Self-study
RC Passage Style
5 RC Passage Style tags
Critique or debate
Avg. 12.6 per section
Critique or debate passages contain multiple points of view on a particular subject. Sometimes the author takes sides and participates in the critique or debate, other times the author merely reports the debate.
Reading Comprehension: Critique or Debate Passage 1, Paragraph 1 (Greek Dramas)
Reading Comprehension: Critique or Debate Passage 2, Paragraph 1 (Custom Illustrations)
Reading Comprehension: Critique or Debate Passage 3, Paragraph 1 (Corporate Responsibility)
Reading Comprehension: The Critique or Debate Style
Key tactics
- Your low-res summary will prove particularly useful in these passages, which will often test you by attempting to put various claims in the wrong person's mouth.
- Pay special attention to concessions, especially those that seem structurally unimportant. If the author cedes a minor point to their critics, you can often expect an author's attitude question where the right answer points out that the author agrees with this point that seemingly comes from the wrong side.
- Similarly, pay close attention to the question stems, which will often ask for claims that the other party agrees with, then include a few claims that the author agrees with instead.
Answer choice tips
- The main point of a Critique or debate depends on the presence of the author’s opinion:
- If the author is the source of one of the perspectives, or supports one of the perspectives, the main point is that perspective.
- If the author is not the source of a perspective and does not support any perspective, the main point depends on whether the passage focuses on presenting one perspective or discusses multiple perspectives relatively equally.
- If the passage focuses on one perspective, then the main point is that someone holds that perspective.
- If the passage doesn’t focus on one perspective, then the main point is the fact there’s a debate about the subject.
Phenomenon-hypothesis (RC)
Avg. 2.6 per section
Passages that focus on describing or evaluating potential explanations for a given phenomenon. Causal reasoning features prominently in these passages.
Reading Comprehension: The Phenomenon-Hypothesis Style
Reading Comprehension: Phen-Hypo Passage, Paragraph 1 (Late Heavy Bombardment)
Reading Comprehension: Phen-Hypo Passage 2, Paragraph 1 (Medieval Glass)
Key tactics
- In Reading Comp, phenomenon-hypothesis reasoning is often displayed on a grander scale, with whole paragraphs dedicated to describing the phenomenon and presenting the hypothesis.
- You should aspire to recognize phenomenon-hypothesis reasoning by name when it appears, and to associate it immediately with the concepts and strategies familiar to you from LR.
- Anticipate strengthen, weaken, and explain questions associated with the passage, which you should address similarly to their cousins in LR: focus on evaluating alternate hypotheses, bolstering or challenging the causal mechanism, and evaluating whether scientific experiments have been conducted appropriately.
Answer choice tips
- The main point of a Phenomenon-hypothesis passage depends on the presence of the author’s opinion:
- If the author supports an explanation, the main point is the success or promise of that explanation.
- If the author doesn’t support any explanation but criticizes someone else’s explanation, the main point is the shortcomings of that explanation.
- If the author doesn’t express any opinion and just neutrally presents one or more explanations, the main point is that the proposed hypothesis (or hypotheses) serves to explain (or potentially explain) the phenomenon.
Problem-analysis
Avg. 7.4 per section
Passages that present a particular problem and then discuss the implications of that problem. They also often explore one or more solutions to that problem (although they don’t have to).
Reading Comprehension: The Problem-Analysis Style
Reading Comprehension: Problem-Analysis Passage, Paragraph 1 (Broadcasting)
Reading Comprehension: Problem-Analysis Passage 2, Paragraph 1 (Tradition)
Key tactics
- As you read a Problem-analysis passage, keep these guiding questions in mind:
- What’s the problem, and what makes it such a problem?
- What solutions, if any, are presented?
- What are the reasons for or against those solutions?
Answer choice tips
- The main point of a Problem-analysis passage depends on whether any solutions are presented:
- If the author discusses solutions, the main point is about the potential of those solutions and the author’s opinion on them (if any).
- If the author doesn’t present any solutions, the main point is the nature of the problem itself.
Single position
Avg. 9.0 per section
Passages that develop one perspective on the central topic.
Reading Comprehension: The Single Position Style
Reading Comprehension: Single Position Passage, Paragraph 1 (Stealing Thunder)
Key tactics
- When reading a Single position passage, keep these guiding questions in mind:
- What is the subject of the passage?
- What perspective does the passage advance about that subject? What does the author think?
- What is offered to support that perspective?
Answer choice tips
- The main point of a Single position passage centers on the perspective advanced about the subject.
- If the author is the source of that perspective, then the main point is that perspective.
- If the author is not the source of that perspective, then the main point is the fact that another source advances that perspective.
Spotlight
Avg. 1.6 per section
Passages that highlight a person, issue, or historical event or development. These passages often focus on why that thing is significant, distinctive, or interesting.
Reading Comprehension: The Spotlight Style
Reading Comprehension: Spotlight Passage, Paragraph 1 (Kate Chopin)
Reading Comprehension: Spotlight Passage 2, Paragraph 1 (Mphahlele)
Key tactics
- As you read a Spotlight passage, keep these guiding questions in mind:
- What is the thing being spotlighted?
- What does the passage state or imply is significant, distinctive, or interesting about that thing?
- What was the origin and/or impact of that thing? What were the influences on that thing?
- Spotlight passages typically explore what makes that thing significant, distinctive, or interesting. Often, what makes the thing significant, distinctive, or interesting is its origin or influences, or its impact.
Answer choice tips
- The main point of a Spotlight passage is usually the idea that the thing being spotlighted is significant, distinctive, or interesting. Sometimes the main point is just a summary of its origin, influences, or impact.