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Frameworks in Reading Comprehension (LSAT)

May 16, 2024

Lecture Notes: Frameworks in Reading Comprehension (LSAT)

Introduction

  • Speaker: Patrick from LSAT Lab
  • Topic: Using frameworks to improve reading comprehension (Reading Comp) for the LSAT
  • **Three Key Improvement Areas: **
    1. Read the passage effectively
    2. React properly to different question stems
    3. Scrutinize every word in answer choices

Big Picture Reading Strategies (Lesson 1 Recap)

  • Chunking: Breaking down the passage into smaller parts
  • Self-Summarizing: Pausing to summarize briefly
  • Frameworks: Highlighting key ideas and using pivot words (e.g., but, yet, however)
  • Big Idea: Slow down for important ideas, move quickly through supporting details

Importance of Frameworks

  • Purpose: Help remember main ideas amidst many details
  • Analogy: Focusing on key 'donors' at a banquet, ignoring the rest

Common Framework Types

  1. Old/New
    • Typically used in science passages
    • Example structure: Old idea β†’ Pivot β†’ New idea β†’ Author's assessment
  2. Problem/Solution
    • Common in law passages
    • Example structure: Problem description β†’ Possible solutions β†’ Author’s recommendation
  3. Highlight a Noteworthy Figure
    • Seen in arts and humanities
    • Focuses on why a subject (artist, author, etc.) is important or unique
  4. Challenge a Position
    • Relevant in society and law passages
    • Structure: Other point of view β†’ Author's challenge to this view
  5. Present a Debate
    • Involves multiple viewpoints
    • Structure: Multiple perspectives β†’ Sometimes author's synthesis or own position

Identifying Frameworks

  • Science Passages: Lean towards Old/New
  • Humanities Passages: Lean towards highlighting noteworthy elements
  • Clue Words: Keywords like 'traditionally', 'but', 'however', etc.

Example Analysis

  1. Ireland's Landscape Passage
    • Problem: Fragmentary historical documents
    • Solution: New method of investigating using pollen grains
  2. Latina Autobiographers of the 1980s
    • Highlight Noteworthy framework
    • Main Idea: Autobiographies are innovative mixes of language, genres, and identities

Framework Clues

  • Pivot Words: Indicate framework moments (e.g., 'but', 'however')

Practical Tips for Reading Passages

  • First Paragraph: Identify topic, possible framework, and presence of the author
  • Chunking/Compressing: Extract core sentences from complex paragraphs

Main Point Questions (Using Framework)

  • Identify the subject that matches the main topic
  • Look for key phrases or ideas that align with identified framework

Additional Framework Types

  • Explaining Puzzling Events
  • Providing Examples of General Claims

Practice & Next Steps

  • Exercise: Apply frameworks to sample passages

  • Upcoming Lessons: Focus on question types and improving accuracy in answers

  • Resources: LSAT Lab's free plan offers three tests to practice reading comp passages with various frameworks

Review and Conclusion

  • Call to Action: Explore more YouTube videos from LSAT Lab for additional strategies and practice