Comprehension
Comprehension is the understanding and interpretation of what is read. To be able to accurately understand written material, children need to be able to
(1) decode what they read;
(2) make connections between what they read and what they already know; and
(3) think deeply about what they have read. One big part of comprehension is having a sufficient vocabulary, or knowing the meanings of enough words.
Readers who have strong comprehension are able to draw conclusions about what they read – what is important, what is a fact, what caused an event to happen, which characters are funny. Thus comprehension involves combining reading with thinking and reasoning.
For you to understand the concept of comprehension you can watch this video for understanding
Click link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxIZmgrK-xc
There are six main types of comprehension strategies (Harvey and Goudvis; 2000):
Readers connect the topic or information to what they
already know about themselves, about other texts, and about the world.
Step 2 Ask Questions—
Readers ask themselves questions about the text, their reactions to it, and the author's purpose for writing it.
Step 3 Visualize—
Readers make the printed word real and concrete by creating a “movie” of the text in their minds.
Step 4 Determine Text Importance—
Readers
(a) distinguish between what's essential
versus what's interesting,
(b) distinguish between fact and opinion,
(c) determine cause-and-effect relationships,
(d) compare and contrast
ideas or information,
(e) discern themes, opinions, or perspectives,
(f) pinpoint problems and solutions, (g) name steps in a process,
(h)
locate information that answers specific questions, or
(i) summarize.
Step 5 Make Inferences—
Readers merge text clues with their prior knowledge and
determine answers to questions that lead to conclusions about
underlying themes or ideas.
Step 6 Synthesize—
Readers combine new
information with existing knowledge to form original ideas, new lines of
thinking, or new creations.
Students quickly grasp how to
make connections, ask questions, and visualize. However, they often
struggle with the way to identify what is most important in the text,
identify clues and evidence to make inferences, and combine information
into new thoughts. All these strategies should be modeled in isolation
many times so that students get a firm grasp of what the strategy is
and how it helps them comprehend text.
However, students must
understand that good readers use a variety of these strategies every
time they read. Simply knowing the individual strategies is not enough,
nor is it enough to know them in isolation. Students must know when
and how to collectively use these strategies.
Comprehension is evident when readers can:
- Interpret and evaluate events, dialogue, ideas, and information
- Connect information to what they already know
- Adjust current knowledge to include new ideas or look at those ideas in a different way
- Determine and remember the most important points in the reading
- Read “between the lines” to understand underlying meanings
Click on link below for further information:
http://www.benchmarkeducation.com/educational-leader/reading/comprehension-strategies.html
Poetry
An Example of a Poem
Click on Video.......................
Poetry deals with particular things in concrete language, since our emotions most readily
respond to these things. From the poem's particular situation, the reader may then generalize;
the generalities arise by implication from the particular. In other words, a poem is most often
concrete and particular; the "message," if there is any, is general and abstract; it's implied by
the images.
Images, in turn, suggest meanings beyond the mere identity of the specific object. Poetry "plays" with meaning when it identifies resemblances or makes comparisons between things; common examples of this "figurative" comparison include:
- ticking of clock = mortality
- hardness of steel = determination
- white = peace or purity
Such terms as connotation, simile, metaphor, allegory, and symbol are aspects of this comparison. Such expressions are generally called figurative or metaphorical language.
ARE YOU CONFUSED? HERE ARE SOME TIPS:
- Read the poem (many students neglect this step)
- Identify the speaker and the situation.
- Feel free to read it more than once!
- Read the sentences literally.
- Use your prose reading skills to clarify what the poem is about
- .Read each line separately, noting unusual words and associations.
- Look up words you are unsure of and struggle with word associations that may not seem logical to you
- .Note any changes in the form of the poem that might signal a shift in point of view.
- Study the structure of the poem, including its rhyme and rhythm (if any).
- Re-read the poem slowly, thinking about what message and emotion the poem communicates to you.
STRUCTURE and POETRY
An important method of analyzing a poem is to look at the stanza structure or style of a poem. Generally
speaking, structure has to do with the overall organization of lines and/or the conventional patterns of sound.
STANZAS:
Stanzas are a series of lines grouped together and separated by an empty line from other stanzas. They are the equivalent of a paragraph in an essay. One way to identify a stanza is to count the number of lines. Thus:
- couplet (2 lines)
- tercet (3 lines)
- quatrain (4 lines)
- cinquain (5 lines)
- sestet (6 lines) (sometimes it's called a sexain)
- septet (7 lines)
- octave (8 lines)
FORM:
A poem may or may not have a specific number of lines, rhyme scheme and/or metrical pattern, but it can still be labeled according to its form or style. Here are the three most common types of poemsaccording to form:
1. Lyric Poetry: It is any poem with one speaker (not necessarily the poet) who expressesstrong thoughts and feelings. Most poems, especially modern ones, are lyric poems.
2. Narrative Poem: It is a poem that tells a story; its structure resembles the plot line of a story [i.e. the introduction of conflict and characters, rising action, climax and the denouement].
3. Descriptive Poem: It is a poem that describes the world that surrounds the speaker. It uses elaborate imagery and adjectives. While emotional, it is more "outward-focused" than lyric poetry, which is more personal and introspective.
In a sense, almost all poems, whether they have consistent patterns of sound and/or structure, or are free verse, are in one of the three categories above. Or, of course, they may be a combination of 2 or 3 of the above styles! Here are some more types of poems that are subtypes of the three styles above:Ode: It is usually a lyric poem of moderate length, with a serious subject, an elevated style, and an elaborate stanza pattern.
Elegy: It is a lyric poem that mourns the dead. [It's not to be confused with a eulogy.]It has no set metric or stanzaic pattern, but it usually begins by reminiscing about the dead person, then laments the reason for the death, and then resolves the grief by concluding that death leads to immortality. It often uses "apostrophe" (calling out to the dead person) as a literary technique. It can have a fairly formal style, and sound similar to an ode.
Sonnet: It is a lyric poem consisting of 14 lines and, in the English version, is usually written in iambic pentameter. There are two basic kinds of sonnets: the Italian (or Petrarchan) sonnet and the Shakespearean (or Elizabethan/English) sonnet. The Italian/Petrarchan sonnet is named after Petrarch, an Italian Renaissance poet. The Petrarchan sonnet consists of an octave (eight lines) and a sestet (six lines). The Shakespearean sonnet consists of three quatrains (four lines each) and a concluding couplet (two lines). The Petrarchan sonnet tends to divide the thought into two parts (argument and conclusion); the Shakespearean, into four (the final couplet is the summary).
Ballad: It is a narrative poem that has a musical rhythm and can be sung. A ballad is usually organized into quatrains or cinquains, has a simple rhythm structure, and tells the tales of ordinary people.
Epic: It is a long narrative poem in elevated style recounting the deeds of a legendary or historical hero.Other types of poems include:
Qualities of an Epic Poem:
- narrative poem of great scope; dealing with the founding of a nation or some other heroic theme requires a dignified theme requires an organic unity requires orderly progress of the action always has a heroic figure or figures involves supernatural forces
- written in deliberately ceremonial style
Haiku: It has an unrhymed verse form having three lines (a tercet) and usually 5,7,5 syllables, respectively. It's usually considered a lyric poem.
Limerick: It has a very structured poem, usually humorous & composed of five lines (a cinquain), in an aabba rhyming pattern; beat must be anapestic (weak, weak, strong) with 3 feet in lines 1, 2, & 5 and 2 feet in lines 3 & 4. It's usually a narrative poem based upon a short and often ribald anecdote.
CLICK ON LINK BELOW FOR MORE INFORMATION ON POETRY
http://learn.lexiconic.net/elementsofpoetry.htm
Figure of Speech
Personification
Personification is all about adding a human trait to an inanimate object or an abstraction.
For example: The picture in that magazine shouted for attention.
Simile
A simile is a figure of speech that compares two unrelated things or ideas using "like" or "as" to accentuate a certain feature of an object by comparing it to a dissimilar object that is a typical example of that particular trait.
For example: as big as a bus, as clear as a bell, as dry as a bone, etc.
Metaphor
A metaphor compares two different or unrelated things to reveal certain new qualities in the subject, which you might have ignored or overlooked otherwise.
For example: The streets of Chennai are a furnace.
Alliteration
Alliteration is the duplication of a specific consonant sound at the start of each word and in quick succession. Although alliterations are all about consonant sounds, exceptions can be made, when vowels sounds are also repeated. This figure of speech is commonly seen in poems.
For example: "Guinness is good for you" - Tagline for Guinness
Hyperbole
A far-fetched, over exaggerated description or sentence is called as hyperbole and is commonly used in jokes and making backhanded compliments.
For example: When she smiles, her cheeks fall off.
Onomatopoeia
This figure of speech is partly pleasure and partly business. It is used to replicate sounds created by objects, actions, animals and people.
For example: Cock-a-doodle-do, quack, moo, etc.
Imagery
Imagery is a figure of speech, which employs words to create mental images in the mind of the reader. It is a powerful tool and mostly used by poets, lyricists and authors. For example: "Cloudless everyday you fall upon my waking eyes inviting and inciting me to rise, And through the window in the wall, Come streaming in on sunlight wings, A million bright ambassadors of morning." - A portion of the lyrics to the song 'Echoes' by the band Pink Floyd
Pun
A pun is a figure of speech that plays with words to give away obscured meanings. A pun is also known as paronomasia.
For example: My son wanted a scooter. When I told him they are too dangerous, he moped around the house.
Irony
Irony is used to stress on the opposite meaning of a word. When people are looking to be sarcastic, they employ irony.
For example: He was so intelligent, that he failed all his tests.
Click on link below to view the different figure of speech these will help you with comprehension and poetry.
Comprehension *
Essay Writing *
Letter to the Editor*
Literary Devices *
Persuasive Writing*
Short Story*
Summary *
Letters: Friendly & Business
Paragraph Writing
Report
Please note that the texts, short stories and poems that appear on the CSEC English Literature examination, for 2012 to 2015, have an asterisk (*) beside them.
LITERATURE TEXTS/ NOTES (CARIBBEAN SECONDARY SCHOOLS)
A Midsummer Night's Dream*
Introduction to Shakespeare*
Old Story Time*
Songs of Silence*
The Wine of Astonishment *
SHORT STORIES & ANTHOLOGIES (CARIBBEAN SECONDARY SCHOOLS)
A World of Poetry:
Poetry Tables*
A Contemplation Upon Flowers*
A Stone's Throw*
Dreaming Black Boy *
Forgive My Guilt*
God's Grandeur *
It is the Constant Image of your Face*
Ol' Higue*
Once Upon A Time*
Orchids*
Sonnet Composed Upon A Westminster Bridge*
The Woman Speaks to the Man Who Has Employed Her Son*
West Indies, U.S.A*
Ballad of Birmingham
The Lynching
A World of Prose:
Short Story Tables*
Berry*
Blackout*
Emma*
Mom Luby and the Social Worker*
Septimus*
Shabine*
The Boy Who Loved Ice Cream*
The Day the World Almost Came to an End *
The Man of the House*
To Dah-Duh in Memoriam*
www.bulbsoup.com
GUIDE TO TEACHING ENGLISH LITERATURE
SUPER INSIGHTFUL
CXC ENGLISH LITERATURE POETRY
PRESCRIBED POEMS 2012-2014
NEW POETRY TEXT
2012-2017
References
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ey49S3Eb8E
http://wizznotes.com/english/comprehension-exercises-prose-and-poetry
http://wizznotes.com/english/poetry/important-stages
This links tell you about the stages in analysing a poem and the figure of speech.
CSEC/CXC OUTLINE OF MODULES/TOPICS
Please note that the topics that appear on the CSEC English Language examination, for 2012 to 2015, have an asterisk beside them.Comprehension *
Essay Writing *
Letter to the Editor*
Literary Devices *
Persuasive Writing*
Short Story*
Summary *
Letters: Friendly & Business
Paragraph Writing
Report
Please note that the texts, short stories and poems that appear on the CSEC English Literature examination, for 2012 to 2015, have an asterisk (*) beside them.
LITERATURE TEXTS/ NOTES (CARIBBEAN SECONDARY SCHOOLS)
A Midsummer Night's Dream*
Introduction to Shakespeare*
Old Story Time*
Songs of Silence*
The Wine of Astonishment *
SHORT STORIES & ANTHOLOGIES (CARIBBEAN SECONDARY SCHOOLS)
A World of Poetry:
Poetry Tables*
A Contemplation Upon Flowers*
A Stone's Throw*
Dreaming Black Boy *
Forgive My Guilt*
God's Grandeur *
It is the Constant Image of your Face*
Ol' Higue*
Once Upon A Time*
Orchids*
Sonnet Composed Upon A Westminster Bridge*
The Woman Speaks to the Man Who Has Employed Her Son*
West Indies, U.S.A*
Ballad of Birmingham
The Lynching
A World of Prose:
Short Story Tables*
Berry*
Blackout*
Emma*
Mom Luby and the Social Worker*
Septimus*
Shabine*
The Boy Who Loved Ice Cream*
The Day the World Almost Came to an End *
The Man of the House*
To Dah-Duh in Memoriam*
www.bulbsoup.com
GUIDE TO TEACHING ENGLISH LITERATURE
SUPER INSIGHTFUL
CXC ENGLISH LITERATURE POETRY
PRESCRIBED POEMS 2012-2014
NEW POETRY TEXT
2012-2017
ENG 1 Comprehension -Recognize facts stated explicitly.
Eng Mod1 Comprehension L1 SIM PDF document
Comprehension Video 1 file
References
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ey49S3Eb8E
http://wizznotes.com/english/comprehension-exercises-prose-and-poetry
http://wizznotes.com/english/poetry/important-stages
This links tell you about the stages in analysing a poem and the figure of speech.
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