Method of Argumentation
Every author has a particular way of presenting their case or argument. Even Charles Dickens with his novels was battling the immorality and injustice of society toward the poor, and he was more effective than all other literary men of his age. His purpose for writing his novels was to change the world by evoking human sympathy toward the plight of lesser privileged classes.
Ask yourself the following type of questions as you read:
- What technique does the author use to influence my opinion?
- The author is developing his/her argument primarily in what way?
- How does the beginning of the passage fit in with the rest of the passage?
The idea is to learn to follow the author's logic and line of reasoning.
Author's Attitude
You may face questions like the following:
- The author's attitude toward ______ is best described as:
- The theories presented are regarded by the author as:
- You can tell how the author feels about _______ by _______.
These are exactly the type of questions you should be asking. In order to really comprehend material; understanding the author's attitude is essential. In the selection from Great Expectations, the reader is introduced to two characters, and still one more observed from a distance. What do all of them have in common? Why do you believe the author presented them in this way, especially right at the beginning of the story?
As you read every passage, you should annotate and make note of all words and phrases that indicate the author's opinion, perspective, or position on the topic.
Extrapolation
Extrapolation takes inference one step further by applying what you, the reader, have learned, to something completely new, or if somehow the circumstances change.
Approach reading with extrapolation in mind while also considering the author's attitude, and inference. As you interact with the author, you will soon begin to know what the author is thinking and his or her argument is no longer confusing, because your annotation notes help you to follow the argument, and begin to anticipate what might be coming next. This is especially helpful with evaluating literature.
While you may be tempted to allow your own thoughts and ideas to intrude into your conversation with the author, for the purposes of reading comprehension, you must continue to "listen" to the author in order to understand what the author's point is.
You may be required to compare how one particular writer would approach a certain situation, as compared to another writer. When answering questions about extrapolation, it will be important to read the entire passage as it is impossible to extrapolate without reading everything.
When answering extrapolation questions, be sure that you are answering questions about the author in question, and not about another writer's position. Also, be careful that you don't choose an answer that is unsupported by the material in the passage.
Homework: You are still practicing your Reading Comprehension for 20 minutes every day. It is time to begin adding more types of reading material to your usual reading menu. If you are reading mostly contemporary novels, it might be time to add some of the classics to your reading list. The language is a bit more formal, and you will certainly be challenged by vocabulary and terminology that might be unfamiliar to you.
As you expand your reading comprehension skills, continue to challenge your abilities by reading materials that once seemed to be intimidating to you. Learning to interact with the author makes it seem more like having a conversation than a frustrating experience.
]]>