English for Academic and Professional Purposes
allows the reader to retell the story, discuss
Reading is defined as a cognitive process that
involves decoding symbols to arrive at
meaning
Reading is an active process of constructing
meanings of words
Reading with a purpose helps the reader to
direct information towards a goal and focuses
their attention. Although the reasons for
reading may vary, the primary purpose of
reading is to understand the text
Reading is a thinking process. It allows the
reader to use what he or she may already
know, also called prior knowledge. During this
processing of information, the reader uses
strategies to understand what they are
reading, uses themes to organize ideas, and
uses textual clues to find the meanings of
new words
Each of the three components of reading is
equally important. Let's take a look at the
components!
THE READING PROCESS
Reading is a process that involves recognizing
words, leading to the development of
comprehension. According to research,
reading is a process that negotiates the
meaning between the text and its reader. The
reading process involves three stages
The first is the pre-reading stage, which
allows the reader to activate background
knowledge, preview the text, and develop a
purpose for reading. A strategy for students to
utilize during this stage is to look at the title
of the selection and list all the information
that comes to mind about the title
The second stage occurs during reading, when
the reader makes predictions as they read and
then confirms or revises the predictions. For
example, double-entry journal enable the
reader to write the text from the reading on
one side and their personal reaction on the
other side
The final stage occurs after reading and
the elements of a story, answer questions
and/or compare it to another text. For
example, students can create summaries,
where they take a huge selection and reduce
it to its main points for more concise
understanding
Comprehension is an intentional, active, and
interactive process that occurs before, during
and after a person reads a particular piece of
writing
READING COMPREHENSION
Reading comprehension has two elements
that complete the process
The first element is vocabulary knowledge.
The reader must be able to understand the
vocabulary used by the writer
The second element is text comprehension,
where the reader puts together the vocabulary
and different comprehension strategies to
develop an understanding of the text
Comprehension, or the mental process that
allows the reader to understand the text,
begins before the reader starts the text and
continues even after the reading has finished.
There are some specific strategies that can be
used to increase comprehension:
Skimming is the process of speedy reading for
general meaning. Let your eyes skip over
sentences or phrases which contain detail.
Concentrate on identifying the central or
main points. Use this technique to:
➢ pre-view a selection of text prior to
detailed reading;
➢ refresh your understanding of a
selection of text following detailed
reading
Scanning is the technique you might use when MAKING INFERENCES
reading a telephone directory. You pass your
When we try to figure out something based on
vision speedily over a section of text in order
an experience, we make an inference.
to find particular words or phrases that are
Making inference is the ability of
relevant to your current task. You can scan:
understanding implicit messages conveyed by
➢ the introduction or preface of a text; a writer based on the reader’s schema or
➢ the first or last paragraphs of chapters; background knowledge
➢ the concluding or summarizing
Making inferences is one of the reading
chapter of a text;
strategies and techniques that help improve
➢ the book index
the critical comprehension skill of the
DETAILED READING AND NOTE TAKING readers as they try to unravel the meaning
between, behind, and beyond words they read
Once you have selected useful information, you
can begin to read in detail. Note taking For example, when we see a boy quietly seated
techniques provide a useful aid to reading. inside the library reading a book, we infer that
Use: the boy might be reviewing something for his
examination or quiz. How did we say that? We
➢ underlining and highlighting to pick
are able to make such inference because more
out what seem to you the most central
or less, when we, too, have to review for a quiz
or important words and phrases. Do
or exam, we go to the library
this in your own copy of texts or on
photocopies - never on borrowed texts; DRAWING CONCLUSIONS
➢ keywords to record the main headings
Drawing conclusion is another reading
as you read. Use one or two keywords
strategy that gives the reader an experience
for each main point. Keywords can be
to explore after reading the text. It is when the
used when you don't want to mark the
readers are given the opportunity to utilize
text;
visual clues to figure out something not
➢ questions to encourage you to take an
directly stated. When draws a conclusion, one
active approach to your reading. Record
develops the skill of putting together various
your questions as you read. They can
pieces of information to come up with an
also be used as prompts for follow up
acceptable conclusion
work;
➢ summaries to check you have The best example is when the story you’ve
understood what you have read. Pause read is open-ended. The author did not give a
after a section of text and put what you clear and direct ending of the story, but based
have read in your own words. Skim over on the events that happened in the story, you
the text to check the accuracy of your are able to make your own conclusion. The
summary, filling in any significant conclusion or ending of the story you’ve made
gaps is acceptable only when you derive it from the
events or scenarios evidenced in the plot
These techniques encourage an active
engagement with the text as well as providing
you with a useful record of your reading. Avoid
passively reading large amounts of text; it does
not make effective use of your time. Always use
a note taking technique to increase your
levels of concentration and understanding
WHAT IS A THESIS STATEMENT? The paper should:
Students must learn first to identify the ➢ Present an argument and give
thesis statement the article they are reading. evidence to support the claim that
A thesis statement is a sentence that bears students should pursue community
the main idea of an article or an essay. It projects before entering college
helps control the ideas within the paper. It is
Learning the various reading strategies and
not just a topic. A thesis statement tells the
techniques is a skill that is developed over
reader how he will interpret the significance
time. Academic and professional writing
of the subject matter under discussion.
really engages our students into various
It serves as the map for the paper. Thus, it readings; hence, they should be aware on how
gives the reader the idea on what to expect to utilize these reading strategies and
from the material he is reading techniques to gain mastery over them as they
improve better comprehension and produce
EXAMPLE OF AN ANALYTICAL THESIS
appropriate writing outputs
STATEMENT:
An analysis of the college admission process
reveals one challenge facing counsellors:
accepting students with high test scores or
students with strong extracurricular
backgrounds
The paper should:
➢ Explain the analysis of the college
admission process
➢ Explain the challenge facing
admissions counsellors
EXAMPLE OF AN EXPOSITORY
(EXPLANATORY) THESIS STATEMENT:
The life of the typical college student is
characterized by time spent studying,
attending class, and socializing with peers
The paper should:
➢ Explain how students spend their time
studying, attending class, and socializing
with peers
EXAMPLE OF AN ARGUMENTATIVE THESIS
STATEMENT:
High school graduates should be required to
take a year off to pursue community service
projects before entering college in order to
increase their maturity and global awareness