Techniques for Effective Passage Interpretation and Question Answering
RUAE
To find out what we already know about RUAE
To revisit strategies that help you understand
the passage
To revise formulas for answering specific
question types
Task 1
With a partner, create a mind-map to show all
that you associate with RUAE
When faced with an RUAE passage for the first
time,
ALWAYS
read it all the way through
before you start answering questions.
The purpose of this reading is simply to gain
a
basic understanding
of what it is about.
DON’T
worry about language, vocabulary or
techniques at this stage.
Task 2
After reading the passage, try to sum it up in
5 sentences.
Using those 5 sentences, now try to sum it up
further in
5 words
.
Finally, what
1 word
could summarise the
who passage?
Using a highlighter is a great tool in an exam
– but don’t go daft!
Highlight with focus
Anticipate what the question will be
Task 3
In groups, look at a specific paragraph and
highlight the words/phrases that stand out to
you – remember to anticipate!
Now look at the questions – have your selections
matched with the demands of the question being
asked?
Would you change your approach based on the
result? Perhaps only highlight AFTER reading the
question?
“
Identify
”
– pick out from the text
“
Explain
” – show you understand by using
your own words
“
Summarise
” – show you understand a longer
section of the text by using your own words
and selecting only key/relevant points
“
Analyse
” – select a technique & explain its
effect
Task 4
Look over all of the questions for passage 1.
Can you see the command words being used?
For those that don’t have command words,
can you still work out what type of question it
is?
When answering on word choice you should
follow this approach:
“
quote
” the word
State the
connotations
(what it suggests)
Explain the
effect
this has (in relation to the
question)
Task 5
‘Show me board’ word association game
Task 6
Homework examples
This can be a difficult area because there are
so many different structure techniques
There are different methods you can use to
remember the main ones
Really lazy llamas quietly sleep on pillows
R
L
L
Q
S
O
P
Really lazy llamas quietly sleep on pillows
Repetition
Length
Lists
Question
Sentence type
Order
Punctuation
C
R
I
P
P
L
L
L
S
Climax
Repetition
Inversion
Parenthesis
Punctuation
Length
Lists
Links
Sentence type
To answer a question on sentence structure
you should take the following approach:
State the
technique
being used
“
quote
” where it being used
Explain
why
it has been used
and
what effect
is created (
FUNCTION
&
EFFECT
)
Statement
A simple sentence which includes one point or one fact: eg ‘Orwell
creates a turning point in ‘A Hanging’.
Effect
: impart information / reinforce argument
Commands (Imperatives)
A sentence which includes a clear instruction: eg “Go read George
Orwell’s ‘A hanging’.
Effect
: to provoke an immediate response / reaction
Questions
Rhetorical Questions
: where there is no answer or the speaker
already knows what the answer should be: eg “We don’t kick
grannies, do we?”
Effect
: provoke agreement / disagreement / humour
Minor Sentences
where there is no verb
A punctuation answer should a) identify
the punctuation, then b) state its function
and finally show its effect (the question
will guide you on this).
E
g
S
h
o
w
h
o
w
t
h
e
w
r
i
t
e
r
’
s
l
a
n
g
u
a
g
e
c
o
n
v
e
y
s
h
i
s
a
t
t
i
t
u
d
e
t
o
w
a
r
d
s
h
i
s
m
o
t
h
e
r
’
s
s
h
o
p
p
i
n
g
h
a
b
i
t
.
C
o
l
o
n
i
n
t
r
o
d
u
c
e
s
a
l
i
s
t
o
f
a
l
l
t
h
e
i
t
e
m
s
s
h
e
p
u
r
c
h
a
s
e
d
.
T
h
i
s
s
h
o
w
s
t
h
a
t
h
e
t
h
i
n
k
s
h
i
s
m
o
t
h
e
r
i
s
w
a
s
t
i
n
g
t
o
o
m
u
c
h
m
o
n
e
y
o
n
t
h
i
n
g
s
s
h
e
d
o
e
s
n
’
t
n
e
e
d
.
Punctuation
Function
Effect
Colons: introduce
-
A list, further evidence, an
illustration, a quotation
Colons: balance
-
Two opposite ideas in the same
sentence
Semi-Colons
(can do all the above)
-
Separate out parts of a list
Dash
-
Create a pause / dramatic pause
-
Introduces further information or
additional detail
Parenthesis
-
Created by brackets, double dashes,
commas
-
Add additional information
Lists are usually easy to
identify
-
Look for lots of semi-colons
-
Or commas
and ask yourself whether a list
is being created
However you need to think
about WHY a writer has
chosen a list and the EFFECT
of the list to his line of thought.
Hint – never talk about commas being used to create lists (the
Higher marker isn’t going to award marks for commenting on
the comma) talk about:
the writer uses a list (in line 5 and 6)
in order to show that a lot of things were wrong with the
shopping centre …
If in a sentence structure answer you
find that you can’t comment on
punctuation or a list then consider if
words or phrases are being repeated.
This is the technique of repetition.
Once you have identified the
technique you need to identify the
function of the repetition. The most
likely answers are opposite.
Eg Repetition of “spend” to draw
attention to the fact that his mother
can not stop spending and wasting
her money.
Function
Writers like to move key words
usually to the beginning and
ends of the sentences in order to
make them stand out. This
technique is called
inversion.
“Luminous beings are we, not this
crude matter.”
You would have expected “We are
luminous beings …” but by
putting the word ‘Luminous’ to
the start of the sentence Yoda
draws attention to
one of his
unique qualities.
The effect of inversion is to create effects including
drawing attention to something or surprise.
Short sentences
are usually
easy to spot – but make
sure it’s short sentences
you’re spotting not short
phrases or clauses.
Short sentences
are usually
used either for dramatic
impact or to draw attention
to one thing.
Long sentences
usually
build up an idea, often to a
climax
.
Writers often like
to
juxtapose
a long sentence
with a short sentence to
make the short sentence
stand out by contrast.
Task 7
Attempt the questions on the practise
passage that refer to language
Select an aspect of sentence structure to
analyse in your answer
Pupils sometimes struggle with questions on
imagery, yet if you follow the standard
formula used to answer them then you
should find them much easier.
Imagery is exactly what it says – the
techniques used by the writer to help create a
picture of what is being described in the text.
Most common techniques used are:
Simile
Metaphor
Personification
Onomatopoeia (sound of the image)
Alliteration (sound of the image)
To answer a question on imagery you should
take the following approach:
State the
technique
being used
“
quote
” where it being used
State
what is being compared to what
(or
what is being personified as what)
Explain the
effect
of the comparison, using
Just as... so to ...
“His raven hair was slick with gel and
gleamed under the bright lights, like a wet
road at midnight”
“
His raven hair
was slick with gel and
gleamed
like a wet road at midnight”
Simile – “His raven hair...like a wet road at
midnight.”
His hair is being compared to a wet road.
Just as
the road would be dark at midnight
with the car headlamps reflecting on the
puddles of water on the road
, so too
his hair
would be dark in colour and seem to shine
under the lights where it is wet with gel
. This
has the effect that ....
Task 8
Attempt the questions on the practise
passage that refer to language
Select an aspect of imagery to analyse in your
answer
You may find the last question on passage 1
asks you to explain how well a certain
paragraph acts as a conclusion to the
passage as a whole.
In order to do this, your first have to think
about the
purpose
of a conclusion.
The purpose of a conclusion is:
to bring together all of the
points/arguments/ideas that have been
previously made
to express a personal opinion on the subject
To round off by reaching a final decision
(which may not be a concrete answer)
It clearly
contains phrases or statements that link
back
to ideas that have already been made and
may (or may not) give the writer's own opinion
It uses specific
language associated with
conclusions
, such as “In conclusion”, “To sum
up”, “Overall”, “On the whole”, “Moving forward”
etc.
It makes use of a
technique
to enhance the style
of the ending and add impact
To answer an effective conclusion question
you should take the following approach:
“
quote
” any phrases that link back to
ideas
already mentioned earlier
Explain what it links back to
and what was
previously said
OR
“
quote
” an example of concluding
language
or a specific technique
Explain the effect
that it creates
In this guide, learn strategies for analyzing reading passages, summarizing content, and effectively answering questions. Discover the importance of pre-reading, highlighting key information, and understanding question types. Practice with tasks like creating mind maps, summarizing passages in sentences and words, and using highlighters in exams for better comprehension. Emphasize on understanding, analysis, and evaluation when tackling reading comprehension questions.
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Presentation Transcript
To find out what we already know about RUAE To revisit strategies that help you understand the passage To revise formulas for answering specific question types
Task 1 With a partner, create a mind-map to show all that you associate with RUAE
When faced with an RUAE passage for the first time, ALWAYS before you start answering questions. ALWAYS read it all the way through The purpose of this reading is simply to gain a basic understanding basic understanding of what it is about. DON T techniques at this stage. DON T worry about language, vocabulary or
Task 2 After reading the passage, try to sum it up in 5 sentences. 5 sentences. Using those 5 sentences, now try to sum it up further in 5 words 5 words. Finally, what 1 word who passage? 1 word could summarise the
Using a highlighter is a great tool in an exam but don t go daft! Highlight with focus Anticipate what the question will be
Task 3 In groups, look at a specific paragraph and highlight the words/phrases that stand out to you remember to anticipate! Now look at the questions have your selections matched with the demands of the question being asked? Would you change your approach based on the result? Perhaps only highlight AFTER reading the question?
Understanding Understanding Analysis Analysis Evaluation Evaluation Questions look at WHAT test whether or not you have understood what you have read. Questions get you to think about HOW was written and how effective the language is. Questions consider WHY written and whether or not the writer has been successful. WHAT was written and HOW it WHY the piece was
Identify Explain your own words Summarise section of the text by using your own words and selecting only key/relevant points Analyse effect Identify pick out from the text Explain show you understand by using Summarise show you understand a longer Analyse select a technique & explain its
Task 4 Look over all of the questions for passage 1. Can you see the command words being used? For those that don t have command words, can you still work out what type of question it is?
When answering on word choice you should follow this approach: quote State the connotations Explain the effect question) quote the word connotations (what it suggests) effect this has (in relation to the
Task 5 Show me board word association game Task 6 Homework examples
This can be a difficult area because there are so many different structure techniques There are different methods you can use to remember the main ones
Really lazy llamas quietly sleep on pillows Really lazy llamas quietly sleep on pillows R L L Q S O P
Really lazy llamas quietly sleep on pillows Really lazy llamas quietly sleep on pillows Repetition Length Lists Question Sentence type Order Punctuation
C R I P P L L L S
Climax Repetition Inversion Parenthesis Punctuation Length Lists Links Sentence type
To answer a question on sentence structure you should take the following approach: State the technique quote Explain why is created (FUNCTION & EFFECT) technique being used quote where it being used why it has been used and and what effect what effect
Statement A simple sentence which includes one point or one fact: eg Orwell creates a turning point in A Hanging . Effect Commands (Imperatives) A sentence which includes a clear instruction: eg Go read George Orwell s A hanging . Effect Questions Rhetorical Questions already knows what the answer should be: eg We don t kick grannies, do we? Effect Minor Sentences where there is no verb Statement Effect: impart information / reinforce argument Commands (Imperatives) Effect: to provoke an immediate response / reaction Questions Rhetorical Questions: where there is no answer or the speaker Effect: provoke agreement / disagreement / humour Minor Sentences
A punctuation answer should a) identify the punctuation, then b) state its function and finally show its effect (the question will guide you on this). Eg Show how the writer s language conveys his attitude towards his mother s shopping habit. Colon introduces a list of all the items she purchased. This shows that he thinks his mother is wasting too much money on things she doesn t need. Punctuation Function Effect
Colons: introduce - A list, further evidence, an illustration, a quotation Colons: balance - Two opposite ideas in the same sentence Semi - Separate out parts of a list Dash - Create a pause / dramatic pause - Introduces further information or additional detail Parenthesis - Created by brackets, double dashes, commas - Add additional information Colons: introduce Colons: balance Semi- -Colons Colons (can do all the above) Dash Parenthesis
Lists are usually easy to identify - Look for lots of semi-colons - Or commas and ask yourself whether a list is being created However you need to think about WHY a writer has chosen a list and the EFFECT of the list to his line of thought. Hint never talk about commas being used to create lists (the Higher marker isn t going to award marks for commenting on the comma) talk about: the writer uses a list (in line 5 and 6) in order to show that a lot of things were wrong with the shopping centre the writer uses a list (in line 5 and 6) in order to show that a lot of things were wrong with the shopping centre
If in a sentence structure answer you find that you can t comment on punctuation or a list then consider if words or phrases are being repeated. This is the technique of repetition. Once you have identified the technique you need to identify the function of the repetition. The most likely answers are opposite. Eg Repetition of spend to draw attention to the fact that his mother can not stop spending and wasting her money. Function
Writers like to move key words usually to the beginning and ends of the sentences in order to make them stand out. This technique is called inversion. inversion. Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter. Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter. You would have expected We are luminous beings but by putting the word Luminous to the start of the sentence Yoda draws attention to unique qualities. draws attention to one of his The effect of inversion is to create effects including drawing attention to something or surprise. The effect of inversion is to create effects including drawing attention to something or surprise.
Short sentences easy to spot but make sure it s short sentences you re spotting not short phrases or clauses. Short sentences are usually Short sentences used either for dramatic impact or to draw attention to one thing. Short sentences are usually Long sentences build up an idea, often to a climax Long sentences usually climax. Writers often like to juxtapose with a short sentence to make the short sentence stand out by contrast. to juxtapose a long sentence
Task 7 Attempt the questions on the practise passage that refer to language Select an aspect of sentence structure to analyse in your answer
Pupils sometimes struggle with questions on imagery, yet if you follow the standard formula used to answer them then you should find them much easier. Imagery is exactly what it says the techniques used by the writer to help create a picture of what is being described in the text.
Most common techniques used are: Simile Metaphor Personification Onomatopoeia (sound of the image) Alliteration (sound of the image)
To answer a question on imagery you should take the following approach: State the technique quote State what is being compared to what what is being personified as what) Explain the effect Just as... so to ... technique being used quote where it being used what is being compared to what (or effect of the comparison, using Just as... so to ...
His raven hair was slick with gel and gleamed under the bright lights, like a wet road at midnight
His raven hair was slick with gel and gleamed like a wet road at midnight Simile His raven hair...like a wet road at midnight. His hair is being compared to a wet road. Just as the road would be dark at midnight with the car headlamps reflecting on the puddles of water on the road, so too his hair would be dark in colour and seem to shine under the lights where it is wet with gel. This has the effect that ....
Task 8 Attempt the questions on the practise passage that refer to language Select an aspect of imagery to analyse in your answer
You may find the last question on passage 1 asks you to explain how well a certain paragraph acts as a conclusion to the passage as a whole. In order to do this, your first have to think about the purpose purpose of a conclusion.
The purpose of a conclusion is: to bring together all of the points/arguments/ideas that have been previously made to express a personal opinion on the subject To round off by reaching a final decision (which may not be a concrete answer)
It clearly contains phrases or statements that link back may (or may not) give the writer's own opinion contains phrases or statements that link back to ideas that have already been made and It uses specific language associated with conclusions up , Overall , On the whole , Moving forward etc. language associated with conclusions, such as In conclusion , To sum It makes use of a technique of the ending and add impact technique to enhance the style
To answer an effective conclusion question you should take the following approach: quote any phrases that link back to ideas already mentioned earlier Explain what it links back to and what was previously said OR quote an example of concluding language or a specific technique Explain the effect that it creates OR
