Comprehensive Reviewer in
Communication Arts (Full Version)
1. Levels of Reading Comprehension
Reading comprehension is the ability to understand, interpret, evaluate, and apply
information from a written text.
Learning Objectives
• Differentiate the four levels of reading comprehension
• Identify the level of comprehension required in various questions and texts
• Apply appropriate strategies to answer comprehension questions at each level
Four Levels of Reading Comprehension
• LITERAL – Understanding exactly what is stated; answers who, what, where, when; no
interpretation.
• INFERENTIAL – Reading between the lines; using context clues and logic.
• CRITICAL – Evaluating the text’s quality and logic.
• APPLIED – Using information from the text in new or real-life situations.
Passage 1
During the student council debate, Mike promised to install vending machines and cancel
homework. The crowd cheered wildly, but Mrs. Lopez, the teacher overseeing the event,
raised an eyebrow.
LITERAL: What did Mike promise in his speech?
INFERENTIAL: What might Mrs. Lopez’s raised eyebrow suggest?
CRITICAL: Are Mike’s promises realistic? Why or why not?
APPLIED: If you were voting in this election, would Mike get your vote? Why or why not?
Passage 2
Raj and his group had a deadline in two days, but the workload wasn’t divided equally.
While he stayed late in the library, two members hadn’t contributed much. Frustrated, Raj
debated whether to speak up or just finish the project himself.
LITERAL: What problem is Raj facing in his group?
INFERENTIAL: Why is Raj frustrated?
CRITICAL: What would be the best way for Raj to handle the situation?
APPLIED: Have you experienced a similar issue in group work? How did you handle it?
Passage 3
After a 6-hour shift at the campus café, Maya hurried to her evening lecture, hoping she
wouldn’t fall asleep. Balancing her job and classes left little time for social life or rest, but
she needed the paycheck to cover tuition.
LITERAL: Where does Maya work?
INFERENTIAL: Why is Maya struggling to keep up with her schedule?
CRITICAL: What are the challenges and benefits of working while attending college?
APPLIED: If you were in Maya’s shoes, how would you manage work and study?
Why All Four Levels Matter
• Builds deep understanding of texts
• Encourages higher-order thinking
• Helps students become critical and reflective readers
• Supports academic success across subjects
2. Ethics in Communication
Effective communication is ethical communication. Communication is ethical only when it is
genuine, open, cooperative, and sensitive to one’s cultural and social beliefs and practices.
If there is an intent to conceal the truth, or bring damage to any organization, group or
individual person, communication is considered unethical. Even in situations when there is
no intent to harm, but damage is inevitable because of the message or the channel, it is still
considered unethical.
Unethical Communication
• Discriminatory
• Stereotypical
• Sexist
Reflective Analysis
Analyze print advertisements and determine if these are ethical or not. Group Activity:
Share in class why you think the ad is unethical, how it could be received, and suggest better
presentation.
3. Processes and Principles of Effective Communication
Communication is the art of creating and sharing ideas for a specific purpose.
Forms of Communication:
• Verbal Communication
• Non-verbal Communication
• Written Communication
• Visual Communication
Audience Analysis
Understanding the audience is key to successful communication.
Communication Barriers
Anyone who is trying to communicate can adjust and apply the proper tools and strategies
to remove barriers that prevent the message from getting across.
Principles of Effective Communication
• Clarity
• Conciseness
• Completeness
• Organization
• Empathy
• Flexibility
4. Elements of Reading Comprehension
Elements include:
Decoding, Vocabulary Knowledge, Background Knowledge, Fluency, Making Inferences,
Identifying Main Ideas and Details, Understanding Text Structure, Monitoring
Comprehension, Drawing Conclusions, Synthesizing Information.
Decoding / Word Recognition
The ability to correctly read and recognize words. Without decoding skills, comprehension
cannot occur.
Examples: emergency, material, accumulate, ordinary, certificate, humanity, etc.
Vocabulary Knowledge
Understanding the meaning of words. Exercises: rearranging words into sentences,
matching terms with definitions (Pedagogy, Curriculum, Assessment, etc.).
Background Knowledge
Using prior knowledge to understand new info. Examples: imagining traffic, ATM use,
typhoon reports, rooster crowing, online learning.
Fluency
Reading smoothly, accurately, and with expression.
Making Inferences
Reading between the lines. Combining text clues with personal knowledge.
Identifying Main Ideas and Details
Recognizing the overall message and supporting details.
Monitoring Comprehension
Being aware of your understanding while reading. Skilled readers ask: 'Does this make
sense?'
Drawing Conclusions / Critical Thinking
Using evidence in the text to form judgments, opinions, or predictions.
Synthesizing Information
Combining new information with prior knowledge to create deeper understanding.
Reading Strategies for Complex Texts
Before: preparing for reading
During: annotating, visualizing
After: summarizing, reflecting, connecting.
5. Text Structures
Text structures are the ways an author organizes ideas and information in a text.
Types:
• Description – details, examples, characteristics
• Chronological – events in order
• Cause and Effect – reasons and results
• Compare and Contrast – similarities and differences
• Problem and Solution – issue and possible solutions
Examples and Exercises
Passage 1 (Chronological): Mia reviewed lesson plan → prepared visual aids → reflected.
Passage 2 (Description): Cooperative learning in small groups.
Passage 3 (Cause & Effect): Online learning became common due to pandemic.
Passage 4 (Compare & Contrast): Urban vs rural schools.
Passage 5 (Problem & Solution): Anxiety in teaching solved with microteaching.
Passage 6 (Chronological): Woke up → breakfast → hike → nap.
Passage 7 (Description): Features of cell phones.
Passage 8 (Cause & Effect): Drought → crops failed → food prices rose.
