Methods of Assessing Reading Comprehension
Reading comprehension may be assessed though many different methods, each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages. Reading comprehension assessment helps to monitor progress, diagnose reading difficulties and determine the cognitive skills underlying reading development and disorders. Cain & Oakhill, (2006) evaluated five approaches to reading comprehension: cloze tasks, true/false sentence recognition, sentence verification tasks, multiple choice, and open-ended questions. They argued that each of these approaches has its merits, though none can be considered ideal for all situations. Therefore, the approaches should be chosen based on the situation on which they are used as well as the
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Similarly, information must be memorized so that it may be used in the post-reading comprehension task, which means that the indiyidual may have comprehended at reading but forgotten by the time of answering.
Sentence Verification Task (SVT)
This type of assessment is a variant of the true/false type above. A reading comprehension passage, followed by a set of approximately 12 to 16 sentences is presented to the respondent, who determines whether each sentence is right or wrong based on their reading. These sentences may be similar to those in the original text, a paraphrase of them or similar but with different meanings. This procedure has similar advantages and disadvantages to the forced choice questions. In addition, the wording of the sentences can help identify how the reader has represented the text; for example, have they made a particular inference that was not stated explicitly in the text?
However, it is not a procedure used in standardized tests, probably due to its similarity with the previous version and the need to include a large number of test items for
With an evident attempt at objectivity, the syntax of Passage 1 relies almost entirely on sentences of medium length, uses a few long sentences for balance, and concludes with a strong telegraphic sentence. The varying sentence length helps keep the readers engaged, while also ensuring that the writing remains succinct and informative. Like the varying sentence length, the sentence structures vary as complex sentences are offset by a few scattered simple sentences. The complex sentences provide the necessary description, and the simple sentences keep the writing easy to follow. Conversely, Passage 2 contains mostly long, flowing sentences, broken up by a single eight word sentence in the middle. This short sentence, juxtaposed against the length of the preceding and following sentences, provides a needed break in the text, but also bridges the ideas of the two sentences it falls between. The author employs the long sentences to develop his ideas and descriptions to the fullest extent, filling the sentences with literary elements and images. Coupled...
imagery illustrates the scene and tone of the speaker. The use of personification portrays the
This gives the readers a clue that what is to happen in the upcoming text is a
In contrast, syntax provides a new perspective to the narrator s behavior as sentence structure draws attention to her erratic behavior. By her last entry, the narrator s sentences have become short and simple. Paragraphs 227 through 238 contain few adjectives resulting in limited descriptions yet her short sentences emphasize her actions providing plenty of imagery. The syntax quickly pulls the reader through the end as the narrator reaches an end to her madness.
The first type of text is the aforementioned classic novel. For this unit, two texts in particular will be utilized. One is J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher In the Rye. This novel focuses on the experiences of a cyn...
After studying in this course over several topics throughout United States History from Ancient America to 1877 the destruction of the Mexica Empire interested me the most. After Christopher Columbus sailed across the Atlantic ocean, falling short of his desired destination landed on the island of Espanola, (present day Dominican Republic and Haiti). Thus this begins several voyages from Spain to the America’s in order to seek gold, glory and honor for themselves and their county. Before the start of the history of the United States, it started off as a conquest of lands and peoples.. CONTINUE HERE2
12. What form of figurative language does the author use in lines 8 & 9 of page 216 to make his writing more
One of the literary techniques most prominently featured throughout the passage would be that of imagery. The author takes great care to interweave sentences comparing the traits
Haas and Flower then provide an example [Page 177], of the differences of a student reader and an experienced reader. The example shows a remarkable difference between the two, the student reader was able to identify the situation and paraphrased what he found out. The experienced reader not only identified the situation, but provided a theory to attempt to explain what the author was trying to do; this is quite different than what the student reader provided. I believe Haas and Flower added the example to emphasize the difference of the conclusions that the student reader and the experienced reader came to. By adding the example, Haas and Flower were also able to support rhetorical reading and the difference it made between the readers. Haas and Flower then state the following: “While the student reader is mainly creating a gist and paraphrasing, the experienced reader does this and more – he then tries to infer the author’s purpose and even creates a sort of strident persona for the writer” [Haas and Flower, 177] The following quote is basically the description of the experiment, and explains the difference in the student reader’s response to the experienced reader’s
The functional assessment is how the family interacts with one another. This part of the assessment is divided into two subcategories; instrumental and expressive functioning.
Discuss this statement and show how your critical understanding of the text has been strengthened by at least two different readings.
The year is 2006,watching TV, you flip through the various news stations to learn about the recent news in Iraq, the majority of the news simply says that ‘x’ amount of soldiers or marines were killed in such and such attack. You don’t like what you are hearing so you go online to read an independent embedded (embedded refers to news reporters who are attached to military units) reporters story. Online you read that two new schools were built, and the Iraqis, supported by US forces, led an attack to capture an insurgent leader. The big media corporations such as FOX, NBC, CNN, and many others distort the facts that are on the ground. The small, mostly independent, reporters generally try to get a first-hand account of the situation on the ground. They are their alongside the soldiers, sailors, and marines. In some cases these reporters may need to drop their camera or pen and defend themselves. These examples bring many questions that I want to know. The biggest of these questions is how do these different types of reporting, the “main stream media”, and the small independent embedded reporters affect the views that the American people have back home? The reason I chose this topic is that after reading The Good Soldiers and Moment of Truth in Iraq, I was intrigued in the considerable difference between what was wrote in books and what CNN reported on the nightly news. I did not find a ‘good’ answer I could find to answer my question, however I did draw three conclusions. The conclusions are as follows: the ‘big media’ misconstrues the information from the battlefield to fit their own agendas; the media fails to obtain a personal more in depth view and instead report after the smoke has cleared instead of what happened during t...
I can hear my heart pumping faster and faster. With every breath, it pumps a little faster. I count each person ahead of me in my roll of straight desks. Pam will read paragraph one. Carl has paragraph two and Donna will read paragraph four. That means, I will read paragraph five. I go over every word making sure I can pronounce each one correctly. I am not aware of what the others have read. My only concern is not to make a mistake. It is my turn. Yes, I made it. Wow, glad that is over! What I have described is my early reading experience in elementary school. Reading was not something you did for pleasure. Reading was something you maneuvered through making sure you didn’t explored by the bombs of vocabulary. It was not something you enjoyed.
Strategies for Critical Reading Preview the Essay: Think about the essay’s title, opening paragraph, and topic sentence. Previewing is used for college reading and helps the reader to focus on key issues. Write in the margin: Forecast issues, and pose questions. Be an active reader of the book. Mark queries to energize classroom discussion.