ISL Week 1:

Definition, aims and purposes of reading.

Definition of reading:
Reading is the process of constructing meaning from written texts. It is a
complex skill requiring the coordination of a number of interrelated
sources of information (Anderson et al., 1985)
Reading is the process of constructing meaning through the dynamic
interaction among: (1) the reader's existing knowledge; (2) the information
suggested by the text being read; and (3) the context of the reading
situation (Wixson, Peters, Weber, & Roeber, 1987, citing the new
definition of reading for Michigan).
Richard Anderson and the Commission on Reading define reading as the
process of constructing meaning from written texts. Skilled reading is:
o constructive: learning to reason about written material using
knowledge from everyday life and from disciplined fields of study;
o fluent: mastery of basic processes to the point where they are
automatic so that attention is freed for the analysis of meaning;
o strategic: controlling ones reading in relation to ones purpose, the
nature of the material and whether one is comprehending;
o motivated: able to sustain attention and learning that written
material can be interesting and informative; and
o a lifelong pursuit: continuous practices, development, and
refinement.
Sources:
http://www.eduplace.com/rdg/res/teach/def.html
http://lrs.ed.uiuc.edu/students/jblanton/read/readingdef.htm

Aims of reading:
Having successfully adopted the innovative curriculum of Integrated
Humanities using project assessment and English across the Curriculum
in junior forms for the past two years, our school now heads on to
promoting reading culture in the nation.
As ensuring quality education has always been our prime aim, curriculum
development and reform must be ongoing, so that we can face the
challenges of the 21st century, through learning to read and reading to
learn to best equip ourselves to smoothly cross the millennial threshold.
To promote a reading culture in the school so as to enhance the students'
language proficiency and learning capacity.
Source: http://www.spcs.edu.hk/programs/readingculture/Aims.htm

Purposes of reading:


Source:
https://nationalvetcontent.edu.au/alfresco/d/d/workspace/SpacesStore/158
363d3-4510-4659-ad4b-211d473be707/14_03/content/is/read/learn_3.htm
http://h27.it.helsinki.fi/erc/reading_theory.html
Reading
for
selected
main
points
Reading
for main
points in
general
Critical /
evaluative
reading (in
tensive)
Reading
for
pleasure
To obtain
informati
on
To gain
knowledg
e
For
instructio
ns or
direction
s
To fire
the
imaginati
on
To
appreciat
e the text