Reviewing passages—whether you are an educator evaluating a student’s analysis or a student reviewing your own practice—requires a structured approach to identify core arguments, logical flow, and evidence. How to Review a Reading Passage
If you are reviewing passages specifically for exams like the SAT, GRE, or MCAT, use these targeted techniques: Passages
: Check if the organization moves logically with clear topic sentences and well-chosen transitions. : When reviewing missed questions, don't just look
: Determine the Topic (main idea), Scope (specific focus), and Purpose (e.g., to argue, explain, or advocate). : Determine if the author delivers facts in
: When reviewing missed questions, don't just look at the right answer. Analyze why the wrong choices were tempting—were they too extreme, out of scope, or taken from the wrong paragraph?.
: Use a scratchpad to jot down the Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How to create a quick skeleton of the text.
: Determine if the author delivers facts in a neutral tone or maintains a specific point of view.