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Literal
Reading Comprehension
– Students can recall, identify, classify, and
sequence details, facts, and stated main ideas from a variety of written
materials, and can interpret directions.
Skills
and
Concepts
RIT
Scores between 151 and 160
Sequencing
 | Format:
Read approximately 30 word passages |
| Follow
straightforward sequence of events |
| Use
clue words supplied: first, next, last, before, after, later… |
| Identify
what happened after another event |
| Identify
what happened last in a sequence of events |
Reading for Detail
| Format:
Read short passages – up to 40 words |
| Locate
answers by finding exact words from question |
New Vocabulary: last, after, story
RIT
Scores between 161 and 170
Reading Directions
| Format:
Read short simple sentences |
| Follow
3-6 steps, no more than 60 words |
| Find
literal detail in simple directions |
| Determine
the purpose of simple directions |
Sequencing
| Format:
Read up to 70 word passages where clue words are rarely supplied |
| Identify
what happened after another event |
| Identify
what happened first or last |
| Recognize
first or last in a subset of events from a passage |
Locating Information
| Use
a sign: understand the meaning of information |
| Use
a title: determine the content of a book |
| Use
a simple index (one word descriptors, each on one page): page numbers
where information can be found |
| Use
a table of contents: identify which story is found on a particular page |
Reading for Detail
| Format:
Read short passages up to 50 words, which range from very short, simple
sentences to longer more complex sentences |
| Locate
answers by finding exact words in passage |
| Recognize
pronoun substitutions for nouns |
| Combine
details from two simple sentences to arrive at answer |
| Understand
the meaning of details to generalize an answer |
| Discriminate
between similar sentences and details to find an answer |
| Isolate
details necessary to answer question when given many details |
New Vocabulary: after, book, first, directions, sentences, poem, index,
table of contents, sign, passage
RIT
Scores between 171 and 180
Reading Directions
| Format:
Read some complex sentences in passages that include up to 7 steps, 60 words |
| Determine
what to do before or after specific steps |
| Understand
directions in a simple label |
| Find
detail in simple directions |
Sequencing
| Format:
Read up to 150 word passages with clue words rarely given |
| Determine
first or last event from list of events in scrambled order |
| Recognize
simultaneous events (when this happens, something else happens) |
| Recognize
first in order of events when written not in actual order of occurrence |
| Identify
what happens first in a subset of events from a longer passage |
| Recognize
what happens after another event when reading a schedule |
| Identify
what happens next or second, clue words supplied |
| Paraphrase
events, recognizing first or last in order |
| Discriminate
small but import details in ordering events |
Locating Information
| Use
table of contents: |
 | Find
page number for a particular story |
| In
which part of a book information can be found |
Reading for Detail
| Format:
Read longer passages, some up to 100 words; at upper RIT ranges, passages
contain less familiar content and more difficult vocabulary |
| Isolate
details necessary to answer a question when given many details |
| Find
exact words in a passage to answer a question |
| Recognize
pronoun substitution for noun |
| In
a letter, understand "I" and the author are the same person |
| Recognize
important details when in a sentence with complex phrasing (no longer
simple, straight forward sentences) |
| Combine
details from several sentences or rephrase details to answer a question |
| Identify
the speaker in a short one-speaker passage |
| Use
important details to generalize an answer |
| In
a longer passage with longer, more complex sentences and more difficult
vocabulary, locate important details necessary to answer a question |
| Understand
the relationship between details |
| Discriminate
between details that are and are not stated in a passage |
| Use
reasoning, word clues, and recognition of pronoun meaning to identify
speaker in a short passage containing more than one person |
Cause and Effect
| Format:
Read short passages with relatively simple sentences and basic vocabulary
where cause and effect are stated in same sentence with some clue words
supplied (because, so…) |
| Determine
cause and effect relationship in a passage containing extraneous information |
| Identify
causes and effects stated in different sentences |
| Identify
causes and effects implied, not stated directly |
| Read
longer passages containing less familiar content |
New Vocabulary: before, second, paragraph, following, letter, label,
note, article, list
RIT
Scores between 181 and 190
Reading Directions
| Format:
Read more complex sentences with up to 9 steps and 100 words |
| Find
literal detail in "how to" directions |
| Understand
literal detail in directions to a place using "left" or
"right" or compass directions |
| Determine
what to do before or after certain steps |
| Understand
directions on a typical label |
| Infer
the purpose of written directions |
| Find
the detail in a typical recipe |
| Determine
the order of simple directions |
Sequencing
| Determine
correct order of events when presented in scrambled order |
| Paraphrase
order of events in a longer passage (up to 150 words) |
| Use
clue words and reasoning skills to determine order of events when written
out of order of occurrence (understanding flashbacks) |
Locating Information
| Use
an index: |
| More
complex with main topics and subtopics |
| Information
listed on multiple pages |
| Use
a table of contents: |
| Understand
that page number listed is the beginning page and that information
continues on subsequent pages |
| Use
chapter title to determine content and page number to read |
| Use
a title: Use word clues to determine content |
| Use
a weather report: Paraphrase information |
| Use
a sign or announcement: Understand the meaning of information |
| Use
a bibliography: |
| How
to read |
| Understand
the meaning of (ed.) for editor |
Reading for Detail
| Format:
Read passages frequently around 100 words, containing a variety of
descriptive sentences and vocabulary, rich with detail |
| Isolate
small but significant details necessary to answer a question |
| Understand
sentences containing explanatory phrases set off by commas (my dog, Spot…
my friends, Jane and Sally…), recognizing that they are not items
in a list |
| Understand
relationships between details, combining details from several sentences to
form an answer |
| Recognize
and understand pronouns substituted for nouns |
| Note
he/she pronoun use to determine gender |
| Isolate
significant detail, combine with prior knowledge to answer a question |
| Discriminate
between details which are and are not stated in a passage |
| Determine
who is the speaker in a passage |
Cause and Effect
| Format:
At lower RITs, read simpler passages, vocabulary, and content; at higher
RITs, read more complex content in passages |
| Identify
basic cause and effect relationships, stated in same or adjoining sentences |
| Use
clue word "because" supplied in answer choices to help focus
thinking |
| Identify
implied cause and effect relationships |
Compare and Contrast
| Given
factual paragraph, compare information (how are they alike?) |
New Vocabulary: recipe, instructions, order of events, information,
describe, ad, bibliography, editor, character
RIT
Scores between 191 and 200
Reading Directions
| Format:
Read some adult vocabulary, vocabulary difficulty increases as RIT increases
with up to 12 steps and 200 words |
| Understand
specific detail in a typical recipe |
| Analyze
detail in directions: |
| Determine
important information in directions |
| Determine
missing steps in a set of directions |
| Given
directions and actions taken, determine which part of directions not
followed correctly |
| Understand
directions on a label containing adult vocabulary |
| Determine
purpose of directions |
| Understand
directions in a recipe written in paragraph rather than list format |
| Understand
directions on a test or worksheet |
Sequencing
| Format:
Determine order of events in a passage containing more difficult vocabulary,
more complex phrasing, or less familiar content |
| Determine
sequence of events in a passage containing a flashback |
| Paraphrase
order of events in passage containing more complex vocabulary, phrasing, or
figurative language |
| Use
re-reading and cross checking to determine specific order of events |
| Determine
which event comes before another |
| Determine
which events occur simultaneously |
| Use
reasoning and word clues to determine sequence of events in a passage
contain a flashback |
| Determine
order of events when presented in a scrambled order (more complex sentences,
less direct language than previous RIT levels) |
| Determine
which comes last from up to 9 events presented in scrambled order |
| Determine
which occurs first AND last from events presented in scrambled order |
| Find
first in a subset of events in the middle of a passage |
| Use
re-reading and cross-checking to identify the order of events in a passage
up to 200 words |
Locating Information
| Use
a table of contents: |
| Locate
information on multiple pages |
| Use
clue words from chapter title to determine contents |
| Use
a list of facts: Use to find information |
| Use
a schedule: |
| Understand
the format, how days, events, and times are listed |
| Read
to understand how long particular events last |
| Understand
when events start |
| Use
an index: |
| Meaning
of "see" and "see also" |
| Organized
in main topics and subtopics |
| How
drawings, photos, and maps are listed |
| Difference
between pages separated by commas or by hyphens (45, 48, 50-53) |
| Use
an advertisement: |
| Determine
what is being advertised |
| Locate
and understand specific details in ad |
| Use
reference materials: Determine best source of information (dictionary,
encyclopedia, television program guide, almanac, field guide, atlas) |
| Use
a recipe: |
| Determine
number served |
| Determine
amounts of ingredients |
| Use
a glossary: Understand relationship between dictionary and glossary |
| Use
a title: Use clue words to determine content |
Reading for Detail
| Format:
Read passages containing rich detail, vocabulary, description, and complex
phrasing with extensive vocabulary necessary to understand meaning of detail |
| Locate
specific details in a passage to discriminate between similar answer choices |
| Recognize
significant details when paraphrased |
| Recognize
and understand detail referenced by "this, that, these, or those" |
| Recognize
and understand characters when referred to alternately by name and by
descriptive phrases |
| Understand
and interpret significant details |
Cause and Effect
| Format:
Read passages with complexity of content and vocabulary, that include some
clue words like "since" and "so" and "because" |
| Identify
"cause" presented at beginning of passage relating to
"effect" presented at end of passage |
New Vocabulary: literature, advertising, schedule, statement,
announcement, biography, entries, chapter, introduction, comparison, glossary
RIT
Scores between 201 and 210
Reading Directions
| Find
detail in a typical adult language recipe |
| Understand
complex directions involving multiple variables (if you want this, do that,
if you want something else, do something else…) |
| Understand
typical medicine or product labels |
| Understand
vocabulary specific to typical recipes and product labels |
| Find
detail in complex, multi-step directions containing adult language |
| Paraphrase
complex directions |
| Understand
complex directions—must find one detail, then re-read to incorporate
previous information |
| Use
skills that progress in difficulty: |
| Skim,
scan to locate details |
| Re-read
specific parts |
| Combine
two or more sets of information to complete understanding |
| Paraphrase |
Sequencing
| Format:
Read longer and more complex sentences where the content becomes less
familiar and the difficulty of the vocabulary increases (soon after this
happened, that happened) |
| Read
passages where word clues are less direct: from "first, later, and
finally" to "after the frost", "in the spring",
"when they had eaten lunch" |
| Use
indirect word clues to determine sequence of sentences from scrambled order |
| Determine
which event came second or next from sentences in scrambled order |
| Determine
sequence of key events from complex paragraph |
| Determine
events that occur after or simultaneously in longer, more complex paragraph |
| Determine
first event from a sequence of events written in the middle of a paragraph |
| Use
key words to paraphrase order of events |
| Use
re-reading and cross checking to identify order of events |
| In
a paragraph of unfamiliar content and vocabulary, determine what comes next,
after another event |
| Use
direct word clues to determine what comes before |
| Determine
what comes first in a paragraph containing a flashback |
Locating Information
| Use
a table of contents: |
| Use
chapter summaries to determine contents |
| Use
clue words from chapter title to determine contents |
| Determine
the LAST page of a chapter (if chapter 2 begins on p. 20, chapter 1 ends
on p. 19) |
| Use
an announcement: (lengthy and detailed, containing common abbreviations, and
adult level vocabulary) |
| Find
and understand information |
| Use
an advertisement: |
| Find
and understand specific information |
| Determine
what is being advertised |
| Understand
abbreviations and shortened phrases in a classified ad |
| Use
a food label: Determine the relative amounts of ingredients |
| Use
reference materials: |
| Determine
the best source of information (encyclopedia, catalog, advertisement,
magazine article, picture book) |
| Understand
information contained in a dictionary entry |
| Use
a bibliography: |
| How
it is organized |
| How
to read information (author, title, publisher, etc.) |
| Recognizing
simple listing of magazines |
| Use
a list: Meaning of information |
Reading for Detail
| Format:
Read passages that contain rich and varied detail, often unfamiliar content,
extensive vocabulary, complex sentence phrasing |
| Recognize
and understand a variety of word referents |
| Recognize
and understand sentences containing explanatory phrases, sometimes set off
by commas |
| Isolate
small but significant detail necessary to answer a question in long,
detail-filled passages |
Cause and Effect
| Read
slightly longer passages, with more difficult content and vocabulary which
use clue words "since" and "because of" |
| Demonstrate
combining several pieces of information to understand the cause and effect
relationship |
| Identify
which is the "cause" and which is the "effect" when
given a situation |
Compare and Contrast
| Contrast
information (how are they different?) when given a factual paragraph |
| Locate
appropriate information to compare or contrast in longer passages with
unfamiliar content |
New Vocabulary: indicated, series of events, chronological order,
definition, dictionary, sequence, description, catalog, journal, report
RIT
Scores between 211 and 220
Reading Directions
| Synthesize/paraphrase
directions |
| Follow
multi-step directions containing adult vocabulary where the outcome is not
obvious |
| Follow
detail in typical medicine or product label |
| Synthesize
intention of directions |
| Understand
small but significant detail in directions |
Sequencing
| Format:
Read passages that contain unfamiliar content, adult vocabulary, few word
clues, longer sentences, and complex phrasing |
| Paraphrase
sentence order from passage with phrases like "just before this
happened, that happened" and "after this happens but before that
happens" |
| Determine
last, first, and next, paraphrasing events from passage |
| Use
indirect word clues to determine the order of scrambled sentences |
| Determine
what comes after another event |
| Determine
the sequence of events in a subset of events in the middle of a passage |
| Paraphrase
the sequence of events in a complex passage |
Locating Information
| Format:
Read passages that are lengthy, detailed, and contain adult vocabulary. They
are typical examples one would find everyday, not specific to children |
| Use
an announcement: find and understand specific information |
| Use
a handbook: Find and understand specific information |
| Use
a shipping and handling chart: Recognize, know it by name |
| Use
a phone book: |
| Yellow
pages: how to read, find, and understand specific information |
| White
pages: how to use guide letters |
| Use
a catalogue: |
| Use
summary information to determine which product to purchase |
| Find
and understand specific information |
| Use
an index: |
| Organization
of topics |
| Using
increased specificity of terms to locate information |
| Understand
page list format, difference between use of commas and hyphens (43, 57,
60-62) |
| Use
a bibliography: |
| Find
and understand information in an annotated bibliography |
| Use
a glossary: How to use |
| Use
a field guide: Find and understand specific information |
| Use
a dictionary: How to use to find word meaning |
Reading for Detail
| Format:
Read passages that contain rich and varied detail, often unfamiliar content,
extensive vocabulary, complex sentence phrasing |
| Locate
small but significant detail in a detail-filled passage |
| Understand
and interpret significant detail |
| Understand
and paraphrase significant detail |
| Discriminate
between details which are and are not stated in a passage |
| Locate
more than one detail in a detail-filled passage |
Cause and Effect
| Read
longer passages, with more difficult content and vocabulary |
| Identify
which is not the effect of a stated cause |
Compare and Contrast
| Locate
multiple pieces of information to compare or contrast |
| Determine
what information is being compared |
New Vocabulary: guide, handbook, selections
RIT
Scores between 221 and 230
Reading Directions
| Understand
intent of directions |
| Synthesize
complex directions |
Sequencing
| Summarize
events in correct order |
| Use
reasoning to determine the correct order of scrambled sentences |
| Determine
what comes after in passages with complex phrasing (just before he
did this, he did that) |
| Use
word clues and reasoning to determine what comes first when sentences
contain flashbacks or are not written in exact time order |
Locating Information
| Read
passages where details being located are more specific and less obvious,
requiring careful reading or re-reading |
| Use
an announcement: |
| Find
and combine specific pieces of information |
| Find
and understand specific, detailed information |
| Compare
specific pieces of information |
| Use
a weather report: Find and understand small but significant details |
| Use
sports scores: Understand commonly used abbreviations |
| Use
a recipe: Find and understand small but significant details |
Reading for Detail
| Read
passages that contain rich and varied detail, generally unfamiliar content,
extensive vocabulary, complex sentence phrasing |
| Isolate
information not stated in a detail-filled passage |
| Paraphrase
and interpret significant detail |
| Locate
specific detail in a long, detail-filled passage |
| Locate
and interpret several details in a detail-filled passage |
Cause and Effect
| Read
passages with more difficult, less familiar content and vocabulary |
New Vocabulary: publications, editorial
RIT
Scores between 231 and 240
Reading Directions
| Synthesize/paraphrase
directions |
Reading for Detail
| Read
passages that contain rich and varied detail, generally unfamiliar content,
extensive vocabulary, complex sentence phrasing |
| Locate,
paraphrase, and interpret multiple details in a detail-filled passage |
New Vocabulary: none
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