Reading comprehension strategies and techniques - Active rea...

Learning Outcomes

After reading this article, you will be able to apply active reading techniques to LSAT Reading Comprehension passages with confidence. You will know how to identify the main point and argument structure quickly, annotate efficiently, distinguish claims from supporting evidence, and use focused engagement to boost comprehension and question accuracy. You will also be able to avoid common pitfalls such as excessive detail reading and passive reading habits, directly supporting your LSAT preparation.

LSAT Syllabus

For LSAT, you are required to understand how to read challenging passages actively and extract the information needed to answer a range of question types. Prior to the exam, focus your review on:

• active engagement with complex texts, including scientific, legal, and humanities passages
• identifying and summarizing the main idea, claims, and purpose of each passage and paragraph
• using annotation (highlighting, underlining, brief notes) to keep track of structure, transitions, and author’s attitude
• distinguishing key information from supporting detail to answer both main idea and specific fact/inference questions
• avoiding common traps such as passive reading, over-focusing on detail, or failing to note paragraph structure

Test Your Knowledge

Attempt these questions before reading this article. If you find some difficult or cannot remember the answers, remember to look more closely at that area during your revision.

1. What is the main advantage of annotating as you read LSAT passages?
   1. To memorize every fact in the passage
   2. To increase your reading speed
   3. To make the main arguments and structure easier to recall for questions
   4. To avoid reading the passage in full
2. In active reading, what is your primary focus during the first read-through of a passage?
   1. Collecting all technical terms
   2. Identifying the main point, paragraph roles, and author attitude
   3. Answering all detail questions immediately
   4. Underlining every sentence

3. True or false? The best way to approach Reading Comprehension is to read every sentence slowly twice to ensure complete understanding of the details.

Introduction

Effective LSAT Reading Comprehension requires disciplined, purposeful reading. Unlike leisurely or academic reading, you must extract the main argument, structure, and critical details with speed and accuracy. Active reading means engagement: you interact with the passage, track its claims, and organize the information for efficient questioning. This article presents the proven techniques for active reading and engagement you need on test day.

Recognizing Active Reading

Active reading is not passive absorption. It means focusing intently on what the author claims, how the passage is structured, and which information to prioritize. It means ignoring irrelevant details on the first pass and targeting the key transitions, opinion words, and author intent. Every active reading action should help answer LSAT question types directly.

Key Term: active reading
Reading that involves purposefully seeking out main ideas, argument structures, key transitions, and the author's opinion, while strategically disregarding extraneous details on the first read.

The Four Steps of Active Reading

1. Preview the Questions (Optional)
   Briefly skim LSAT questions (not answer choices) to note referenced topics or paragraph lines. This primes you to recognize important themes quickly when reading the passage.

2. Read for Main Argument and Structure
   Pay attention to the main claim of the passage, the function and theme of each paragraph, and any key shifts (such as "however," "but," or "in contrast"). Mark these as you go.

3. Annotate Efficiently
   Use simple tools—like highlighting transition words, underlining main points, and jotting a 1-2 word summary for each paragraph. Avoid annotating every sentence. Focus on claims, conclusions, and opinions.

4. Define the Passage’s Bottom Line
   Before moving to questions, state for yourself the central claim, primary purpose, and general tone. Record brief notes to help you locate information as needed for detail or inference questions.

Key Term: annotation
The intentional marking or summarization of passage sections (e.g., underlining claims, highlighting transitions, noting paragraph functions) to boost navigation and recall during question answering.

Paragraph-Level Analysis

Every paragraph serves a role: introducing context, developing a claim, giving evidence, or presenting a counterargument. Efficient engagement means assigning a one-sentence label to each paragraph. For example, if a paragraph starts "However," expect a change in direction and a new claim or viewpoint. Mark this with a quick note (e.g., "criticism begins" or "author's view"). This helps target retrieval when a question points to a paragraph reference.

Key Term: main point
The author’s primary claim, argument, or message of the passage; often supported and elaborated by each paragraph.

Distinguishing Claims from Evidence

Claims (main ideas or statements the author is trying to prove) should be heavily prioritized. Evidence or examples support claims, but the LSAT rewards you more for identifying and tracking arguments than remembering all evidence given. If a question requires a factual detail, you will be directed back to the relevant section by the question stem, so knowing where to find details is more important than memorizing them.

Key Term: evidence
Supporting facts, data, examples, or explanations used to justify an author’s claim, typically less important than the claim itself on first reading.

Annotation and Engagement: What to Mark

Efficient annotators highlight or underline only specific features:

• Main point or thesis (usually in intro or conclusion paragraphs)
• Transitions and contrast indicators (e.g., however, but, yet)
• Author’s attitude/opinion (e.g., strong adjectives, words like “unfortunately”)
• Paragraph roles (“background,” “criticism,” “counterpoint”)
• List/sequence markers (“first,” “second,” “finally”)

Your annotations serve as a map for returning to the relevant section during Extract or Structure question types.

Reading With Purpose—Question-Driven Engagement

Always anticipate common LSAT questions as you read:

• What is the author’s main claim?
• What is the function of this paragraph?
• Does the author take a side?
• Are there competing theories or viewpoints?

This question-driven mindset directs your attention to logically essential points, not every technical detail.

Worked Example 1.1

A passage describes the rise of a new school of philosophy, introduces its key proponent, then discusses why its principles are controversial. In the last paragraph, the author praises the school’s practical applications while noting some unresolved criticism.

Question: What is the main point of this passage? What is the function of the last paragraph?

Answer:
The main point is that the new philosophical school has controversial aspects but significant practical benefits. The last paragraph’s function is to present the author’s positive evaluation (primary attitude) despite lingering objections.

Worked Example 1.2

Consider this LSAT Reading Comprehension scenario:

Paragraph 1: Introduces “minimalist legislation.”
Paragraph 2: Explains critics' views, using phrases like “however” and “criticism focuses on…”
Paragraph 3: Author argues that “minimalist legislation remains essential” due to its adaptability.

Question: How should you annotate this passage to support efficient question answering?

Answer:
Mark the main claim of paragraph 3 as bottom line (“minimalist legislation is essential”). Summarize p1 as “introduction of concept,” p2 as “critics’ claims,” and underline key transition “however” in p2. Highlight author position in p3.

Revision Tip

Do not annotate every line or memorize entire paragraphs. Mark only claims, argument structure, and signpost words. Focus on quick retrieval, not rote memory.

Exam Warning

Watch for traps in answer choices that reference a real passage detail from a supporting example rather than the claim itself. Always confirm scope and paragraph reference before selecting an answer.

Summary

Active reading for LSAT Reading Comprehension involves:

• Identifying main claims and passage structure on your first read, not every detail.
• Selective annotation—claims, transitions, attitude, sequence, and purpose.
• Treating each paragraph as serving a particular function (introduction, support, refutation, or conclusion).
• Engaging question-first: anticipate possible question types and mark accordingly.
• Avoiding passive reading—do not read linearly expecting to recall everything; read to extract argument structure.

Key Point Checklist

This article has covered the following key knowledge points:

• What active reading is and why it matters for Reading Comprehension
• How to annotate LSAT passages for structure, claims, and author attitude
• Techniques for quickly finding main points, transitions, and function
• Avoidance of time-wasting habits like excessive detail reading and passive review
• Strategies for using focused engagement to improve question speed and accuracy on the LSAT

Key Terms and Concepts

• active reading
• annotation
• main point
• evidence