Graduation Year
2019
Document Type
Master's Thesis
Degree
Master of Science
Program
Education
Program Director
Elizabeth Truesdell, PhD
First Reader
Lynn Zimmerman
Second Reader
Elizabeth Truesdell, PhD
Abstract
The purpose of this quantitative study was to analyze the effects of close reading instruction on students’ reading comprehension. Close reading is an instructional strategy that allows students to dig deep into the reading and gain a profound understanding of the vocabulary, writing structure and author’s message. The study consisted of a total of twenty-one 6th grade students who received close reading as an experimental treatment. The treatment included several components of close reading: essential questions, graphic organizers to compare short non-fiction stories, written analysis of author’s point of view/theme and weekly tests. The treatment focused on having students reread, identify evidence from the text and draw inferences to understand the purpose of the reading. The group was monitored as they engaged in reading literature stories in the Wonders-McGraw Hill Reading program over a period of 5 weeks. Results of the study were obtained through a reading comprehension test, that was part of the reading program, at the end of each week. The data was transferred into tables and graphs for analysis and discussion of the students’ performance.
Included in
Curriculum and Instruction Commons, Early Childhood Education Commons, Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Commons, Educational Methods Commons, Elementary Education Commons