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I am preparing for the MCAT and the verbal reasoning passage appears to be the most challenging section. While it's significance is justifiable, I find it to be an exploitation of the backside of the very things that make us desire to be future scientist and medical doctors. We like facts, we like science and we don't necessarily mingle with nuances. Verbal Reasoning is more or less an art form -___-. Some among us possess an innate inclination to read material likely to be presented on the verbal reasoning section, and they tend to naturally do well on this section; not me. Anyways, I've faced this bull by the horn and have discovered these trends in my reading and practice and believe virtually all question fall somewhere within these realms. I would like one passage (Humanities, Social Science, Natural Science) with about 600-800 words to be posted per day and the following points evaluated and answered. Great sources include but aren't limited to op-eds found here (op-ed.alltop.com) or articles found here (www.scientificamerican.com/all_topics.cfm). Join the conversation and answer the questions or post a passage to be evaluated. If you disagree with an assessment, please address it respectfully; we welcome ALL positive and constructive contributions. If you find this exercise useful, let's journey together, if you don't move along. This is meant to be lightened practice that should take about 10-12 minutes and not a replacement for heavy verbal practice and review.
1. Main point/Central thesis
Identifying the main point is most important skill one can acquire in an attempt to master verbal reasoning passages as it can be used to answer the majority of questions presented in one way or another. Consequently, as you read it's imperative that your primary goal be to establish the central thesis of the passage. There can be aimless and incongruous rambling around this point so don't get caught in an author's inability to write by trying to microscopically evaluate every sentence. The main point allows us to make appropriate assumptions and tie seemingly enigmatic and contradicting relationships together to deduce the overall theme being presented.
Q: Write the main point of the passage in one or two sentences.
2. Attitude towards the subject/Reason for writing/Why is he mad?
Some people pick up the pen because they are happy but in a lot of cases used on the MCAT verbal reasoning section, they are not. Something has made them uneasy and they are all about letting it known. Key adjectives employed by the author will provide and insight into how she/he truly feels. This can be a direct question or it can help you answer another question.
Q: What is author's attitude towards the subject? One word answer
3. Evidence presented? Weak/strong/Why?
Author's can be extremely egotistical especially when presenting polarizing material. They are often of the conviction that their point is so unambiguous, it should be clear to a 5 year old and hence present limited evidence. Holes can be blown into these arguments very easily. To the contrary, some authors draw on many instances or "facts" that would support their points, making them less likely to crumble under scrutiny and pressure.
Q: Were the evidence presented strong or weak? Why?
4. Contrasting accounts? Who would the author agree with? Why? How does he feel about each?
Often times, in an effort to illustrate or bolster a point, an author will make references to one or more "experts" in a given field. Sometimes, there are extreme or slight differences between the experts' opinion, and you as the reader is expected to negotiate these differences, emerging with the ability to distinguish between them and how the author feels about them. It's also important we can accurately judge the soundness or credibility of the sources. Furthermore it's important to know how emerging information will affect these opinions.
Q: If this is presented in this passage, who would the author agree with? Who would you agree with? Why was this source chosen?
5. What else would he support? What would he not support?
An author with a certain tone and perspective will support certain viewpoints or efforts that may parallel what he presented in the passage. On the other hand, he may not support anything that contradicts his view. This is where you may be asked to evaluate real world applications, some of which will be factual but a stretch of the information being presented. Numerous MCAT verbal questions run along these lines.
Q: Write one real world application the author would support and one he wouldn't support.
6. Hypothetical discoveries challenging or supporting the author's point of view.
New discoveries are made each day by some form of research and these discoveries can challenge conventional "wisdom," or support existing perspectives including that of the author. Many verbal reasoning passages carries such questions.
Q: Provide one discovery that would challenge and one that would support the author's view.
7. Who is the intended audience?
Authors gear their work towards a certain audience and would like a certain message to be taken from the piece written. Knowing the intended audience will help you gain an understanding of the main point or help you to answer specific questions.
Q: To whom is the author talking?
8. If you met this author, what would you tell him?
This is important because a key to doing of doing well in verbal reasoning is confidence. It's important that you characterize the author by confidently disdaining the opinionated absurdities he is trying to tell you, or warmly embracing this awesome information he is presenting in such an elegant fashion. Additionally, if something doesn't make sense, chalk it up to the author's poor choice of words or his overall inability to write. Don't waste time rereading lines trying to make clarifications.
Q: If you met with author, what would you say? What the f#%k were you thinking?! You are the man!
9. Conclusion from a description.
In the passages reside key descriptions that are meant to influence the readers outlook on the topic being presented or evaluated. All passages contain these, one or more that can be used to better understand the author's intentions or perspective. It's imperative that we be able to paraphrase these descriptions and understand that the phrases or words are contextual. Some passages on MCAT exams have questions like these.
Q: Find a key description, paraphrase it and draw a conclusion from it.
10. Author's occupation
A persons occupation can dramatically influence their writing style. As you read, be mindful of clues that may indicate what the author does for a living. Often times there are exact questions that relate to this or that this knowledge can help you answer.
Q: What's the author's occupation?
Go ahead and post the first passage!
Ps: This account was created for this purpose.
1. Main point/Central thesis
Identifying the main point is most important skill one can acquire in an attempt to master verbal reasoning passages as it can be used to answer the majority of questions presented in one way or another. Consequently, as you read it's imperative that your primary goal be to establish the central thesis of the passage. There can be aimless and incongruous rambling around this point so don't get caught in an author's inability to write by trying to microscopically evaluate every sentence. The main point allows us to make appropriate assumptions and tie seemingly enigmatic and contradicting relationships together to deduce the overall theme being presented.
Q: Write the main point of the passage in one or two sentences.
2. Attitude towards the subject/Reason for writing/Why is he mad?
Some people pick up the pen because they are happy but in a lot of cases used on the MCAT verbal reasoning section, they are not. Something has made them uneasy and they are all about letting it known. Key adjectives employed by the author will provide and insight into how she/he truly feels. This can be a direct question or it can help you answer another question.
Q: What is author's attitude towards the subject? One word answer
3. Evidence presented? Weak/strong/Why?
Author's can be extremely egotistical especially when presenting polarizing material. They are often of the conviction that their point is so unambiguous, it should be clear to a 5 year old and hence present limited evidence. Holes can be blown into these arguments very easily. To the contrary, some authors draw on many instances or "facts" that would support their points, making them less likely to crumble under scrutiny and pressure.
Q: Were the evidence presented strong or weak? Why?
4. Contrasting accounts? Who would the author agree with? Why? How does he feel about each?
Often times, in an effort to illustrate or bolster a point, an author will make references to one or more "experts" in a given field. Sometimes, there are extreme or slight differences between the experts' opinion, and you as the reader is expected to negotiate these differences, emerging with the ability to distinguish between them and how the author feels about them. It's also important we can accurately judge the soundness or credibility of the sources. Furthermore it's important to know how emerging information will affect these opinions.
Q: If this is presented in this passage, who would the author agree with? Who would you agree with? Why was this source chosen?
5. What else would he support? What would he not support?
An author with a certain tone and perspective will support certain viewpoints or efforts that may parallel what he presented in the passage. On the other hand, he may not support anything that contradicts his view. This is where you may be asked to evaluate real world applications, some of which will be factual but a stretch of the information being presented. Numerous MCAT verbal questions run along these lines.
Q: Write one real world application the author would support and one he wouldn't support.
6. Hypothetical discoveries challenging or supporting the author's point of view.
New discoveries are made each day by some form of research and these discoveries can challenge conventional "wisdom," or support existing perspectives including that of the author. Many verbal reasoning passages carries such questions.
Q: Provide one discovery that would challenge and one that would support the author's view.
7. Who is the intended audience?
Authors gear their work towards a certain audience and would like a certain message to be taken from the piece written. Knowing the intended audience will help you gain an understanding of the main point or help you to answer specific questions.
Q: To whom is the author talking?
8. If you met this author, what would you tell him?
This is important because a key to doing of doing well in verbal reasoning is confidence. It's important that you characterize the author by confidently disdaining the opinionated absurdities he is trying to tell you, or warmly embracing this awesome information he is presenting in such an elegant fashion. Additionally, if something doesn't make sense, chalk it up to the author's poor choice of words or his overall inability to write. Don't waste time rereading lines trying to make clarifications.
Q: If you met with author, what would you say? What the f#%k were you thinking?! You are the man!
9. Conclusion from a description.
In the passages reside key descriptions that are meant to influence the readers outlook on the topic being presented or evaluated. All passages contain these, one or more that can be used to better understand the author's intentions or perspective. It's imperative that we be able to paraphrase these descriptions and understand that the phrases or words are contextual. Some passages on MCAT exams have questions like these.
Q: Find a key description, paraphrase it and draw a conclusion from it.
10. Author's occupation
A persons occupation can dramatically influence their writing style. As you read, be mindful of clues that may indicate what the author does for a living. Often times there are exact questions that relate to this or that this knowledge can help you answer.
Q: What's the author's occupation?
Go ahead and post the first passage!
Ps: This account was created for this purpose.
