Improving at Reading Comprehension

The advice contained in this post will be most helpful if you already understand 1) the fundamentals of LSAT logical reasoning, and 2) the basics of reading for structure.

LSAT reading comprehension passages demand the ability to read for very fine detail while still understanding the main arguments made in the passage. In order to get a great score, you must be able to accomplish both of these objectives efficiently; rereading more than a few portions within an entire section will prevent you from finishing.

The following approach should limit the amount of rereading you have to do while increasing the speed at which you read. This system will improve your ability to consciously identify the important and unimportant elements of any passage, regardless of its topic or structure.

I would recommend taking 5-7 reading comprehension test sections (20-28 passages) and attempt each passage and then review. You should not take entire sections as once. Instead, take time to review each passage after you've attempted it. Every time you attempt a passaage, systematically mark the following items off:

1. Proper names and special jargon. Underline any proper names or terms which are pertinent to the topic at hand. This includes anyone not directly related to the topic, but still sharing their opinion on it. Unique terms or technical jargon should most definitely be underlined.

2. Viewpoints. If a viewpoint is ever shared, make sure to underline the first few words and put a “v1,” “v2,” etc. to differentiate each of the viewpoints in the passage. These viewpoints may present themselves as theories, causes, hypothesis, and explanations. Make sure to also identify and underline whoever holds the particular opinion.

3. Author’s opinion. If the author’s feelings or opinion is ever provided, underline this item immediately. It is likely one question will ask you to restate the author's opinion.

4. Time periods and dates. Underline shifts in time (1960s to the 1980s) and dates. These will serve as easy reference points for questions relating to particular time periods.

I’ve employed this annotation method in the following example. I've bolded words that would normally be underlined, annotated viewpoints, and written summaries underneath in italics.

“The Kuckamongo tribe of Ghana has authored ancient folk music played on the tiboro, a wooden wind instrument, for thousands of years. Music played on the tiboro had come to carry significant religious significance as early as 1400 AD. Some believe (v1) that the composers of tiboro music during this time wanted their music to convey ‘the deep spiritual devotion which overcomes all else in life.’ This is evidenced by wooden etchings portraying Phantosos (Kuckamongan diety) providing ordinary men and women glipses into the afterlife while several other men played tiboro music to accompany the Phantosos' arrival.

Tiboro music has religious significance

The first tiboro music, along with other melancholy African folk music made its way to the slave plantations of Georgia. This music evolved over centuries and eventually involved the accompanyment of other wind and string instruments in its composition. However, as its modes of music performance changed, Tiboro music still retained its deep spiritual meaning. Tiboro music is the forerunner of many types of popular American music genres today.

Tiboro music evolved into current American music genres.

It is clear that the blues has its roots in tiboro folk music (author's opinion!) Why else would blues music seem to mirror the melancholy patterns which have served to identify tiboro music for millennia?(author's view) Dr. Sam Allen, a musicology professor at the University of Toledo agreed with this explanation (v2), “How else would blues have evolved if not for its predecessor, the tiboro?" However, not all agree with this argument. “I do not believe that blues has major African roots, instead it is classic American music that evolved exclusive of outside influences," (v3) said Professor James Frankfurt of the University of Southern California. In addition to Frankfurt, other music history experts have dismissed Dr. Sam Allen's claims about the roots of many forms of music as being "shallow-minded."(v4)

Blues has roots in Tiboro music even though some argue against it.

Additionally, practice writing out the main point of the entire passage in addition to each paragraph in the margins (as italicized above). This annotation could be as simple as “African folk songs impact the blues” for the above passage. Use as many abbreviations as possible so as minimize the amount you have to write down.

Sometimes, the LSAT will contain large blocks of text instead of neatly divided paragraphs. These are essentially 2-3 paragraphs combined together. Use your pencil to bracket and divide these paragraphs and write the major themes of each in the margins.

When you get to the point that you are seamlessly underlining important details and identifying the passage and paragraph main points, I would stop marking as much as possible. Your brain should still look for and take note of the aforementioned details. It may be worth underlining an item if you are fairly sure it will be discussed in a question about the passage. However, the best practice at this point is to underline and annotate as little as possible. Instead, work on reading at the fastest speed which will allow you to identify these details.

After you have mastered this technique, review as many reading comprehension passages as possible. If you find yourself missing important details, return to passages which you have already tested and underline and annotate these elements. Make sure to always review your completed practice and attempt to identify those important ideas or words that you missed. Conversly, if you find yourself identifying too many details, practice to only underline those which are most important, ie. those asked for or commonly referenced in the answer choices.