Top Law Schools

Is it possible to improve on reading comp from averaging 4-5 questions wrong to maybe 2 wrong in a period of a month or two?

What's the best approach?

Thanks.

Absolutely.

There are several ways to go about mastering reading comp. I think the best way is careful annotation of the passage as you read it allowing you to quickly find the answers to the questions when you get to them.

Some people hate that method. Others have sworn by it.

What is your current method?

whymeohgodno wrote:Is it possible to improve on reading comp from averaging 4-5 questions wrong to maybe 2 wrong in a period of a month or two?

What's the best approach?

Thanks.

I underline a lot. This doesn't really help me keep track of where things are, but helps me to keep them in my head as I read.

I circle stuff when they seem important.

Only real notation I use is a small "ex" whenever I see an example being used.

Ok... sounds like you aren't really getting a lot out of your notes. You could be getting so much more. See if this helps:

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... eading+Comp

Outlining doesn't work for me. When I read the passages, I pretend like they are being written directly to me. I know that sounds corny, but somehow it helps me to really get into it. I think it's important to do whatever you can to become interested in the readings. When I outline, it distracts me and makes it harder to understand the overall theme/attitude of the passage. Good luck!

unattended bag wrote:Outlining doesn't work for me. When I read the passages, I pretend like they are being written directly to me. I know that sounds corny, but somehow it helps me to really get into it. I think it's important to do whatever you can to become interested in the readings. When I outline, it distracts me and makes it harder to understand the overall theme/attitude of the passage. Good luck!

I agree with that.

whymeohgodno wrote:

whymeohgodno wrote:Is it possible to improve on reading comp from averaging 4-5 questions wrong to maybe 2 wrong in a period of a month or two?

What's the best approach?

Thanks.

I underline a lot. This doesn't really help me keep track of where things are, but helps me to keep them in my head as I read.

I circle stuff when they seem important.

Only real notation I use is a small "ex" whenever I see an example being used.

Read it all. Will try them tomorrow!

But does taking notes and learning to use symbols really help that much?

Did you actually improve after learning to use symbols and taking notes or were you just really good at reading comp to begin with and the symbols/notes just reflect that?

Well, I think the idea of actively underlining/using symbols is to pinpoint a passage's structure precisely, instead of passively reading.

1) I helps you focus on what you are reading. You actively thinking about the material and categorizing it as you go.

2) The notes DO help you quickly find the answers to questions if you figure out a good method. You have to know what sort of questions RC passages throw at you... that takes experience. You then need to know how to look for that information when you are reading the passage and annotate it.

It does take practice. With practice it is a really strong approach. My diagnostic LSAT was a 163. I started out missing 6-8 on RC. Using the above, I was able to get perfect scores with time to spare in practice. On the real thing I missed 1 reading comp question due to stupidity and finished with 5 minutes to spare.

It works if you practice it.

Voyager wrote:1) I helps you focus on what you are reading. You actively thinking about the material and categorizing it as you go.

2) The notes DO help you quickly find the answers to questions if you figure out a good method. You have to know what sort of questions RC passages throw at you... that takes experience. You then need to know how to look for that information when you are reading the passage and annotate it.

It does take practice. With practice it is a really strong approach. My diagnostic LSAT was a 163. I started out missing 6-8 on RC. Using the above, I was able to get perfect scores with time to spare in practice. On the real thing I missed 1 reading comp question due to stupidity and finished with 5 minutes to spare.

It works if you practice it.

I tried another part today. Got 4 wrong. 2 wrong on two passages.

It seems when I try to read I try to read it so that I don't have to come back to the passage in order to answer the question.

It seems like this works for some passages while not so much for others.

Do most of you come back to the passages and take a quick cursory view of it for some questions?