Reading Comprehension

Sweet & Snow (2003) define Reading Comprehension as, " the process of extracting and constructing meaning from text." There are three interactive elements which impact comprehension: the reader, the text, and the context. The reader is doing the comprehension. The reader's capabilities, abilities, knowledge, and experiences impact the act of reading. The text is anything that is read. The context is the activities of which comprehension is a part. The authors further suggest that there are three dimensions to these activities. These include purpose ( why is the reader reading the text ); processes (what mental activity must the reader engage in); and consequences ( what did the reader learn or experience as a result of reading the text).
There are two major types of text - narrative and expository. The structural pattern, or the way information is organised , and the relationships those ideas form to communicate meaning are different. Narrative text typically follows a single structural pattern often called story grammar. Expository text comes in a variety of patterns; for example, description, sequence, compare- contrast, cause - effect , and problem solution.
Expository, or informational texts convey and communicate factual information , and are generally more difficult to comprehend due to the variety of structures and unfamiliar content.