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The study of Progress in International Reading Literacy PIRLS shows that Indonesian students’ ability in reading is still in the lower level. From 45
countries that have been observed, Indonesia is on the level of 40 http:edukasi.kompas.com
. It indicates that in Indonesia, students’ strategies in comprehending reading materials are still a problem and it could be affected by
the students’ reading ability. The other facts of students’ reading ability in English language learning can be seen from the result of national examination 2010. The
result of national examination 2010 shows that: 1 30. 94 students from MA did not pass the national examination because they did not pass English subject
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,
and 2 there are 1,496 students from 1,525 students Junior High School in Makassar did not pass English subject in the national
examination 2010 www.makassarterkini.com. From those problems, this study investigated reading strategies employed
by the three categories of senior high school students, namely: high achiever students, middle achiever students, and low achiever students at one Senior High
School in Ternate.
1.2 Research Questions
1 What strategies are employed by high achiever, middle achiever, and low
achiever students in comprehending reading materials? 2
What are the similarities and differences of reading strategies employed by high achiever students, middle achiever students and low achiever students
in comprehending reading materials?
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3 Why do high achiever students, middle achiever students and low achiever
students employ those strategies in comprehending reading materials?
1.3 The Purpose of the Study
1 To investigate the reading strategies which were employed by high
achiever students, middle achiever students and low achiever students in comprehending reading materials.
2 To investigate the similarities and differences of reading strategies which
were employed by high achiever students, middle achiever students and low achiever students in comprehending reading materials.
3 To investigate the students’ reasons in employing those reading strategies
to comprehend reading materials.
1.4 The Scope of the Study
This study was conducted to investigate reading strategies which were employed by high achiever students, middle achiever students and low achiever
students in comprehending reading materials, the similarities and differences of reading strategies which were employed by high achiever students, middle
achiever students and low achiever students and the students’ reasons in employing those strategies to comprehend reading materials. The study was
focused on direct strategy and indirect strategy. Direct strategy includes 1 memory strategy, 2 cognitive strategy and 3 compensation strategy while
indirect strategy includes 1 metacognitive strategy, 2 affective strategy and 3 social strategy Oxford, 1990:16-21; Grabe Stoller, 2002; Blachowicz Ogle,
2008; Nunan, 2003; O’Malley Chamot, 1990; Mikulecky Jeffries, 1996:132; Silberstein, 1994:11.
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1.5 The Significance of the Study
