Comprehending Comprehension

The process of reading is pretty complex - when we read a text, we predict what it's going to be about, using clues like the title, author, cover design and so on. Our understanding of the passage is based on our prior knowledge, as well as our vocabulary and ability to understand how words are arranged and used to communicate the author's message.

This term, our first comprehension passage was from our textbook, Essential Non-Fiction, in the form of an extract from Christy Brown's autobiography, My Left Foot. Christy Brown is amazing; he didn't allow his disabilities to stop him from communicating. He was an author, painter and poet. His example makes me feel bad about complaining about life sometimes. There are so many examples of people who keep positive despite facing so much hardship.

One important thing I hope we remember from the lesson as well as from the comprehension practice questions is that often the question provides many important clues to help you come up with an accurate answer. Things like number of marks allocated, identifying the type of question and scanning the passage for relevant information are examples of vital reading comprehension skills.

While it is true that we can't 'study' for comprehension, we can most certainly prepare for it! Reading more does help because experienced readers are more likely to be able to better understand the various writing techniques authors use.

As you read, keep a dictionary nearby so you can immediately look up unfamiliar words.

That's all folks, too sleepy to continue,but hopefully will post tomorrow on EPS, persuasive writing and football. G'nite!