INTRODUCTION THE "SECRETS" OF SUCCESS

PART I. WARM-UP

Chapter 1: Determining the Meaning of an Unfamiliar Word through Context

• The Skill: Determining the Meaning of an Unfamiliar Word through Context
• The Technique: Use Five Types of Context Clues
• The Trainer: Applying the Skill of Determining the Meaning of an Unfamiliar Word through Context
• The Edge: Pointers from the Coach about Determining the Meaning of an Unfamiliar Word through Context
• The Replay: Remembering the Essential Information from the Chapter
• The Practice: Apply the Skill of Determining the Meaning of an Unfamiliar Word through Context
• Three Sets of Practice Exercises
  

PART II. BASIC WORKOUT

Chapter 2: Determining the Topic of a Paragraph

• The Skill: Determining the Topic of a Paragraph
• The Technique: Use Four Clues to the Topic
• The Trainer: Applying the Skill of Determining the Topic of a Paragraph
• The Edge: Pointers from the Coach about Determining the Topic of a Paragraph
• The Replay: Remembering the Essential Information from the Chapter
• The Practice: Apply the Skill Determining the Topic of a Paragraph
• Three Sets of Practice Exercises

Chapter 3: Identifying the Stated Main Idea Sentence and Supporting Details of a Paragraph

• The Skill: Identifying the Stated Main Idea Sentence and the Supporting Details
• The Technique: Find the Sentence that Has the Characteristics of a Main Idea Sentence
• The Trainer: Applying the Skill of Identifying the Stated Main Idea Sentence and Supporting Details
• The Edge: Pointers from the Coach about Identifying the Stated Main Idea Sentence and the Supporting Details
• The Replay: Remembering the Essential Information from the Chapter
• The Practice: Apply the Skill of Identifying the Stated Main Idea Sentence and the Supporting Details
• Three Sets of Practice Exercises

Chapter 4: Formulating the Implied Main Idea Sentence of a Paragraph

• The Skill: Formulating the Implied Main Idea Sentence for a Paragraph
• The Technique: Use the Three Formulas for Formulating a Main Idea Sentence
• The Trainer: Applying the Skill of Formulating the Implied Main Idea Sentence for a Paragraph
• The Edge: Pointers from the Coach about Formulating the Implied Main Idea Sentence for a Paragraph
• The Replay: Remembering the Essential Information from the Chapter
• The Practice: Apply the Skill of Formulating the Implied Main Idea Sentence for a Paragraph
• Three Sets of Practice Exercises

Chapter 5: Recognizing the Author's Writing Pattern

• The Skill: Recognizing the Author's Writing Pattern
• The Technique: Learn the Characteristics of Authors' Five Writing Patterns ]
• The Trainer: Applying the Skill of Recognizing the Author's Writing Pattern
• The Edge: Pointers from the Coach about Recognizing the Author's Writing Pattern
• The Replay: Remembering the Essential Information from the Chapter
• The Practice: Apply the Skill of Recognizing the Author's Writing Pattern
• Three Sets of Practice Exercises
  

PART III. BASIC STRETCHING

Chapter 6: Applying All the Basic Skills to Paragraphs

• The Practice: Apply All of the Basic Skills to a Paragraph
• Three Sets of Practice Exercises
  

PART IV. ADVANCED WORK OUT

Welcome to the Advanced Workout

Chapter 7: Distinguishing Facts from Opinions

• The Skill: Distinguishing Facts from Opinions
• The Technique: Apply the Characteristics of Facts and Opinions
• The Trainer: Applying the Skill of Distinguishing Facts from Opinions
• The Edge: Pointers from the Coach about Distinguishing Facts from Opinions
• The Replay: Remembering the Essential Information from the Chapter
• The Practice: Applying the Skill of Distinguishing Facts from Opinions
• Three Sets of Practice Exercises
  

Chapter 8: Making Inferences and Drawing Conclusions

• The Skill: Making Inferences and Drawing Conclusions
• The Technique: Base Inferences and Conclusions on the Passage
• The Trainer: Applying the Skill of Making Inferences and Drawing Conclusions
• The Edge: Pointers from the Coach about Making Inferences and Drawing Conclusions
• The Replay: Remembering the Essential Information from the Chapter
• The Practice: Apply the Skill of Making Inferences and Drawing Conclusions
• Three Sets of Practice Exercises
  

Chapter 9: Determining the Author's Purpose, Tone, Point of View, and Intended Audience

• The Skill: Determining the Author's Purpose, Tone, Point of View, and Intended Audience
• The Technique: Ask the Purpose, Tone, Point of View, and Intended Audience Questions
• The Trainer: Applying the Skill of Determining the Author's Purpose, Tone, Point of View, and Intended Audience
• The Edge: Pointers from the Coach about Determining the Author's Purpose, Tone, Point of View, and Intended Audience
• The Replay: Remembering the Essential Information from the Chapter
• The Practice: Apply the Skill of Determining the Author's Purpose, Tone, Point of View, and Intended Audience
• Three Sets of Practice Exercises
  

Chapter 10: Evaluating an Author's Argument

• The Skill: Evaluating an Author's Argument
• The Technique: Ask the Seven Evaluation Questions
• The Trainer: Applying the Skill of Evaluating an Author's Argument
• The Edge: Pointers from the Coach about Evaluating an Author's Argument
• The Replay: Remembering the Essential Information from the Chapter
• The Practice: Apply the Skill of Evaluating an Author's Argument
• Three Sets of Practice Exercises
  

PART V. ADVANCED STRETCHING

Chapter 11: Applying All the Advanced Skills to Single and Multiple-Paragraph Selections

• The Practice: Applying All of the Advanced Skills to Single and Multiple-Paragraph Selections
• Three Sets of Practice Exercises
• Bonus Workout: Applying the Skills to Literary Material
  

PART VI. FLEX YOUR LITERARY MUSCLES

Welcome to Flex Your Literary Muscles

Chapter 12: Interpreting Figures of Speech

• The Skill: Interpreting Figures of Speech
• The Technique: Recognize and Interpret a Simile, Metaphor, Personification, Hyperbole, and Metonymy
• The Trainer: Applying the Skill of Interpreting Figures of Speech
• The Edge: Pointers from the Coach about Interpreting Figures of Speech
• The Replay: Remembering the Essential Information from the Chapter
• The Practice: Apply the Skill of Interpreting Figures of Speech
• Three Sets of Practice Exercises
  

Chapter 13: Achieving Basic Comprehension of Literary Works (nonfiction, short stories, novels, and poems)

• The Skill: Achieving Basic Comprehension of Literary Works
• The Technique: Apply the Literary Counterparts of the Basic Comprehension Skills
• The Trainer: Applying the Skill of Achieving Basic Comprehension of Literary Works
• The Edge: Pointers from the Coach about Achieving Basic Comprehension of Literary Works
• The Replay: Remembering the Essential Information from the Chapter
• The Practice: Applying the Skill of Achieving Basic Comprehension of Literary Works
• Three Sets of Practice Exercises
  

PART VII. COOL DOWN

Welcome to the Cool Down
Chapter 14: Interpreting Graphic Aids

• The Skill: Interpreting Graphic Aids
• The Technique: Interpret Bar Graphs, Line Graphs, Pie Charts, Flowcharts, and Tables
• The Trainer: Applying the Skill of Interpreting Graphic Aids
• The Edge: Pointers from the Coach about Interpreting Graphic Aids
• The Replay: Remembering the Essential Information from the Chapter
• The Practice: Apply the Skill of Interpreting Graphic Aids
• Three Sets of Practice Exercises

Chapter 15: Organizing Information for Study

• The Skill: Organizing Information for Study
• The Technique: Mark and Annotate Textbooks, Take Notes, Make Outlines and Study Maps, and Write Summaries
• The Trainer: Watching an Effective Reader Apply the Skill of Organizing Information for Study
• The Edge: Pointers from the Coach about Organizing Information for Study
• The Replay: Remembering the Essential Information from the Chapter
• The Practice: Apply the Skill of Organizing Information for Study
• Three Sets of Practice Exercises
  

PART VIII. GRAND SLAM: PLAYING IN THE BIG LEAGUES

Welcome to the Grand Slam
Transition Words and Metacomprehension

Chapter 16: Applying All the Skills You Have Learned

• Selection 1: "Four Types of Computers" (computer science)
• Selection 2: "Achieving What You Really Want in Life" (study skills)
• Selection 3: Excerpt from The Man Who Listens to Horses (autobiography)
• Selection 4: "Burglars and Burglary, Robbers and Robbery, and Hot Products" (criminology)
• Selection 5: "Repressed Memories: Truth or Fiction?" (psychology)
• Selection 6: "Choosing a Mate" (sociology)
• Selection 7: "The Great Midlothian Sawdust War" (essay)
• Selection 8: "To Robert Frost" (poem)
• Selection 9: Major Sullivan Ballou's Letter to His Wife, Sarah (letter)
  Kudos from Your Coach
• Appendix 1: A List of Word Parts
• Appendix 2: "Tackling the Test": Test-taking Strategies and Tips
• Appendix 3: Suggested Reading that You'll Enjoy (bibliography)