The Reading Process: Definition and Skills

The Reading Process: What is Reading?

• Traditionally, reading involves recognizing, pronouncing words, and understanding their meaning.
• According to the National Reading Panel (2002), reading is a complex process that includes recognizing speech sounds (phonemes), decoding unfamiliar words, reading fluently, using background knowledge and vocabulary, employing active strategies for comprehension, and staying motivated.
• Ruddell, Rapp Ruddell, and Singer (1994) define reading as an interaction between the reader and writer, affected by the reader's purpose, prior knowledge, and external factors.
• Reading involves more than recognizing words: it requires comprehending, analyzing, and interacting with the text.

Skills Required for Proficient Reading

• Phonemic Awareness focuses on recognizing and manipulating sounds in words.
• Phonics focuses on understanding how letters relate to sounds and applying this knowledge when reading.
• Fluency is reading accurately and smoothly with proper expression.
• Vocabulary is knowing word meanings and applying them during reading.
• Reading Comprehension involves understanding and interpreting a text's meaning.
• Mastering all five areas is important for full comprehension.

Reading Strategies

• SQ3R Method is a five-step reading strategy: Survey, Question, Read, Recite, Review.
• The Survey step involves skimming the text, looking at headings, tables, and diagrams.
• The Question step involves asking questions based on the headings.
• The Read step involves carefully reading to find answers to the questions.
• The Recite step involves summarizing key ideas in your own words.
• The Review step involves going back and rechecking the questions and answers.
• SQ3R is beneficial for improving retention and critical analysis.
• KWL Method is a three-column strategy i.e. What I Know, What I Want to Learn, and What I Learned.
• This method helps organize pre-reading and post-reading reflections.

Commonalities in Expert Definitions

• Reading is an active process that involves more than just decoding words.
• It is a dynamic interaction between the reader and the text.
• Reading is purposeful, as readers' goals influence how they interpret the text.
• Comprehension and meaning-making are central to reading.

Important Concepts

• Moral Illumination (Elizabeth Hardwick): Reading can provide wisdom and moral insight.
• Full Man (Francis Bacon): Reading broadens knowledge and enriches an individual.
• Creative Pursuits (Albert Einstein): Too much reading without reflection can hinder creativity.

Critical Reading and Thinking

• Critical Thinking involves analyzing and evaluating information deeply, asking questions, and making logical decisions based on evidence, extending beyond the obvious and avoiding surface-level influences.
• Non-Critical Thinking involves accepting information without questioning or analysis, relying on gut feelings or opinions rather than facts.
• Critical thinking analyzes and evaluates information deeply, which non-critical thinking accepts information without questioning.
• Critical thinking requires evidence and logic, while non-critical relies on opinions or feelings.
• Critical thinking considers multiple perspectives, whereas non-critical thinking sticks to a single viewpoint.
• Critical thinking breaks down complex ideas, but Non-critical thinking takes information at face value.
• Critical Thinking involves reflecting and revising beliefs, but Non-Critical Thinking resists changing opinions.

How to Engage in Critical Thinking

• Formulate Your Own Opinion by exploring different perspectives.
• Question Assumptions by seeking evidence and asking why.
• Develop Creative Solutions using logic and creativity.
• Avoid Jumping to Conclusions by analyzing all facts.
• Evaluate Assumptions and Reasons, checking for biases and alternative views.

Bloom's Taxonomy (Revised Version)

• Remembering: Involves recalling facts and basic concepts.
• Understanding: Involves explaining ideas in one's own words.
• Applying: Involves using knowledge in new situations.
• Analyzing: Involves breaking down information to examine relationships.
• Evaluating: Involves judging and justifying decisions.
• Creating: Involves combining ideas to create something new.

Comprehension Levels

• Literal Comprehension: Understanding the explicit meaning.
• Inferential Comprehension: Reading between the lines to find hidden meanings and draw conclusions.
• Critical Comprehension: Evaluating ideas, arguments, and different viewpoints.

Reading Strategies

• Skimming involves quickly reviewing for the main idea.
• Scanning involves searching for specific details.
• Extensive Reading involves reading large texts for general understanding.
• Intensive Reading involves analyzing texts deeply for details.
• Visualizing involves creating mental images.
• Summarizing involves condensing information into key points.

Types of Claims, Assertions, Counterclaims, and Evidence

• A claim is a statement or argument to convince others to accept a viewpoint.
• Its purpose is to persuade readers using logical reasoning and evidence.
• A well-written claim should be argumentative, debatable, specific, focused, interesting, engaging, and logical.
• Claims are often present in opinion columns, positions, and advertisements.

Types of Claims

• A claim of fact states whether something is true or false, exists or doesn't, or is caused. Its purpose is presenting factual information with supporting evidence. Signal words include "generally," "usually," and "probably". Needed Evidence is reliable data, verified facts and expert testimony.
• A claim of value argues if something is good or bad, right or wrong, It evaluates the worth of something based on ethical, social, or aesthetic standards. Evidence needed includes expert opinions, moral or practical benefits and standards of evaluation.
• A claim of policy suggests a course of action to address a problem to persuade the audience to adopt a solution, it employs signal words like "should," "must," and "ought to." Necessary evidence includes counterarguments, justification, a clear action plan, and potential benefits.

Explicit vs. Implicit Claims

• An Explicit Claim is clearly stated (e.g., "Vaccination prevents the spread of disease.").
• An Implicit Claim is implied through details and reasoning.

Formulating Assertions

• An assertion is a confident statement about your beliefs or opinions, presented as truth. It is meant to persuade readers with a clear and forceful argument.
• To formulate assertions: take a position, provide evidence, be specific, and evaluate the text.

Formulating Counterclaims

• A counterclaim opposes or rebuts a previous claim.
• Its purpose is to provide balanced and critical analysis.
• To formulate counterclaims: identify the author's claim, find weaknesses, offer a different view, and support with evidence.

Identifying Evidence

• Evidence strengthens claims and makes them persuasive.

How to Evaluate Claims Critically

• Identify the main claim: What is the writer arguing?
• Classify the claim: Is it a fact, value, or policy?
• Check for evidence: Is the claim backed by solid proof?
• Analyze counterclaims: What are the opposing views?
• Look for bias: Is the argument objective or one-sided?

Techniques in Selecting and Organizing Information

• Brainstorming List: This generates ideas related to a topic to gather info quickly and organize thoughts. It lists possibilities such as relevant things to your topic. the intention is a wide range of ideas without initial organization.
• Graphic Organizer: Is a visual that connects and organizes ideas to help show relationships between concepts and assist with complex information.
  • Concept Map: Shows relationships between associated ideas
  • Flowchart: Displays a process or a sequence of actions
  • Venn Diagram: Compares and contrasts distinct topics
  • Mind Map: Revolves around a central idea and associated branching subtopics.
• Topic Outline focuses on organizing ideas using words or phrases to give and orderly structure. Its Format includes Main Idea, supporting Idea and Detail.
• Sentence Outline does a similar job to topic outline but it uses full coherent sentences for main and sub points to present detail and ensure clarity.

How to Use Techniques Effectively

• Start with Brainstorming to generate diverse ideas without structure.
• Organize with a Graphic Organizer to visualize relationships.
• Refine with a Topic Outline to organize ideas clearly.
• Use a Sentence Outline to write full sentences for each point.

Properties of a Well-Written Text

• Organization refers to information being logically arranged for easy understanding.
  • A paragraph should be structured with a topic sentences, detailed supporting sentences, and a concluding sentence to summarize or connect to the next idea.
  • An essay should be structured with and Intro to grab attention, then a Body to develop points with supporting evidence, then a conclusion to summarize key points.
• Coherence means the logical flow of big Ideas at a conceptual level, Cohesion means smooth sentences connected at conceptual level via linking sentences.

Arrangement of Ideas

• Chronological Order sequences events.
• Spatial Order describes physical location.
• Inductive Order moves from specific details to a general conclusion.
• Deductive Order presents a general statement followed by supporting details.

Signal Devices (for smooth transitions)

• Repetition is repeating key words or phrases for emphasis.
• Synonyms are using similar words to avoid repetition.
• Pronouns are using pronouns to refer to previous nouns.
• Transitions are using connecting words.

Language Use

• Language Use means effectively using clear, precise, and appropriate wording.
• Clarity & Conciseness involves using clear, simple sentences.
• Avoid Redundancy to avoid repeating same message.
• Limit 'There' & 'It' Structures by using active voice.
• Use Precise Vocabulary and avoid being vague
• Be Consistent in Point of View by sticking to a specific persons view.
• Use Formal Tone and avoid making casual writing.

Mechanics

• Mechanics is the correct use of spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and grammar.
• Use standard English and avoid slang, spell out numbers zero to ten and cite sources properly with full names on abbreviations.

Evaluating a Well-Written Text

• Focus: Does it stick to one main idea?
• Connection: Are ideas linked smoothly?
• Logical Flow: Are thoughts in a clear and consistent order?
• Tone and Formality: Is the language suitable for the audience?
• Grammar and Mechanics: Are there any technical mistakes?