IGCSE English as a Second Language 0510

Reading

Objective: Identify and understand factual information, ideas and arguments in a range of texts

This section focuses on developing your ability to extract key information, understand the main points an author is trying to convey, and recognize the different ways authors present their arguments. It's crucial for success in the Reading paper.

1. Factual Information

Factual information is objective; it can be verified and is based on evidence. Look for:

• Specific details: Dates, names, places, quantities.
• Definitions: Explanations of terms.
• Examples: Illustrations of points.
• Statistics: Numerical data.
• Comparisons: Highlighting similarities and differences.

How to identify factual information:

1. Look for words like: fact, evidence, data, statistics, research, study, shown that, it is believed that.
2. Pay attention to details that can be checked against other sources.
3. Identify the main topic and supporting details.

2. Ideas and Arguments

Ideas are the main points an author wants to communicate. Arguments are the ways an author uses evidence and reasoning to support those ideas. Authors may present ideas in different ways:

• Direct Statement: The author states their idea clearly.
• Implied Statement: The author suggests their idea without stating it directly. You need to infer it.
• Evidence-Based Argument: The author uses facts, statistics, examples, and expert opinions to support their idea.
• Counter-Argument: The author acknowledges and responds to opposing viewpoints.

Identifying the main idea:

1. Read the title and headings.
2. Pay attention to the first and last paragraphs.
3. Look for topic sentences in paragraphs.
4. Ask yourself: "What is the author mainly trying to say?"

Identifying arguments:

1. Look for words like: because, therefore, as a result, since, in order to. These often signal arguments.
2. Identify the author's claim (main idea).
3. Identify the evidence the author uses to support the claim.
4. Consider whether the evidence is strong and relevant.

3. Recognizing Author's Purpose and Tone

Understanding the author's purpose (why they wrote the text) and tone (their attitude towards the subject) helps you interpret the ideas and arguments.

Purpose	Tone
To inform	Objective, neutral, factual
To persuade	Persuasive, emotional, biased
To entertain	Humorous, lighthearted, engaging

How to identify author's purpose and tone:

1. Consider the type of text (e.g., news article, opinion piece, story).
2. Look for language that reveals the author's attitude (e.g., positive, negative, sarcastic).
3. Consider the intended audience.

4. Analyzing Arguments

When analyzing arguments, consider the following:

• Strength of Evidence: Is the evidence relevant, reliable, and sufficient?
• Logical Reasoning: Does the author’s reasoning make sense? Are there any logical fallacies (errors in reasoning)?
• Bias: Does the author present a balanced view, or do they show bias towards a particular viewpoint?
• Effectiveness: How effectively does the author present their argument?

Example:

By mastering these skills, you will be well-prepared to tackle the Reading paper and demonstrate your ability to understand and analyze factual information, ideas, and arguments in a variety of texts.