Week 002-Module Developing Skills in Academic Reading PDF

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The word learning is used routinely in discussions about teaching in higher education, so it’s important to clarify what we are referring to when we talk about learning. Educational researchers agree that learning is much deeper than memorization and information recall. Deep and long-lasting learnin...

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English for Academic and Professional Purposes Developing Skills in Academic Reading

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Module 002: Developing Skills in Academic Reading Reading is significant in learning the language for academic purposes. It is the primary means for learning whether the goal is to perform better in any academic tasks or to acquire linguistic abilities. Most jobs demand the ability to read, understand, and evaluate memorandums, letters, forms, and reports. In academic settings, various purposes of reading come into play but most often, students read for general comprehension and learn more information. This module will help you read intensively – to go beyond facts and ideas. It will introduce reading skills which will be useful not only in your school work but throughout your life. Furthermore, this module will provide you reading tips that are specific for particular text types and for the purposes you may have. What you read: You may be expected to read a wide range of texts that include the course reading pack, lecture slides, books, journal articles, internet articles, newspapers, research reports, literature reviews, case studies and strategic plans. Why you read : You may read to: prepare for lectures and assignments, review information addressed in lectures, conduct research for assignments, or revise for exams. What reading abilities you need: Beyond being able to simply understand texts, you will need to critique them, evaluate them, compare and contrast them, and apply the information you find useful from them. At the end of this module, you will be able to : a. point out the kind of reading strategy used in a given task, b. scan a text to locate specific information, c. construct sentences using simple present tense and present progressive tense . d. identify the correct verb form in present and present continuous tense.

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Techniques in Academic Reading What is reading? Experts in reading provided definition of reading in many ways. Bernhardt (1991) defines reading as “ an interactive and socio-cognitive process involving a text, a reader, and a social context within which the activity takes place”. The reader constructs meaning through the written text that represents a language. In the process of reading, “there is a transaction between the reader and the text which involves the reader’s act on interpreting the text. The interpretation is influenced by the reader’s experiences, language and cultural background as well as the reader’s purpose for reading” (Hudelson 1994). William Gray (1950) , known as the Father of Reading, defines reading as a four step process: 1. Perception of the word 2. Comprehension of its meaning 3. Reaction to the meaning in terms of prior knowledge 4. Integration of the idea into one’s background of experience. The definitions of reading provided by different experts center around the process and purpose in making meaning from a written text.

Strategies In Academic Reading 1. Efficient Reading Academic texts generally conform to a set structure, are written in a formal, academic way, and contain specific language from your discipline area. Most academic writing contains some or all of the following depending on whether they are textbooks, journal articles, in research articles, review articles: Fig.1. 6 Techniques for Building Reading Skills— in Any Subject .https://www.edutopia.org/article/ 6-techniques- building-reading-skills-susan-barber. Retrieved 17 July 2017

- Executive Summary or Abstract - Table of Contents

- Introduction or Background - Title - Headings - Sub-headings

English for Academic and Professional Purposes Developing Skills in Academic Reading

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- Findings/Discussion of Findings o Results of research – meanings, implications - Tables, Diagrams, Visual Support o Condensed, visual information - Concluding Paragraph - Recommendations - Reference List The 4s-System for Efficient Academic Reading A. Skimming Nutall (1996) the necessary information. Skimming is used when the reader     

Wishes to get a general impression of an article of a book. Needs to know the general idea or ideas of a particular passage Wants to remember the main points in a selection already read just before an exam. Gets updates about the current events from a newspaper Gets informed through business and travel brochure B. Scanning Another fast way by which the reader goes over the printed page. This skill is looking for specific information or fact without necessarily reading everything in the text. Usually, the reader skips over some parts of a text without understanding them. Scanning is used when the reader

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Goes over a selection rapidly using the writer’s tools such as title, subtitles, italics, etc. until reaching the passage which contains the information sought. Once the specific information is found, the readers stops reading. Needs a name, date, location, or any specific detail that will answer a question in mind. Examples of scanning techniques: Looking for a phone number in a telephone directory A google search list on the internet A plane boarding schedule A conference guide

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C. Selecting - Using both scanning and skimming to decide what to read more closely. D. Studying - is also reading in detail and paying close attention to the main points the reader wants to learn. 2. Critical Reading Critical reading is an active reading , also called detailed reading. The reader reads carefully and makes a variety of comments about the text being read. Critical reading requires concentration to understand the text combined with scanning and skimming. It is a kind of reading that involves the reader to respond to a text, whether in writing, speaking , answering a test, or presenting a report. Techniques required in critical reading: a. Highlighting , marking the text, and underlining keywords and phrases. b. Assigning keywords including brief comments about important points. c. Recording questions when reading and making it as prompts for follow -up works. d. Summarizing the text to check for understanding 3. Drawing Conclusions A reading strategy done after reading. It involves the use of visual clues, titles and illustrations to understand something indirectly stated in the text. It flows from reading information, gathering of facts, evaluating data or details in order to make judgment. This technique is used in content areas, problem-solving, social interactions and research. Although in research, this is the final and most important part of the process. Ways in drawing out valid conclusions: 

Deductive process or top –down approach presents information from general to specific. It starts from reading a text, then uses the background information to understand a text. It involves prediction and inference on the basis of facts, propositions and expectations.

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Inductive process or bottom – up approach begins from accurate information or observation, then perceives a particular pattern, then formulate tentative hypothesis and ends up with general conclusion.

English for Academic and Professional Purposes Developing Skills in Academic Reading

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The Simple Present Tense and The Present Continuous Tense A – The Simple Present Tense Uses:    

To describe actions or situations that do not change frequently To describes habits or routines, To express opinions or to make general statement or facts. Can also be used to refer to the future.

USES FACTS/ General Truth

EXAMPLES The Philippines is an archipelago.

NOTES

Time expressions include now, often, always, everyday, Ms. Min Chin teaches English today and Literature. BE Verbs - is ( singular) Burj Kalifa is the tallest are (plural) building in Dubai. Lindsay sings at theater am ( for pronoun every Saturday. subject “I”)

ROUTINES

Gina doesn’t have classes every Wednesday. My mother doesn’t like cola. Irish loves to cook.

OPINION

REFERENCE TO THE FUTURE Gina has a work next month. The congress has a session tomorrow. Present Events/ actions Here comes the bride. Now, I add three eggs to the mixture.

B - The Present Continuous Tense    

Describes actions or situations in progress at the moment of speaking. Also called present progressive tense. Is formed by using the verb BE in present tense and the main verb with –ing. Example: The team leader is suggesting a unique solution.

USES Activity in progress Course Module

EXAMPLES He is attending a

NOTES

Extended present

A temporary situation Repetition in a series of similar on going actions Expresses future

A change in progress

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meeting now. I’m studying Geology at Action will end, the University of therefore lacks the Nebraska. permanence of the simple present tense. Susan is living with her parents in Japan. Henry is kicking the soccer ball around the backyard. When event is planned She’s coming tomorrow. usually with a future time expression. The twins are becoming more and more like her mother.

Add – s or –es to the base form of the verb for Simple Present Tense in singular number. No –s or –es for plural forms – present tense. The Present Progressive Tense is formed by using : Is (singular) Are (plural) + Verb - ing Am ( subject I)

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What have we learned?

This module has provided you with definitions of reading and the reading strategies used to succeed in any academic requirement. We also discussed the simple present tense and the present continuous tense.

Glossary Comprehension – understanding, knowledge, perception Critical reading - is the process of reading that goes beyond just understanding a text. It involves evaluating , analyzing, interpreting the text, and questioning the author for a deeper understanding of the text. Reading - is defined as recognition of words in a printed text. It is the interaction between the reader and the text .

English for Academic and Professional Purposes Developing Skills in Academic Reading

Scanning – a rapid reading technique used to get specific information or detail needed. Skimming – a rapid reading technique used to go over a reading material for its general idea. Technique – also called strategy. Any activity used to accomplish an immediate objective

References: Books and Journals Celce – Murcia, M. and Larsen Freeman, D. (2006). The Grammar Book: An ESL/ EFL Teacher’s Course. 2nd Edition. Singapore. Heinle . Dapat, JR, O( 2013) Applied English for Academic and Professional Services. Manila , Philippines. JFS Publishing Lau, K. and D. W. Chan (2003) Reading strategy use and motivation among Chinese good and poor readers in Hong Kong. Journal of Research in Reading 26(2)

Online Supplementary Reading Materials 6 Techniques for Building Reading Skills—in Any Subject https://www.edutopia.org/article/6-techniques-building-reading-skills-susanbarber . Retrieved 11 May 2017 Online Instructional Videos IELTS Reading - Skimming and Scanning. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtcXr0_201A. Retrieved 18 July, 2017

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