Reading comprehension tests: reading-to-write-a-synthesis and gap-filling

Noor, Shagofah (2018) Reading comprehension tests: reading-to-write-a-synthesis and gap-filling. Masters thesis, Northern Arizona University.

Text Noor_nau_0391N_11516.pdf - Published Version Restricted to Repository staff only Download (701kB) | Request a copy

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate a potential new way of assessing reading comprehension at the college level in Afghanistan. The way in which the assessment of reading comprehension was approached in the English Department of Herat University required change and updating. In this study, synthesis writing is evaluated to determine if reading-writing integration can help in assessing the reading comprehension of Afghan sophomore students. Furthermore, a gap-filling activity was used to examine if a cognitively less challenging activity can provide support (scaffolding) in completing a more complex task. Participants were divided into two groups. Gap-filling and reading-to-write-a-synthesis activities were presented in reverse order to the groups. A 2-by-2 mixed ANOVA was conducted to assess the main effects of task and group and the interaction effect between the two factors. Results of the study suggest the order of presentation affects the performance of participants in these two tests and, contrary to expectations, that presenting the reading-to-write-a-synthesis activity prior to the gap-filling activity may result in better performance on the more challenging reading-to-write-a-synthesis activity.

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Publisher’s Statement:	© Copyright is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the Cline Library, Northern Arizona University. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author.
Keywords:	TESL
Subjects:	P Language and Literature > P Philology. Linguistics
NAU Depositing Author Academic Status:	Student
Department/Unit:	Graduate College > Theses and Dissertations College of Arts and Letters > English
Date Deposited:	11 May 2021 18:04
URI:	http://openknowledge.nau.edu/id/eprint/5467

Actions (login required)

IR Staff Record View

Downloads