Module 1

Passage IDs

Problem Passage

Raises a social problem or dilemma and generally discusses a solution

Clash Passage

Features clashing views

Explain

Presents noteworthy information about a person, topic, position, etc

Author Solution

Problem Passage
The author tells the reader about a problem and ultimately presents her solution to the problem.

Author Solution Main Point

Will revolve around the authors solution to the problem

Someone’s Solution

Problem Passage: The author introduces the reader to a problem and conveys someone’s solution to the problem

Someone’s Solution Main Point

Summary of viewpoint solution the author introduced

Author Explores Problem

Problem Passage: The passage introduces a problem and then explores the nature of the problem

Author Explores Problem Main Point

Summary of the problem the author discussed in the passage

Three Kinds of Author Positions

Affirmative: Where the author puts forward an affirmative position. The Author asserts their view in a way that is not pointing a finger directly at another party. Ex: “I think we should do X. Here are my reasons.”

Critical: Where the author criticizes someone else’s viewpoint. For example: “You’re wrong about X. Here are the flaws with your methodology.”

Support: Where the author speaks up in support of a viewpoint introduced in the passage.

Affirmative

Where the author puts forward an affirmative position. The Author asserts their view in a way that is not pointing a finger directly at another party. Ex: “I think we should do X. Here are my reasons.”

Critical

Where the author criticizes someone else’s viewpoint. For example: “You’re wrong about X. Here are the flaws with your methodology.”

Support

Where the author speaks up in support of a viewpoint introduced in the passage.

Author Criticizes a Viewpoint

Clash: The author attacks a viewpoint described in the passage.
Example: Bob thinks the earth is flat. Here is why his calculations are flawed.

Author Criticizes a Viewpoint Main Point

VP is problematic, the VP is wrong, the VP is flawed etc.. OR names or describes the VP and says some version of what’s wrong with the VP. Ex) VP is simplistic

Author Criticizes a Viewpoint and Offers Her Own:

Clash Author not only attacks a viewpoint but presents her own position. 

Example:  Bob thinks the earth is flat. Here is why his calculations are flawed. I think the earth is globular because of X,Y, and Z.

Author Criticizes a Viewpoint and Offers Her Own Main Point

Revolves around the author's independent position. It does not need to mention the criticism of the VP.

Multiple Viewpoints Present and Author Takes a Side

Clash: The author presents multiple viewpoints and takes a side or leans towards one of the sides.

Some people think the Earth is flat. Other people believe the Earth is globular. I agree with the globular folks.

Multiple Viewpoints Present and Author Takes a Side Main Point

Summarize the VP the author clearly agrees with

If you don’t pick up on the support or there is none ask:

Which side gets more coverage?

Which side is presented last? Which side gets the final word?

Development

Explain: The author discusses something new (a development in science, legal thinking, etc.) often contrasting it with something older (tradition, previous thinking, etc)

Development Main Point

Main Point: Summary of the development

Profile

Explain: The author conveys important noteworthy and interesting aspects of a person’s artistic work.

Profile Main Point

A summary of the list of qualities

Question and Answer

Explain: The passage revolves around a stated or implied question and the answer to the question. 

Explain Main Point

Summary of Author’s Answer

Tell

Explain: the passage tells about a topic/issue, someone’s hypothesis/research on X, the author’s position on X, etc. A catch all subtype.

Tell Main Point

A summary of the author explained about the topic, issue, position, research or hypothesis that the author wrote about.