The Reading Process & Reading Components

According to...
Day and Bamford (1998) Reading is the construction of meaning from a printed or written message.
Cline et al (2006) Reading is decoding and understanding written texts.
Grellet (2004) Reading is a constant process of guessing.

Reading – a cognitive cycle that includes interpreting images to show up meaning; dynamic process of building
meaning; thinking process which permits the reader to utilize the person’s background knowledge.

Three Stages of the Reading Process

Pre-reading

− permits reader to start the foundation of information

− reader previews the text or content
− reader builds up the purpose of reading

While-reading

− reader makes predictions as he/she reads

− reader affirms or modifies these predictions
− reader makes connections with his/her background knowledge

Post-reading

− allows the reader to retell and summarize the text

− reader answers further questions and contrasts it with the text
− allows the reader to creatively respond to the text

The Five Components of Reading

Phonics – relationship between the sounds and their spelling; most basic component of reading
/s/ Phonemes – sound
‘s’ graphemes – letters that represent the sound
Phonemic Awareness – ability to identify and manipulate phonemes into spoken words.
Isolation c __ t - /a/
Blending /c/ /a/ /t/ → cat
Segmentation cat → /c/ /a/ /t/
Addition cat → chat → cheat
Deletion cheat → heat → eat
Substitution cat → rat → ram → rim

Vocabulary – knowledge of stored information about the meaning and pronunciations of words.
Fluency – ability to read with speed, understanding, and accuracy.
a. Pausing – noticing punctuation
b. Phrases – grouping
c. Stress – emphasis
d. Intonation – rising/ falling
Comprehension – purposeful, dynamic, and intelligent process that happens previously, during and after an
individual reads a specific piece of writing; culmination of previous skills and the ultimate goal of learning to
read.
Reading Comprehension & Strategies
Reading Comprehension

− construction of the meaning of a written communication through reciprocal

− holistic interchange of ideas between the reader and the message
− intentional problem-solving, thinking processes of the reader
− influenced by that person’s prior knowledge and experience

Prior/Background Knowledge

− knowledge or information that the reader already has before they meet new information

can include:

• Vocabulary Knowledge
• Knowledge of the topic
• Real-life experiences
• Socio-cultural background

Two Components of Reading Comprehension

1. Vocabulary Knowledge – option to comprehend the vocabulary utilized by the author

2. Text Appreciation and Comprehension – assembles the vocabulary and diverse comprehension
methodologies to build up an understanding of the content

Reading Comprehension Strategies

Skimming

− cycle of rapid perusing or speed reading

− to get the bird’s-eye view of the material
− taking the main ideas from the reading material without reading all the words
− we skim when time is short
− previewing, reviewing, determining the main idea, and finding the source material

Skimming Techniques

− headings of charts and tables

− introductory paragraph
− keywords indicated in bold or italics
− chapter summaries

Scanning

− reading a text quickly

− to locate particular facts

Detailed Reading and Note-taking

Note-taking techniques:

− underlining and highlighting

− use keywords
− ask questions
− make summaries

Making Inferences

− ability of understanding implicit messages conveyed by a writer based on the reader’s schema or
background knowledge

Drawing Conclusions

− putting together various pieces of information to come up with an acceptable conclusion

− evidence in a text
Writing Thesis Statements

− a thesis statement expresses the purposes or main point of your essay

− bears the main idea of an article or essay
− tells the reader how he/she will interpret the significance of the subject matter
− serves as the map for the paper
− gives the reader the idea on what to expect on the material

A thesis statement is usually...

• placed at the end of the introduction

• often expressed in one sentence

What makes a thesis statement?

According to the Simon & Schuster Handbook for Writers

• the essay’s subject – the topic that you discuss

• the essay’s purpose – informative or persuasive
• your focus – assertion that presents your point of view
• specific language – not vague words
• brief overview of the topic’s subdivisions

The thesis statement is the most important sentence in the essay because it specifically states what the essay
will be about. In other words, it states the purpose of the essay. Therefore, a thesis statement should include

• the topic of the essay

• the writer’s position, opinion, or approach to the topic
• the main ideas that will develop and support the writer’s position.

A Thesis Statement...

Should Should not

• be objectively proven
• be debatable
• be specific
• be brief and concise
• serve as an overview
• be an announcement
• be vague
• be stated in the first

3 Types of Thesis Statements

Analytical Expository Argumentative

− evaluates an issue or idea
− presents a breakdown and
evaluation
Can be useful in...
− explains an idea or issue
− present important
information about a subject
− presents and defends a
claim
− aims to convince the
reader by presenting
evidences

• Critique Paper • Compare and Contrast • Editorials

• Reviews Essay • Speeches
• Book Reports • Cause and Effect Essay • Advertising texts
• Literary Analysis Essays • Problem and Solution • Argumentative and
• Research Papers Essay Persuasive Essays
• Definition Essay
• Process Essay
• Classification Essay
Reading and Writing an Academic Paper

− academic paper is not a social commentary, an opinion or a "blog".

− begins with a thesis -the writer of the academic paper aims to persuade readers of an idea or solution
to a problem based on EVIDENCE - not personal opinion.
− devoted to topics and questions that are of interest to the academic community

Features of An Academic Paper

• Clear and well-defined structure

• Clarity

Identifying Text Structure

The guides, also known as organizational patterns – these help scholars in sorting out their thoughts which in
the end show comprehension of the material

Organizational Pattern Purpose

Definition Explains the meaning of new words or phrases
Classification Divides a topic into parts based on shared characteristics
Chronological Order Describes the sequence in which events occur in time
Process Describes the order in which things are done or how things work
Order of Importance Describes ideas in order of priority or preference
Spatial Order Describes physical location or position in space
Cause and Effect Describes how one or more things cause or are related to another
Comparison and Contrast Discusses similarities and/or differences among ideas
Listing/Enumeration Organizes lists of information: characteristics, features, parts, or categories
Statement and Clarification Indicates that information explaining a concept or idea will follow
Summary Indicates that a condensed review of an idea or piece of writing is to follow
Generalization and Example Provides examples that clarify a broad, general statement
Addition Indicates that additional information will follow

The IMRAD Model

− format is a way of structuring a scientific article

− to present facts objectively, demonstrating a genuine interest and care in developing new
understanding about a topic

Aim

− establishes the totality of the text and the components in all its parts
− encapsulates what you intend to achieve in your study
− the title should highlight the same aspects as the explicit aim and all the subsequent parts must have
the same focus.

Research Questions

− explicit inquiries that will empower you to arrive at your point

− your point and your proposition must be limited
− techniques and results are moreover limited in this model

Introduction

− can also be called foundation

− the presentation ought to be molded like a pipe –that implies that you should begin in an expansive and
general way and afterward slowly focus in on your own particular and restricted theme

Body

− the thoughts, ideas and results are examined in the body of the scholastic content or academic text
− keep in mind to make your sentences unified, coherent and cohesive so as to give a good, well-written
article to the readers
Methods and Materials

− discuss about what you have done in order to accomplish your aim and to address the research
questions
− this particular section focuses on what you actually did in your study as well as account for the choices
you made, when needed

Results

− utilizing graphical guides like tables, diagrams, and different outlines can help readers in understanding
the outcome
− these outlines must be plainly connected to your content

Discussion

− this is presently the understanding of the outcomes or the interpretation of the results
− as the researcher, you compose and break down what you have researched

Conclusion

− this is an expression of the fulfillment of your aim and what you have found in your study
− an opportunity to assess whether all parts of your academic writing are interrelated with one another
− definitely not a concise reiteration of your outcomes; it is communicating the ramifications of your
examination

Enhancing Research Skills

− research is the efficient examination and investigation of materials and sources to build up realities and
arrive at new resolutions

Outlining

− helps you identify the significant details you need to include and to eliminate the irrelevant ones
− establishing the scope and limitations of your paper will be the backbone of your research outlining
− making an outline of the paragraphs and their topic sentences even after you have written your paper
can be effective in identifying the strengths and weaknesses of your final product.

Summarizing and Paraphrasing

Summarizing

− American Heritage College Dictionary defines a summary as “a presentation of a body of material in a

condensed form, or by reducing it to its main points” (1382)
− According to Freedman, a summary has two aims: (1) to reproduce the overarching ideas in a text,
identifying the general concepts that run through the entire piece, and (2) to express these overarching
ideas using precise, specific language.

Techniques in Summarizing

Selection Rejection Substitution

• Choose significant thought,
key words and
expressions, uncommon
terms and translations
introduced in the original
source
• Process of eliminating
superfluous and irrelevant
information
• Helps with setting up an
ideal summary
• Incorporates synthesis
• It is a method of joining a
few sentences into one
sentence
• It is prescribed to utilize
sentence replacements,
short sentences to
substitute lengthy ones
The 4 ‘Musts’ for Summarizing

o use your own words

o the summary is shorter (by half) than the original passage
o may contain a portion of the words from the first work; nonetheless, these single words must be
contained in "quotes"
o the summary should give the original meaning but does not evaluate the author’s original work

Paraphrasing

− using your own words to express someone else's ideas while still preserving the main ideas of the
original source
− your own rendition of essential information and ideas expressed by someone else, presented in a new
form
− whether you paraphrase or summarize, you have to always give credit to the original source

The 4 ‘Musts’ for Paraphrasing

o use your own words

o the paraphrased material should be near or longer than the original text
o it is used to explain a difficult idea or text
o it should transmit the original meaning

Principles in Writing a Reaction, Review and Critique Paper

− a reaction, review or critique paper weights, assesses and judges both the merits as well as the
weaknesses of a piece
− writing a reaction paper requires writer’s analysis

To do critique effectively, Harry Show as cited by Jimenez (2000) in her book, suggested the following:

1. Know the scope and the purpose of book

2. Know the writer’s style of writing
3. Know the theme of the piece of work

Other Ways to Cite Sources

− American Psychological Association (APA)

− Modern Language Association (MLA)
− American Chemical Society (ACS)
− The Vancouver System

The Approaches in Writing a Critique Paper

Formalist Criticism

− primarily looks at the structural purposes of the text without taking into account any outside influence
− shows how the various elements of the text are welded together to make an organic whole

Biographical or Historical Criticism

− begins with a simple but central insight that literature is written by an actual people, and that
understanding an author’s life can help readers comprehend the work more thoroughly
− comprehend a literary work by probing at the social, cultural, political and intellectual context that
produced it – a context the includes the artist’s biography and milieu.
− explicates the literary work by utilizing the insight derived from the author’s background
− considers a work’s first-order context – the author’s life; believed that the meaning of literary text can
become different when it is viewed using the lens of the author’s life.
Gender Criticism

− examines how sexual identity influences the creation of the literary text. This type of criticism suggests
that power is not just top down or patriarchal – a man dominating a woman; it suggests that power is
multifaceted and never in just one direction
a. Masculinist Approach – advocated by poet Robert Bly which focuses on the desire to work with
men’s issues and yields to the political conviction that feminism does not fit with the facts
b. Feminist Approach – attempts to correct the imbalance of sexes by analyzing and combating to
the patriarchal attitudes. Feminist criticism is focusing not just on women but on the construction
of gender and sexuality, especially LGBTQ+ issues

Moral/ Philosophical Criticism

− focuses on the themes, views of the world, morality and philosophies of the author

Sociological Criticism

− evaluates a literary piece in the cultural, economic and political context that explores the linkage
between the author and his society
a. Marxist Criticism – highlights on the economic and political elements of art focusing on the
ideological content of literature. It believes that all art is political. It is evaluative and judgmental.

Steps in Writing A Critique Paper

1. Read to understand the literary piece or any text provided for you to critique
2. Determine the author’s purpose of writing
3. Analyze each segment or section very well
4. Decide which among the approaches in literary criticism you will be using to critique the text
5. Compose your introduction, body and conclusion sensibly

Remember!
That a paper composed with logical arguments and in-depth analysis is a critique worth reading.