Transcript No Slide Title

Understanding Sentences
College Readers Understand Key Parts of
Academic Sentences.
Adapted from the Guide to College Reading
Are academic sentences complex?
• Sentences have
parts to express
basic meaning.
• Many academic
sentences combine
ideas.
• Academic text also
features lots of
complicated
sentences.
Do academic sentences
put you on the spot?
Steps to Reading Sentences
1) Locate the key
Is the dad impressed by
his son’s vocabulary?
ideas.
2) Study the
modifiers.
3) Check unknown
words.
4) Paraphrase, using
your own words to
express ideas.
How to locate key ideas
Find the Subject, Verb, and Object:
– The subject, often a noun, identifies the
person or object the sentence is about.
– The verb, tells what the person or object
is doing or has done.
– The object completes the verb.
• The average college student reads academic
texts three hours per day.
• Many professors have three academic
degrees, including master’s and doctorates.
Sentences with Two Major Ideas
Sentences
with two
equally
important
ideas are
often
combined
using a comma
plus a simple
conjunction
like “so”.
• Two related ideas:
1) Marlene was in obvious
danger.
2) Joe quickly pulled Marlene
from the street.
• Combined sentence:
Marlene was in obvious
danger, so Joe quickly
pulled her from the
street.
Complicated Sentences
The subject
of this
complex
sentence is
intelligence.
The word is
followed by
a limiting
phrase, and
then the
three key
components
of IQ exam.
• What is the meaning of
this sentence?
– Intelligence, as
measured by an IQ
test, depends on the
kind of test given, the
skills of the examiner,
and the cooperation of
the subject.
Coordinate Ideas
Combine Two Ways
• Often with a comma plus a joining
words: and, or, but, nor, so, for, yet.
– Some students decided to take the
final exam, and others chose to rely
on their semester average.
• Less commonly, with a semi-colon.
– The union members wanted to strike;
the company did nothing to discourage
them.
Subordinate Sentences
• Contain one idea that is more important.
• One or more less important, or subordinate,
ideas that explain the key idea.
• These less important ideas each have their
own subject and predicate.
• They depend on the main sentence to
complete their meaning.
– Because Stewart forgot to make a payment,
he had to pay a late charge on his loan.
– Although the normal semester is fifteen
weeks, our class meets for just twelve weeks.
Recognize Modifiers
Answer Questions
• What
• Where
• Which
• When
• How
• Why
Adjectives, Adverbs,
Prep Phrases:
1. The red car sped
past.
2. It left so rapidly
that the tires
peeled.
3. It happened in
the afternoon.
Managing new vocabulary
1. Pronounce it
2. Use context
3. Analyze word
parts
4. Check the
glossary
5. Check the
dictionary
What kind of words is
the boy interested in?
How to paraphrase a sentence
Does the patient need
a simple paraphrase?
1. Substitute synonyms
for nouns, adjectives,
and verbs:
• It was a vexing
situation.
 It seemed to be a
difficult condition.
2. Rearrange sentence
parts:
 The condition
appeared
troublesome.
Can you match paraphrases?
1. The course
a. The key point is
concerns reading
what we are
and vocabulary.
learning to find.
2. We are studying b. Reading
how to identify
comprehension
the main idea.
and academic
words are what
3. It is important
the class covers.
for us to be able
to paraphrase.
c. Paraphrasing is a
vital skill for us.
To paraphrase, divide long
sentences into shorter ones.
3. Although the Mexican-American
War (1846-48) might have left the
country weary and bankrupt, that
did not mean foreign intrusion would
be met with no resistance.
 The Mexican-American War of 184648 made the country tired and poor.
 Still the people would fight any
invading army.
The paraphrase keeps
the original emphasis.
•
When the United
States civil war
came to an end,
President Lincoln
kept the pledge he
had made to
President Juarez:
Lincoln immediately
demanded that all
French troops be
withdrawn from
Mexican soil or face
the combined power
of the U.S. and
Mexico.
• Just as he had
promised President
Juarez, President
Lincoln threatened
that Mexico and
the US would
attack the French
if they didn’t leave
Mexico at the
conclusion of the
civil war between
the states.
How do you like to
paraphrase sentences?
Creative Learner
• Looking away from
the sentence &
writing its
meaning. Compare
your paraphrase
with the original
sentence & revise,
as needed.
Pragmatic Learner
• Working
systematically,
piece-by-piece,
paraphrasing each
phrase or clause.
Paraphrases can use
subordinating conjunctions.
Joining
Words:
• Before,
after, while,
during, until,
when, once
Meaning
clues:
• Indicate
time
connections
Examples:
• After
taking the
test, Leon
felt
relieved.
• When he
got an A,
he became
excited.
Subordinating conjunctions
can connect reasons.
Joining
Meaning
Words:
clues:
• Because,
• Gives
since, so that reasons
Examples:
• Because I
was working, I
was unable to
go bowling.
• Ed studied
so that he
could pass the
examination.
Subordinating conjunctions
can explain conditions.
Joining
Meaning
Words:
clues:
• If, unless,
• Explains
whether, even conditions
if
Examples:
• Unless I
leave work
early, I’ll miss
class.
• Even if you
are not done,
class is.
Subordinating conjunctions
can explain circumstances.
Joining
Meaning
Words:
clues:
• Although, as • Explains
far as, in
circumstance
order to,
however
Examples:
• Although I
used a
dictionary, I
still did not
fully
understand
the word.
Reading Keys Summary
1) Locate the key ideas.
2) Study the modifiers.
3) Check unknown words.
4) Paraphrase, using your
own words to express
ideas.