Understanding purpose and meaning
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Understanding the writer's purpose is essential for comprehending a text. A reader's purpose determines what they see as important and remember. Exercises can help readers understand how their purpose affects what they highlight. Good readers think aloud before, during, and after reading to describe their thought processes and comprehend the text. They identify words that trigger thoughts and notice the organization.
Understanding purpose and meaning
- 1. Understanding Purpose and Meaning Comprehending a writer’s purpose and meaning is essential to your own understanding of a reading.
- 2. Understanding Purpose A reader’s purpose affects everything about reading. It determines what’s important in the text, what is remembered, and what comprehension strategy a reader uses to enhance meaning. Try the following exercise to help understand the importance of understanding a writer’s purpose in your reading: Read the article and circle what you think is important. Read the piece again, and this time use a pink highlighter to mark places in the text that a _____ would find important. Read the piece again, and this time use a yellow highlighter to mark places in the text that a _____ would find important. What did you notice about the three times you highlighted. The first time was probably the hardest because you had no purpose.
- 3. Discovering Meaning/Vocabulary Look it up!! Do not be afraid to use a dictionary. (Free dictionary apps for your smart phone are even available!) Look at the structure of the word. Is there a familiar prefix, root, or suffix? Use the glossary. Read the words around the unknown word. Can another word be substituted?
- 4. Thinking Aloud Good readers engage in mental processes before, during, and after they read in order to comprehend text. They stop often to think out loud and describe what is going on in their minds as they read. Try this thinking aloud comprehension technique: Select a short piece of text. Foresee difficulty. Read the text out loud and stop often to share your thinking. Point out the words in the text that trigger your thinking. I am reminded of _____ I wonder _________ I am confused _____________ I notice that this piece is organize like this _________.
- 5. Sources: “Academic Support Guides: Reading Comprehension.” Cuesta College. http://academic.cuesta.edu/acasupp/as/300INDEX.HTM Krieg, Elaine G. Strategies for College Readers. New York: Longman, 2008. Print. “Study Skills Activities: Reading as a Study Skill.” Montana State Literacy Resources: A Service of the National Institute of Literacy. http://www.nwlincs.org/mtlincs/pilotproject/studyskills/studyskill sindex.htm