can be seen that reading is not only looking at word in the form of graphic symbols but also getting meaning from word to word or line to line to understand
what we read. It means that reading is a process to understand the text content and to get information.
2.2.1.1 Purposes of Reading
A person may read for many purposes, and purpose helps to understand more what is read by a reader. If he is reading for pleasure or reading for pure
recreation and enjoyment, he may read either quickly or slowly based on the way he likes or feels, but if reads for studying or setting information such news,
science or same line, which are part of his study or assignment he does it very slowly and carefully.
According to Grabe and Stoller 2002:11-15, the purposes of reading can be classified into seven main headings. The purposes of reading are:
1. Reading to search for simple information. 2. Reading to skim quickly.
3. Reading to learn from texts. 4. Reading to integrate information.
5. Reading to write or search for information needed for writing. 6. Reading to critique text.
7. Reading for general comprehension. Based on the reading purposes above, for reading to search for simple
information and skim quickly, the reader typically scan the text to find out a specific piece of information needed. It also involves a combination of strategy
for guessing where the important information might be in the text. Reading to learn from text, usually occurs in academic and professional
contex in which the person needs to learn a considerable amount of information from the text. This purpose of reading requires ability to remember the main idea
and some important details from the text, and relate the information with reader‟s knowledge base. Those ability can be gained through rereading and reflecting
strategies to help remember the information. Reading to integrate, write and critique, requires critical evaluation of the
information so that the reader can decide what information is to integrate and how to integrate it to the read
ers‟ goal is. Both require abilities to compose, select, and critique information from the text Grabe and Stoller, 2002:14.
Reading for general comprehension is the most basic purpose for reading. Reading for general comprehension, when accomplished by a skilled fluent
reader, requires very rapid and automatic processing of words, strong skills in forming a general meaning representation of main ideas, and efficient
coordination of many processes under very limited time constrains Grabe and Stoller, 2002:14.
Based on the purposes of reading above, it can be concluded that reading is a process to gain information from the text. Not only to gain information,
reading is also an activity which has some purposes and it is important to find out the purpose of reading.
2.2.1.2 Types of Reading
