CHAPTHER 2. LITERATURE REVIEW
This chapter presents some theoretical review related to the research topics that are Skimming and Scanning techniques in reading comprehension. The
theories discussed in this chapter includes the definitions of reading comprehension, reading comprehension achievement, the techniques in teaching
reading, The use of Skimming and Scanning techniques to improve reading comprehension, teaching reading using Skimming and Scanning techniques, the
strengths and weaknesses of skimming and scanning techniques, recount text, research hypothesis. Each point will be explained in the following sections
respectively.
2.1 Definitions of Reading Comprehension
According to Patel and Jain 2008:113, reading means understand the meaning of printed words. We construct meaning from the text given and decode
it. Moreover, we get information from it. Stay in line with that, Grellet 1996:7 says reading is a process of guessing meaning from the text. It means someone
who reads the text actually does not only read the words, but they predict and decode them to get the information from the text.
According to Houston and Torgesen 2004:3, reading is an important life
skill. Reading cannot be separated in all aspects of life, including school, work, and the community. Reading is a major key to access knowledge to look for
information. In line with this idea, Patel and Jain 2008:113 confirm that reading is most useful and an important skill for people. By reading, people can get
pleasure and profit from it. Reading plays an important role in education. Most of the activities in the
teaching learning process cannot be separated with reading activity. Reading is the first of the most important which can support the process of mastering the other
skills and improving knowledge Hanafi,2005. Moreover, reading fluently is needed as an indicator of intellectual activity. Patel and Jain 2008:114
emphasize that reading is the most important activity in any language class. 6
Reading is a useful activity for the students where they can get information from it beside listening.
Reading and comprehension cannot be separated. According to Crawley and Merrit 2000:40, comprehension is the goal of reading. Comprehension is very
important in reading because the main purpose of reading is to understand or comprehend the meaning of the printed words. Johnson 2002:5 states
comprehension is the strategies a reader uses to construct meaning and retrieve information from the text. In other words, the reader should be able to decode,
extract the information, and comprehend the writer’s message when he is reading.
2.2 Reading Comprehension Achievement
