Traits of an Effective Reader

What does a good reader do when they read? When good readers read, they read critically, they read deeply, they apply information and pull on their experience to understand the world of ideas and subjects

How do they do that? They draw on the 6 traits of an effective reader. 1. Decoding Conventions 2. Establishing Comprehension 3. Realizing Context 4. Developing Interpretation 5. Integrating for Synthesis 6. Critiquing for Evaluation

Decoding Conventions Conventions include: Grammar Punctuation Vernacular speech Genres Styles Forms Types and modes of texts

Establishing Comprehension How do you establish comprehension? By identifying and articulating facts, settings, actions and characters in a text. By making predictions about what will happen next in the text. By identifying the nuts and bolts purpose of a text. By identifying the main focus and specific details of a text to generate informed questions and comments

Realizing Context Readers who recognize context in text explore multiple layers of meaning. They see psychological and cultural nuances in texts. They recognize their own set of complexities they bring to the text. They examine the degree of fit between the authors ideas or information and their own prior knowledge or experience.

Realizing Context cont. They recognize and value contextual aids. They identify tone, purpose and context. They recognize that there is a relationship and communication between author and the reader and that the mediating factor is the text. Realizing context involves literally the recognition of social and cultural factors in texts – i.e. it is walking in the authors shoes.

Developing Interpretation Why should we develop an interpretation of the texts we read? Readers interpret texts to satisfy, extend, and expand personal and academic interests. Readers who interpret texts use these skills: They fill in gaps, real or imagined Use clues and evidence from the text to draw conclusions Make plausible interpretations of ideas, facts, concepts, and/or arguments

Skills continued They recognize and deal with ambiguities in texts, often settling disparities through thoughtful interpretation They revise, reshape, and/or deepen earlier interpretation They reflect on the meaning of the text, including larger or more universal significance They express a major understanding about or insight into a subject, an aspect of self or the texts connection to life in general

Integrating for Synthesis Good readers synthesize information and ideas from written text to compare and extend meaning from multiple sources. They show sensitivity to the structure of the text. They understand and can articulate how parts of the text work together, inform one another or contradict one another. They synthesize texts to demonstrate how text changes, develops, informs itself – how it builds meaning.

Critiquing for Evaluation Readers evaluate texts at the highest level of critical thinking Evaluation is based on a readers understanding of the texts conventions, the compilation of comprehension strategies used to make meaning of the text Searching out contexts with in the text and interpreting them thoughtfully and with purpose Synthesis of the texts given place and interrelationship with other texts

What skills do you need to Critique for Evaluation? Experiment with ideas Think divergently Take risks Express opinions Speculate Explore alternative scenarios Raise questions Make predictions Think metaphorically