Does anyone have any advice for not psyching yourself out on harder RC passages? I find myself freaking out and having to re-read over and over again because I convince myself I can't understand the passage. I've tried focusing on finding the structure/opinions/etc., slowing down, taking deep breaths, and even powering through, but then I finish and I have no idea what I just read. Any advice?
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Hi!
You’re definitely not alone in feeling this way! One of the most important things to remember is that you don’t need to understand every single sentence perfectly on your first read. Instead, try to focus on the big picture: what’s the main story of the passage, what is each paragraph doing, and whose viewpoints are being discussed? As you read, pause after each paragraph and ask yourself, in just a few words, what was the point of that section.
If you hit a sentence that doesn’t make sense, don’t worry. Try not to reread it right away. Instead, finish the paragraph first. Often, the rest of the paragraph will help make things clearer. If you still need to understand that sentence when you’re answering a question, you can always come back to it. This way, you avoid getting stuck and turning one tricky sentence into a cycle of rereading and stress.