44 8.
Vocabulary analysis Several techniques are useful here: 1 look for prefixes, 2 look for suffixes,
3 look for roots that are familiar, 4 look for grammatical contexts, and 5 look at the semantic context topic for clues.
9. Distinguish between literal and implied meanings
This requires the application of sophisticated top-down processing skills. The fact that not all language can be interpreted appropriately by attending to its
literal, syntactic surface structure makes special demands on readers. 10.
Capitalize on discourse markers to process relationships There are many discourse markers in English that signal relationships among
ideas as expressed through phrases, clauses, and sentences. A clear comprehension of such markers can greatly enhance learners’ reading
efficiency.
4. Language and Text
People are not born with language. People have to learn how to use it and understand it, so people can gain meaning and communicate our message to others.
When people know a language, people can make choices about the words needed to use and how to put these words together to create meaning. Knowledge of words
and words patterns permit us to read speaks and listen in meaningful way. Texts are pieces of spoken or written language created for a particular purpose. Texts are
created when people want to speak or write. Texts are interpreted for meaning when people listen, read or view texts. Anderson states that a good piece of text requires
45 the creator to make the right choices from the language system; choices about
words, sentences, processes, and features. These choices will reflect our purpose and our context 1998: 1. The purpose of a text might be to persuade or inform or a
combination of both. The context is influenced by our culture beliefs, attitude, and values and situation what is happening, who is involved and whether we are
speaking or writing. The genre of the text enables reader to apply certain schemata that will assist
them in extracting appropriate meaning. For example, if the reader knows that a text is a recipe, they will expect a certain arrangement of information ingredients and
will know what their purpose in reading text. Efficient readers also have to know what their purpose is in reading text, and how to retain the information.
Hardy and Klarwein state that a genre is a social, a staged, purposeful, cultural activity if it is related with language and learning. In other definition they state that
a genre is a staged, goal-oriented social process. Further they state three aspect of genre 1 any genre pertains to a particular culture and its social institution; 2
social process are purposeful; 3 it is usually takes a number of steps to achieve one’s purpose 1990: 2. Brown states genres of reading: 1 academic reading:
general interest articles in magazines, newspapers, etc, technical reports e.g., lab reports, professional journal articles, reference material dictionaries, etc., text
book, theses, essays, papers, test directions, editorials and opinion writing; 2 job- related reading: messages e.g. phone, messages, letters, emails, memos, reports,
schedules, labels, signs, announcements, forms, applications, questionnaires, financial documents, directories, manuals, directions; and 3 Personal reading:
46 newspaper and magazines, letters, emails, greeting cards, invitations, messages,
notes, lists, schedules, recipes, menus, maps, calendars, advertisements, novels, short stories, jokes, drama, poetry, financial documents, forms, questionnaires,
medical reports, immigration documents, comic strips, cartoons 2004:186-187. According to Mark and Anderson, there are types of text:
1. Recount
The social function of recount is to retell events for the purpose of informing or interesting.
2. Report
The social function of report is to describe the way thing are, with reference to a range of natural, man-made and social phenomena in our environment
3. Discussion
It is used to present two points of view about an issue 4.
Explanation It is used to explain the processes involved in the formation or working of
natural or socio cultural phenomena. 5.
Exposition Analytical It is used to persuade the reader or listener that something is the case
6. New items
It is used to inform reader, listeners or viewers about events of the day which are considered newsworthy or important.
7. Anecdote
It is used to share with others an account of an unusual or amusing incident.
47 8.
Narrative It is used to amuse, entertain and to deal with actual or vicarious experience in
difference ways; narrative deal with problematic events which deal to a crisis or turning point of some kind, which in turn finds a resolution.
9. Procedure
It is used to describe how something is accomplished through a sequence of actions or steps.
10. Description
It is used to describe a particular person, place, or thing 11.
Review It is used to criticize an art work, event for a public audience. Such work of art
include movies, TV shows, books, plays, opera, recordings, exhibitions, concert and ballets
Reading is an active process to get information through written language. In other words reading is a process of getting information from written message.
Students should make it as a habit for their daily activity. Reading activity is an individual activity to comprehend what heshe reads. To know whether they really
understand texts, students are hoped to be able to answer the questions related to the texts, find certain information relating to the texts, find the general idea of message
of the texts. To sum up, Richards 2002: 101 states that the main purpose of reading is to understand what a text contains or to gain the specific information one
intends to gain from the text. Understanding the texts means: 1 to gain the main ideas of the texts, 2 to be able to find the specific information related to the text,
48 3 to draw the general idea from a text, and 4 to gain the contextual reference
from the text. Besides, by reading a text, students are hoped to be able to increase their vocabulary mastery by finding the synonyms, and antonyms.
5. Motivation and Student Learning
