Reflection on reading & strategies

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 4

Reading strategies

Look back at the previous practise texts &

Reflect on your own reading strategies

How do you approach a reading text?

For longer texts:

1. Prior knowledge/before reading - pictures, vocabulary; subject; what do you already know?
2. Read the questions - where do you look & what information are you looking for
3. What kind of question is it? e.g. Gap, MC, open, summary, etc
4. Read the paragraph in question/ apply the relevant strategy

For shorter texts:

1. Prior knowledge/before reading - pictures, vocabulary; subject; what do you already know?
2. Scan the text
3. reread the paragraphs related to the question

Reading text questions:

Prior knowledge

vocabulary - scan through the text

The questions help you explain what is said in the text

How do you approach vocabulary questions?

Vocabulary questions

Detrimental: {iets negatiefs} --> positive/negative - what kind of word - context

Conflagrations --> conflicts or large fires

look for emotion, contrast, consequences

Try if you can replace it with something else

How do you approach an open question?

How do you approach multiple-choice questions?

Open questions

Make sure you answer the question completely

How and why was colour used in black & white films: 

To achieve color, early filmmakers immersed film strips in dyes and chemicals, or had them painted by hand [and why]

What is the reason for the protests, according to paragraph 3:

Racism

vs

 Years of violence and racism against black people

Multiple-choice

Usually some very similar options, options that can only partly be found in the text, options that make you doubt the entire question. Look for opposites; red herrings

Why did they stop using colour:

A. It was too labour-intensive (too)

B. Because of the added sound, it was no longer necessary (possible, but not in the text)

C. The sound and colour could not be combined (correct answer)

D. They never stopped using colour (not in the text)

Always give an answer!

How do you approach gap questions?

Gap questions

To show that you understand the function or relation of the word/phrase/sentence

Sometimes similar to vocabulary questions

Read the context - paragraph before, paragraph after the gap

Try and find your own answer before reading the options

categorise the options into something more abstract; +/-, emotion, function

General tips

look for structure words, interpunction, 

Read the questions carefully

scan the text - first and last sentences, skip examples

Manage your time well! 

Make a list of all new words you come across when practising and study them

Wrap up

Always start with what you already know

Base your strategy on the kind of text and the kind of question

Practise on your level; not below

structure words (+ function)