demonstrate knowledge or understanding of that information.
3
Comprehension occurs when a reader is able to get the information that is presented in written text. It means that reading comprehension
is not a passive activity. Reading comprehension requires reader’s action that involves the use of the existing knowledge that the reader
has on the topic of the text as well as the text itself in order to create meaning.
According to Snow, reading comprehension is “the process of simultaneously extracting and constructing meaning through
interaction and involvement with written language”.
4
It means that the core of successful reading comprehension is the ability to understand
and construct information. Based on the definition above, the writer sums up that
reading comprehension is an active process which needs both the reader’s eyes and brain to get the information from the author’s
message. The reader also needs to comprehend, interpret, and respond to text according to what heshe has already known.
Moreover, compre hension requires the reader’s thinking
ability. It is important for a teacher to introduce the student to the types of thinking process that take place as heshe reads. The
following are the three levels of comprehension from lowest to highest a student needs to experience when reading any textbook.
2. Level of Reading Comprehension
Students learn to read gradually from the easiest to the most difficult one. With the better reading skill, they likely will be able to
make better progress and attain better achievement in their study.
3
Danny Brassell Timothy Ransiski, Comprehension That Works, Oceanus Drive: Shell Education, 2008, p.15
4
Chaterine Snow, Reading for Understanding : Toward a Research and Development Program in Reading Comprehension , RAND, 2002, p. 11
Therefore, there are three levels of comprehension which are identified:
5
a. Literal comprehension Literal comprehension refers to understanding ideas and
information explicitly stated in the passage. The literal level of comprehension is fundamental to all reading skill at any level because
a student has to understand what the author say before heshe can draw an inference or make evaluation. In literal comprehension, a
student needs to recognize the details such as fact and main idea. b. Inferential comprehension
Inferential comprehension refers to understanding of ideas and information not explicitly stated in the passage. In this level, the
students can infer supporting details, main idea that is not explicitly stated, and relationship of cause and effect.
c. Critical comprehension Critical comprehension refers to analyzing, evaluating, and
personally reacting to information presented in the passage. Critical reading requires a higher degree of skill development and perception,
because it involves evaluation, making of a personal judgment on the accuracy, value of what is being read. It means questioning,
comparing and evaluation. To sum up, when student understands textbook material at all
three levels of comprehension, heshe has acquired sufficient background knowledge in that subject area. In other words, the more a
student is familiar with particular topic, the higher hisher level of comprehension will be.
Comprehension needs differ in term of the goals of an individual and the purpose of reading. When people decide to read, it
means that they have a purpose for reading. Reading purpose will help
5
Danny Brassell timothy Ransiski, op. cit., p.17
