PEL 101 — COMMUNICATION SKILLS-I LECTURE-15 and 16

PEL 101 - COMMUNICATION SKILLS-I LECTURE-15 and 16 WEEK-8 DESIGNED BY SATPAL SINGH, 15908

Reading Comprehension aka… Critical Reading questions test • To check reader’s ability to understand a passage • To find answers on the basis of what is stated and implied in the passage • Why? • To check verbal reasoning and critical thinking skills • Deductive reasoning, conclusion making, logical inference, sequential analysis, tonal awareness, understanding of scope

Reading Comprehension • RC is level of understanding of a text • From where does this understanding come? • Interaction between the words that are written and how they trigger knowledge outside the text (In the mind of reader). • Task is: to recognize key words quickly and effortlessly

How? • Any shortcuts!!! • There is no shortcut to improving your critical reading ability. • Constant practice does help. • To make right choices in MCQ based RCs, however, some tips are always handy.

Types of RC Reading passages usually concern these areas: 1. Natural Sciences 2. Arts and Humanities 3. Social Sciences (Science and culture) 4. Literary Fiction (Literature) 5. Personal Narrative

RC Variants Outcomes Comparative study Comparative Understanding and Prioritization Political study Importance of Current affairs Dialogues Understanding conversations and exchanges Product Review Analysis and understanding of a commercial entity Public Address Speech preparation and deliverance, Importance of vocabulary

RC: Questions asked 1. Discovering main idea 2. Identifying detail / fact 3. Drawing conclusions / predicting outcomes 4. Distinguishing between fact and opinion 5. Understanding cause and effect 6. Comparing and contrasting ideas 7. Determining Author’s Purpose

Key Factors 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Motivation and Purpose Vocabulary and Previous Knowledge Reading fluency and decoding Nature of Passage (Interest, Difficulty) Genre of text (Fiction, non-fiction, poetry, science etc. ) 6. Time limit (Time consuming, GATE)

Effective Reader v/s less Effective Reader Effective reader Less effective reader Knows his goal in mind Does not know why s/he is reading? Previews text, heading, topic sentences Starts reading without thinking about topic Recalls previous knowledge Does not preview text Makes prediction about the text Does not make predictions Reads selectively, knows what to skip, to read carefully and quickly Reads whole passage with same intensity Summarizes major ideas Does not summarize Underlines keywords Relies on memory

RC : Tips (Pre RC test) 1. Vocabulary building: a) GRE vocab b) High frequency words (~300 words, 65% of the words in the text) 2. Newspaper/magazine reading, without looking up an unknown word in the dictionary a) Use context clues to determine the word’s meaning.

Continued… b) Then, look up for the definition in the dictionary and compare the definition c) What is your margin to get close to the meaning? • If very Close = Bingo • Meaning settles in your memory lane because • You applied your brain

Complex Vocabulary • Word : Rambunctious • Meaning? 1. The children were rambunctious. 2. I went to class V and the children were rambunctious. 3. I went to class V and children were rambunctious. They were chirping like birds. It was a herculean task to control them.

Answer • Rambunctious = full of energy, difficult to control

RC : Tips and strategies (During RC) • Traditional Method of RC • New world> Competition >New strategy 1. Read question/s then passage Benefits • Prediction of Text • Identification of key word, it saves time 2. Note down sequencing of information flow 3. Pronoun reference

Example First questions: 1. What was Chai originally? 2. Why did she start importing chai? 3. Why did she decide to develop her own chai?

Prediction and Pronoun reference 1. First question • What was Chai originally? Clue? • What was Chai originally? • Origin, History 2. Why did she start importing chai? Clue? • Why did she start importing chai? Pronoun • Means, there is a noun, female, importing, chai

Sequencing events 3. Why did she decide to develop her own chai? Clue? Why did she decide to develop her own chai? • Means, something contrary happened • Relate to previous questions

Sequencing on predictions • Chai originates from……. • A female named …… starts importing it • Issue and decides to develop her own chai

Original passage • On word file

Time Constraint Solution • Skimming • Zig – zag movement of the eye • Accompanied by grasping of major ideas of the passage • Scanning (Eye reading) • Reading using ones eyes and getting details, as in, facts, figures, examples (Specific info. )

Skim and Scan

Task 1 • Skim • What is the main idea? Interdisciplinary aspect of ecology • How? • Scan • What are details? Early 20 th century Fredric Clements and Henry Cleason Sir Arthur Tansley 1935

RC : Tips and strategies (During RC) When reading a lengthy text • Identify key word/s based on given questions • First read instructions/questions carefully (1 st Activity) • Lengthy passage, answer in last line • Whats app ex.

Task 2: Shopping • Read passage and answer question. Shopping can be fun as well as a headache. I do not like this activity on Sunday. I usually buy things for family in grocery stores. My spouse likes to shop in cloth centers. However, I love to shop in malls. It is amazing experience. I do purchasing in retail shop for my in laws. I hate bargaining for my kids. I am neither a spendthrift nor a shopaholic but this is the only outdoor activity I am expert in. 1. Where does author love to shop for her relatives? 2. Where does author love to shop for her relatives?

Task 3 • Once there was a king. He was brave and wise. He was loved by all. He was most eligible bachelor in his kingdom. He had honest differences with his council on the issues of foreign policy. His kingdom has a legacy which only few could boast of. He was master in oratory and judgment. He loved justice more than any thing. Once he met a beautiful naïve girl on the bank of river while walking in the morning. He saw the girl dancing and fell in love with her. They lived happy married life. There was happiness and prosperity in the kingdom. People were affliction free and fortunately there were no famines. Everyone loved the king and he was blessed with two children, one boy and other girl. He loved his children like his subjects The boy became king when king died due to dengue! • How did the king die?

RC: Strategies • Main idea? Look for supporting details: Answer: Who? What? Where? When? Why? • Identify the topic sentence. • Topic sentence may appear in the first or last sentence of a passage

Connectors/Indicators • Identify Connectors, indicators • To find a coherence, chronology, sequencing of events • A logical connection in the passage

RC: Tips • Transition or contrasting words that indicate a shift in the text’s meaning, such as next, before, then, consequently, moreover, in addition, but, however, perhaps. • Avoid translating each word or idiom in a sentence. • Review your notes by rereading the text

RC: Tips(Logical Pattern) • • • Logical Pattern = Idea > Supporting detail > Example> Conclusion Idea comes before an example

Set Pattern: Beginning, Middle and End • Beginning (To find topic sentence, theme) • Words that indicate/enumerate beginning of an idea initially, outset, • first and foremost, • this, that, these, those • We need to figure out what these refer to?

Set Pattern: Beginning, Middle and End • Middle is kind of enumerating (To find example, additional info) • Firstly, secondly • Thirdly, furthermore, • In addition to, however, perhaps

Beginning, Middle and End: Set Pattern • • Ending (Topic sentence) Words that denote an END Hence, in conclusion, thus, lastly, therefore, last but not the least, at the end

Contrasting Connectors Supporting • Likewise • Similarly • In the same way • And Contradicting But Despite this However On the other hand

Task 4 • Allopathic treatment is symptomatic while Ayurveda treats an elemental level. First may be necessary immediate relief. However to cure the problem from the root the treatment at the elemental level is must. Therefore synergy of modern medical science and ancient Indian wisdom is in the interest of humanity. • 1. Topic sentence? • 2. Contrasting idea • 3. Conclusion

Example • Allopathic treatment is symptomatic while Ayurveda treats an elemental level. First may be necessary immediate relief. However to cure the problem from the root the treatment at the elemental level is must. Therefore synergy of modern medical science and ancient Indian wisdom is in the interest of humanity. 1. Topic sentence? 2. Contrasting idea 3. Conclusion

CONTEXTUAL IRRELEVANCE

BORED ? • Replace The Proper Nouns Using x, y, z • Now, Look At The Passage

Pea Protein is a complete protein with all essential amino acids and is particularly high in branched chain amino acids as well as X, [arginine] Y [lysine] and Z[phenyalaline]. It has a very well balanced essential amino acid profile that fits the requirements set by the world health organization for adults. . Branched chain amino acids have been shown to keep the body in a state of muscle building all day long. This anabolic effect increases strength gains while helping the body burn fat and improve lean tissue. The Key BCAA’s include A[leucine], B [valine] and C [isoleucine]. Pea Protein is the best non-animal source of these powerful BCCAs and with its 98% absorbency rate it rivals Whey Protein for its effects on metabolism and lean body tissue.

Replacement • Tabulation. You can draw columns And enter relevant data under the headings

VAGUE QUESTIONS What is Author’s/Passage’s • Tone • Conclusion • Opinion • Inference

Task 5 Pea Protein is a complete protein with all essential amino acids and is particularly high in branched chain amino acids as well as arginine, lysine and phenyalaline. It has a very well balanced essential amino acid profile that fits the requirements set by the world health organization for adults. . Branched chain amino acids have been shown to keep the body in a state of muscle building all day long. This anabolic effect increases strength gains while helping the body burn fat and improve lean tissue. The Key BCAA’s include leucine, valine and isoleucine. Pea Protein is the best non-animal source of these powerful BCCAs and with its 98% absorbency rate it rivals Whey Protein for its effects on metabolism and lean body tissue. What is the tone of the author in the passage? a) CYNICAL b) PERSUASIVE c) INFORMATIVE d) NARRATIVE

Process of Elimination • • When there are four options Eliminate the wrong ones based on logic Rather than searching for the right answer As original answer is not given literally

ELIMINATE • The author is not criticizing, hence option a) is wrong • The author is not asking anyone to eat Pea, hence option b) is not right • The author is not giving his personal experience, hence option d) is wrong

Answer • Option c) Informative

Thank You