The Organization of Prose and Its Effects on Reading English as a Foreign Language (Iran)
Hooshmand, Dariush
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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/68928
Description
Title
The Organization of Prose and Its Effects on Reading English as a Foreign Language (Iran)
Author(s)
Hooshmand, Dariush
Issue Date
1984
Department of Study
Education
Discipline
Education
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
Language, Linguistics
Abstract
Three studies are reported which investigated the relative sensitivity of Iranian readers of English as a foreign language to the organizational conventions in English prose passages. Study 1, using a multiple-choice reading test investigated the subjects' sensitivity to the hierarchical organization of ideas in expository prose passages. Study 2, using an outline completion test examined the subjects' ability to recognize and manipulate rhetorical relations. Study 3, using a cloze test with rational deletion of cohesive and syntactic items sought to find out (1) if subjects at different levels of reading proficiency would show similar degrees of sensitivity to cohesive relations, and (2) if they would demonstrate differential performance on cohesion and syntax.
The data were analysed using a MANOVA, followed by a series of one-way ANOVAS with post-hoc comparisons. Results of these analyses revealed that the Iranian readers of EFL suffer from a serious deficit in the use of text organization as a source of information in reading. This deficiency was demonstrated particularly in the areas of cohesion and rhetorical relations. Furthermore, evidence was obtained to indicate that the ability to use text organization is strongly related to reading speed and comprehension.
It is suggested that instruments employed in the study could be used in conducting further research on text organization. The results of the study also indicate that scrambled paragraphs and outlining can be valuable techniques for teaching aspects of text organization.
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