Teas Reading Skills

SUMMARIZE A MULTI-PARAGRAPH TEXT

This objective includes, but is not limited to, the following examples of knowledge, skills, and abilities.

• Identify the main idea and supporting details in a single paragraph of the text.

• Identify the topic of the text.

• Identify the main idea(s) of the text.

• Identify the key points in the text.

• Explain how details support the main idea in the text.

• Paraphrase key points in the text to demonstrate an understanding of the relationship of ideas in the text.

• Distinguish between relevant and irrelevant ideas in a text needed to compose an objective summary of a multiple-paragraph text.

MAKE INFERENCES AND DRAW CONCLUSIONS ABOUT A TEXT’S PURPOSE AND MEANING

This objective includes, but is not limited to, the following examples of knowledge, skills, and abilities.

• Identify evidence used in a text to support conclusions.

• Distinguish between explicit and implicit evidence given to describe conclusions.

• Explain how explicit and implicit evidence supports logical conclusions.

DEMONSTRATE COMPREHENSION OF WRITTEN DIRECTIONS

This objective includes, but is not limited to, the following examples of knowledge, skills, and abilities.

• Identify words and phrases that signify order.

• Identify contradictions between and among steps.

• Identify priorities in a set of directions.

• Identify the relationship among steps in a procedure.

• Identify missing information needed to complete a set of directions, process, or procedure.

• Determine a logical conclusion for performing a set of directions based on information provided in those directions.

LOCATE SPECIFIC INFORMATION IN A TEXT

This objective includes, but is not limited to, the following examples of knowledge, skills, and abilities.

• Select relevant information (to solve a problem, to inform a decision).

• Ask questions to determine information missing in a text needed for a given purpose.

• Use textual features to locate information (headings and subheadings, keys, legends, boldface, italics, footnotes, glossary, index, table of contents).

• Use navigational tools in media to find information such as search query or engine.

ANALYZE, INTERPRET, AND APPLY INFORMATION FROM CHARTS, GRAPHS, AND OTHER VISUALS

This objective includes, but is not limited to, the following examples of knowledge, skills, and abilities.

• Locate important and/or relevant information from a graphic.

• Interpret graphic representation of ideas (in maps, pictographs, bar graphs).

• Identify evidence that is misleading or biased.

• Use important and/or relevant information needed to solve a problem.

• Distinguish between relevant and irrelevant ideas or arguments presented in a text.

• Determine additional evidence needed to strengthen an argument or better meet the author’s purpose.

INTERPRET EVENTS IN A SEQUENCE

This objective includes, but is not limited to, the following examples of knowledge, skills, and abilities.

• Identify and evaluate the words or phrases that indicate sequence of events (first, second, third).

• Identify the language in a text that creates cohesion between events in a sequence including transition words (today, finally) and verb tense (past or future tense).

• Draw conclusions based on a series of events presented in a text.

• Identify gaps in the sequence conveyed in a text.

• Order events chronologically (where the text uses flashback or flash-forward).

DISTINGUISH BETWEEN FACT AND OPINION TO IDENTIFY MISCONCEPTIONS AND BIASES

This objective includes, but is not limited to, the following examples of knowledge, skills, and abilities.

• Identify factual writing supported by evidence.

• Identify an author’s point of view in a text.

• Identify an author’s tone and explain how it causes a text to be more biased or less.

• Identify biases in a text (stereotypes, ethnocentric references).

• Distinguish between fact and opinion.

INTERPRET THE MEANING OF WORDS AND PHRASES USING CONTEXT

This objective includes, but is not limited to, the following examples of knowledge, skills, and abilities.

• Infer the correct definition of a word or phrase using context clues.

• Recognize the cumulative effect of word choice on meaning or mood.

• Distinguish between the denotative and connotative meaning of words or phrases based on context clues provided.

• Distinguish between literal and figurative language using context clues.

EVALUATE THE AUTHOR’S PURPOSE IN A GIVEN TEXT

This objective includes, but is not limited to, the following examples of knowledge, skills, and abilities.

• Identify the most important evidence that supports the author’s purpose.

• Determine the author’s purpose.

• Distinguish between fact and opinion.

• Analyze the tone (satiric, sarcastic, ironic).

• Draw inferences about the author’s purpose or message.

EVALUATE THE AUTHOR’S POINT OF VIEW OR PERSPECTIVE IN A GIVEN TEXT

This objective includes, but is not limited to, the following examples of knowledge, skills, and abilities.

• Identify different perspectives presented in text.

• Evaluate the credibility of the text source (author, publication, organization).

• Evaluate the relevancy and accuracy of information.

• Determine the author’s point of view or perspective.

USE EVIDENCE FROM THE TEXT TO MAKE PREDICTIONS, INFERENCES, AND DRAW CONCLUSIONS

This objective includes, but is not limited to, the following examples of knowledge, skills, and abilities.

• Cite evidence from the text to support a prediction.

• Cite evidence from the text to support interpretations.

• Cite evidence from the text to support a conclusion.

COMPARE AND CONTRAST THE THEMES EXPRESSED IN ONE OR MORE TEXTS

This objective includes, but is not limited to, the following examples of knowledge, skills, and abilities.

• Identify a theme appearing in different works on the same topic.

• Distinguish variation in themes between two texts.

• Compare and contrast themes across media, genres, and/or cultures.

EVALUATE AN ARGUMENT

This objective includes, but is not limited to, the following examples of knowledge, skills, and abilities.

• Identify the claims and counterclaims made in an argument.

• Evaluate whether evidence made to support an argument is relevant and sufficient.

• Compare texts from different sources and opinions in terms of their credibility in support of an argument.

• Evaluate the effectiveness of cited evidence from primary and secondary sources.

• Identify false or misleading statements or data used to support an argument.

• Analyze how effectively the author uses rhetorical devices (appeal to crowd mentality, appeal to logic using facts and data) to persuade the audience.

EVALUATE AND INTEGRATE DATA FROM MULTIPLE SOURCES ACROSS VARIOUS FORMATS, INCLUDING MEDIA

This objective includes, but is not limited to, the following examples of knowledge, skills, and abilities.

• Organize data from various sources.

• Analyze various data sources.

• Select data relevant to a given purpose (claim or argument).

• Evaluate whether additional evidence is needed to draw a conclusion or to make an inference.

• Evaluate the utility of ideas that, if added, would make a text argument more logical, relevant, or useful.

• Synthesize data from texts, charts, or graphs.

• Synthesize information from multiple sources to form a prediction, make an inference, and draw a conclusion.