CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Reading is a process which is done and used by the reader in getting the message and information that is made by the author in the form of written or printed material. Generally, many people read a written or printed material for getting pleasure and relaxation. However, academically the students read a book which is made based on the rules of academic discourse for increasing their knowledge and getting some information that can help them in learning. So they should understand about written symbol on the text in getting the point.
Kenyon (2008:5) states that when you plan reading sessions with your learners, make sure that there is time to talk about the text (passage, story and to write).
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In short, the students are expected to be able to comprehend reading text that they read. Catherine (2002:10) states that reading comprehension is usually a primary focus of instruction in the post-primary grades, after readers have largely mastered word recognition skills, although comprehension of text should be an integral part of reading instruction with beginning readers as well. Instruction in oral language, vocabulary, and listening comprehension should be a focus starting in preschool and continuing throughout the elementary …show more content…
According to Brasell and Rasinski (2008:20) reading comprehension is the ability to take information from written text and do something with it in a way that demonstrates knowledge or understanding of that information. Reading comprehension is an intentional, active, interactive, process that occurs before, during and after a person reads a particular piece of writing. Therefore, it is a complex skill that should be owned and mastered by students; moreover, it should be rehearsed and examined continuously in order to improve the ability in comprehending the information they have
In the introduction of “How to Read Literature Like a Professor” , Thomas C. Foster focuses on the grammar of literature and the qualities of a professorial reader. He asserts that practise is crucial to learn how to read literature in a more rewarding way. In addition, he defines main elements of the context such as pattern , symbols, and conventions. The purpose of Foster appears to be informing students who is beginning to be introduced to literature. Although Foster’s style is slightly condescending, he utilizes the conventions of literature quite well, and mentions the arbitrariness of these conventions in a sensible way.
In Dr. Louise Spear- Swerlings’ article, she stated that in Kindergarten through third grade, student should be taught five key elements for effective reading abilities, which are phonemic awareness, phonics knowledge, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension. Dr. Spear- Swerling, continued by saying phonic awareness is well develop in normally achieving reader by the end of first grade and by the end of third grade they should have acquired basic phonics knowledge. In addition to children excelling to become good readers, the instructions should be explicit and systematic, following a logical sequence of instruction. For instance, reading a decodable text that’s consisting of words with one syllable before advancing to an authentic text.
Adonay has made his best effort to focus at his work in the classroom. His reading has slow progress throughout the year. Although, he reads most-text specific vocabulary, he still needs to decode unfamiliar words using appropriate strategies like blending and segmentation. It is also beneficial to develop his self-correction strategy by attending to meaning while he reads a text. Adonay finds challenging to interpret a text he reads as he struggles to access independently some additional meanings from a text.
Ray Bradbury, acclaimed writer and author once said that “The problem in our country isn't with books being banned, but with people no longer reading. You don't have to burn books to destroy a culture. Just get people to stop reading them.” In his famous novel Fahrenheit 451, Bradbury gives an account of a fictional America, which has let the importance of reading, and the importance of books in general, depreciate so much that books become taboo to own. Firemen are called not to put out fires but called to start them, burning houses, and the books they contain, to the ground.
Thomas Foster's How to Read Literature Like a Professor, is a thought provoking guide to reading literature. This book helps with understanding the “language of reading” and the importance of details. Foster opens up a new side of literature where rather than reading emotionally, you dig deeper into the grammar of the literary work to discover the true meaning. How to Read Literature Like a Professor, is beneficial when reading any kind of literary work. It explains the particular “set of conventions and patterns, codes and rules” (Foster xxv) used when dealing with literary works.
3. Students will have a few minutes to draw or sketch before reading. 4. The teacher will have students go around in small circle for each student to read one page aloud. 5.
Reading is something that we do every day and all day, no matter what form of reading it may be, perhaps, reading a text, skimming over a tweet, reading a billboard, or even reading a long lengthy passage that was instructed by your professor. When it comes to reading many advantages can be taken away from just the shortest passages. A person who reads more is more likely to be up to date with the latest news, show empathic growth and pro- social behavior. People with little reading experience are less likely to be equipped for the general population, resulting in high school dropouts, unemployment, and a declining social life. The readings Is Fiction Making Us Stupid by Jonathan Gottschall, and Superman and Me by Sherman Alexie are outstanding,
While reading there are various ways to gain a deeper understanding of the text. For example, one method a reader can apply to increase their understanding is rhetorical reading defined as “involves more than ‘agreeing’ or ‘disagreeing’” (Heasley et al. 89). Thus, requiring the reader to focus on the text and pay close attention to the rhetorical situation to comprehend how an argument is working. In detail, the rhetorical situation consists of the writer, reader, text/purpose, and context.
Reading may seem like an run of the mill thing where you laugh at the funny jokes, glare into the abyss when the text possess a provocative quote. To Mike Bunn the author of “How to Read Like A Writer,” has a different interpretation of what reading should be. Mike Bunn emphasizes that reading should be more than just context, he argues that you need to question the authors’ choice of words, literary devices, sentence placement, in order to be able to become better readers and writers ourselfs. He presents it to the audience in a manner that is very interactive. He begins by explaining what he means to “Read Like a Writer”(Bunn, How to Read Like A Writer), followed by questions that should be asked about the text and writing style, and techniques that should be done to become a more proficient writer.
This intrigued them, because many students are “good” readers in the way that they have extensive vocabularies, can recall content, and can read rapidly. They are able to understand texts well, but only on a surface level. This means they can understand the content, but usually fail to understand the purpose of it. Haas and Flower had found that more experienced readers attempted to connect parts of a text to understand what they couldn’t before, or even to just to form a purpose for the text.
Reading is an essential life skill. The ultimate goal of reading is to comprehend and make meaningful connections with text. Therefore, the development of skills needed for reading begins at an early age and progresses through stages into adulthood (Chall, 1996). Within the early stages of reading development, children begin learning and acquiring these specific skills. Moreover, many of the skills learned during early childhood are constrained skills.
Share (1999) convincingly describes how decoding skills are supported by vocabulary, syntactic and semantic understandings. Speece and Cooper (2002) report a connection between early semantic skills and reading comprehension in their study of the connection between oral language and early reading. Decoding is vital because it is the basis on which all other reading instruction builds. If children are unable to decode words their reading will lack fluency, their vocabulary will be restricted, and their reading comprehension will suffer. Explicit, systematic and multi-sensory phonics instruction produces effective decoding skills.
Introduction Lenses on Reading: An Introduction to Theories and Modelsis an excellent read. The authors bring a lot of useful information to not only the field of education but to the classroom. Throughout the book, the authors provided vignettes to show theoretical models in action which gives the reader a visual of how the theoretical model can be applied. The layout of the chapters was in chronological order which is was also helpful.
While traveling towards the path of seeping knowledge and analyzing critical ideals, we’ve become absent minded towards the components that gave us the ability to read. Since reading is always a part of our everyday routine, we have lost the idea that when it comes to learning how to read, we must start from the basics. From reading a case study, to reading a letter from a loved one, comprehension, phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and oral language are the six essential components of reading. Before a child develops the ability to read, they begin to develop comprehension. Comprehension can be defined as the ability to understand.
My experience as a reader isn 't as extraordinary as many, but I love to read. I had some great teachers throughout my education that taught me to enjoy reading challenge oneself and not be intimidated by it. Through college and today I do not have much time to read, other than school books speech, education ,and reading. Those are the sweet books I know read.