Comprehension Skills
Comprehension skills refer to skills that you can use as you read to make sure that you understand the information in a text. These skills can be used for informational texts, persuasive texts, and fictional stories, among many other works.
Asking Questions
• Asking questions is a good way to gain information or deepen your understanding of a topic. If you are unsure or confused about something, asking questions can help make things more clear.
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When Should Questions Be Asked?
- Before — Ask questions before you read to preview what the text will be about.
- During — Ask questions as you read if you do not understand something in the text.
- After — Ask questions after you read to check your knowledge or if you still have things that you are confused about.
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Making Predictions
• Making predictions means making a guess about what will happen next in a passage. What you predict may not always be right, but you can always correct your predictions.
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What Can You Use to Make Predictions?
- Type of Text — Different types of text have unique elements that readers can use to predict what will happen next.
- Organizational Patterns — The way a text is organized can help readers predict what the author will write about next.
- Features & Graphics — Text features, such as headings, and graphics can give readers clues about what will come next.
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Making Inferences
• Making inferences means making an educated guess about a topic based on evidence found in the text, along with other knowledge if needed.
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What Can You Use to Make Inferences?
- The Text Itself — Inferences should be supported by information in the text.
- Other texts — If you have read related information somewhere else, this knowledge can be used to make inferences.
- Personal Experience — If something in your own life relates to a topic, you can use it to make an inference.
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Using these skills before, as, and after you read a text will help you understand the information more easily. It is important to practice these skills when you can to become a better reader.