculation.’ [2] • Why do tobacco companies sponsor sport? [3] • Does the author agree or disagree with the move to legalize drugs? [2] • From paragraph 6-8, the author dignifies the mundaneness of the domestic arts. How does the author champion this argument? [8] MJC Paper II Skills

9. Answering Questions • Read with a pen • Underline/ annotate sections needed • Avoid wholesale lifting • Avoid changing the meaning of the target phrase. MJC Paper II Skills

10. Comprehension Skills II Paraphrasing Strategies Synonyms Different Sentence Patterns Changing Order of Ideas Using the Negative

11. Synonyms • Use another word comparable in meaning to the original. • Insert the new word into the target sentence; see if it makes sense. • Eg: The way he behaves in class, his parents should be required to write a note explaining his presence. • Operate?, perform?, run?, work?, act? MJC Paper II Skills

12. Different Sentence Patterns • Passive to active. [Vice-versa] • Rome’s downfall was caused by various factors. •  Various factors caused Rome’s downfall. • The dog bit Joyce’s foot. •  Joyce’s foot was bitten by the dog. • Inversion of Phrases • I went there in order to find out for myself • In order to find out for myself, I went there. • I will finish by today. • By today, I will finish. MJC Paper II Skills

13. Different Sentence Patterns • Using Dummy ‘it’ & ‘there’ • We want your support. • It is your support we want. • Sam saw John outside. •  It was John who Sam saw outside. • We have very little time. • There is very little time. MJC Paper II Skills

14. Changing Order of Ideas • A, B & C B, A, C. • Let me lie in a grave dug under the wide and starry sky. • Under the wide and starry sky, dig the grave and let me lie. [Robert Louis Stevenson] • SECOND NOTICE: PLEASE PAY PROMPTLY TO AVOID LITIGATION. • To avoid litigation, please pay promptly after the second notice. MJC Paper II Skills

15. Using the Negative • You will look attractive if you get rid of those ugly clothes. • Buy yourself some attractive clothes and you will look less dull. • You must be hard at work for your exams preparation. •  You must not be lazy for your exams preparation MJC Paper II Skills

16. Danger zones • Misreading the original • Leaving out important information • Including too much of the original • Inappropriate synonyms MJC Paper II Skills

17. Interpreting figurative use of language literally • The poison of racial hatred infected all levels of society. •  The venom* of … • The snail like pace of the lesson bores me. • The slow pace… • He was like a bull in the china shop. • He was clumsy… MJC Paper II Skills

18. Comprehension Skills III Vocabulary Questions ID parts of speech Nouns Adjectives Verbs Adverbs

19. NOUNS • You can add a determiner in front. • a mouse, the cat, some idiots • It expresses singular, plural or possession. [genitive] • Mice, cats, dog_, Robert’s home. • Special suffixes can be attached. • Participation, communism, performance MJC Paper II Skills

20. ADJECTIVES • Premodify a noun • this clever man, those noisy students • Acts as a complement • The lecturer is witty. • Our students are dull. • Comparative vs Superlative • David is smarter than Dave. • You are most beautiful to me. MJC Paper II Skills

21. VERBS • Indicates tense • Yesterday, Dave moved to Bishan. • Sam received his posting 5 days ago. • Most important element of any main clause. MJC Paper II Skills

22. Obligatory/Compulsory verb • That old Farmer drinks beer. by the bucketful. • That old farmer drinks beer by the bucketful. • That old farmer Drinks beer by the bucketful. • That old farmer beer by the bucketful. × MJC Paper II Skills

23. ADVERBS • Very mobile: Insert “fortunately” •  MJC  is  in the east . • Types of adverbs • Simple: just, only, soon • Compound: therefore, somehow • -ly: quickly, nearly MJC Paper II Skills

24. Performs a wide variety of functions. • Space • We drove for fifty miles • Time • Dave go there often. • Process • He ate slowly. • Emphasis • She was only asking • Degree • I badly need a break after this lecture. MJC Paper II Skills

25. Identify the parts of speech.  • A student reported to the school psychologist for an interview. • Noun • ‘Young man,’ said the psychologist, ‘are you bothered by improper thoughts?’ • Adjective • ‘Gosh, no,’ replied the student. • Verb • ‘In fact, I’m rather fond of them.’ • Adverb of manner. MJC Paper II Skills

26. This Term’s Work • Answering inferential questions • Summary MJC Paper II Skills