published_or_final_version / Linguistics / Master / Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics

本研究目的在於應用促進學習的評估理念，設計一套以評估提升香港中學二年級學生基本和高層次閱讀能力的實驗教學課程，以了解利用評估提升學生閱讀能力的成效。研究利用前測及後測考卷，對比學生在接受實驗教學前後的閱讀能力水平，結果發現利用評估有助提升學生的閱讀能力，特別是「理解篇章深層意義」和「建構個人新知識及看法」的能力。而利用評估提升學習成效，又以低程度閱讀能力的學生得益最大，對於「理解基本／表層文意」、「理解篇章深層意義」和「建構個人新知識及看法」三個能力層次均有顯著提升。研究結果顯示利用評估有助提升學生的閱讀能力，但亦須注意評估與教學內容的配合，特別是結合篇章理解策略教學，才可進一步發揮遷移及持久作用，達到促進學習的效果。 This study investigated the effectiveness of using reading assessment to enhance the Grade 8 students’ basic and higher-order reading ability. A group of 39 grade 8 students were assigned to learn an experimental reading instruction programme which is based on the theories of assessment for learning. Comparing the results of pre-test and post-test, students’ reading ability is found to be improved. The results indicated that students demonstrated significant gains from pre-test to post-test. Moreover, low achievers benefited most from the reading instruction programme. Their three levels of reading ability, including “understanding of basic / surface meaning”, “understanding of implicit meaning” and “construction of personal new knowledge and views”, were found to be improved. This study suggests using assessment for learning can enhance students’ reading ability. / published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

English language enjoys a high status in Hong Kong. Many parents enroll their children to language classes at a very young age aiming to get them into well-regarded schools for a better prospect. One way that can help learners improve English proficiency is through reading. However, when local students are streamed into different secondary schools, the motivation to read is lowered. This thesis aims at highlighting the different learning contexts of our students that contribute to reading. A new genre, graphic novel, is used to investigate the effectiveness to motivate secondary school students to read. Factors are also identified which may facilitate the revival of the interest of students of different backgrounds and abilities in reading. The study consists of 8 Form 3 (grade 9) students and 2 secondary English teachers. 5 students are studying in a secondary school with English as medium of instruction (EMI) and the other 3 students are studying in a secondary school with Chinese as medium of instruction (CMI). The 2 teachers are working in these two secondary schools respectively. This research was conducted using an action research approach. Questionnaires, interviews and students’ journals were used to achieve the aim of the study. The results reveal that graphic novel can positively motivate secondary school students to read. Teachers can also make use of the features of the genre to make the lessons more interesting. However, more research needs to be done about the introduction of the genre in classrooms and the value of the genre in improving the language proficiency. / published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

published_or_final_version / abstract / Education / Master / Master of Education

published_or_final_version / abstract / toc / Education / Master / Master of Education

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

published_or_final_version / abstract / Linguistics / Master / Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics

by Chung Sin Ling Jenny. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1994. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 173-190). / Abstract --- p.i / Acknowledgements --- p.ii / Contents --- p.iii / List of Tables --- p.ix / List of Figures --- p.x / Chapter Chapter1 --- Introduction / Chapter 1.1 --- Background to the Study --- p.1 / Chapter - --- Related reading research / Chapter - --- Signals and coherence / Chapter - --- Signal types studied in different conditions / Chapter - --- Contradictory findings of signal studies / Chapter - --- Reading comprehension perspectives adopted in this study / Chapter 1.2 --- The Problem --- p.7 / Chapter 1.3 --- Purpose of the Study --- p.8 / Chapter 1.4 --- Significance of the Study --- p.9 / Chapter Chapter2 --- Literature Review / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.11 / Chapter 2.2 --- Analysis and Discussion of Theories and Models of Reading Comprehension --- p.11 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Comparison of van Dijk and Kintsch's Discourse Processing Models and Other Models --- p.11 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Van Dijk and Kintsch's Textbase (Microstructure and Macrostructure) Processing --- p.14 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- The Comprehension Process - from an Information Processing Perspective --- p.20 / Chapter 2.2.3.1 --- Introduction --- p.20 / Chapter 2.2.3.2 --- The Process of Information Processing in van Dijk and Kintsch's Discourse Processing Model --- p.21 / Chapter 2.2.5.3 --- Act theories (An information Processing approach from Cognitive Psychology) --- p.24 / Chapter 2.3 --- Relevance of Theories and Models of Discourse Processing to the Present Study --- p.25 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- "The Relationship Between the Notions of Activation, Strength and Goals During Information Processing" --- p.25 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Automatic Processing and Control Processing and Readers of Different Abilities --- p.28 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- "Meaning, Functions and Types of Strategies" --- p.30 / Chapter 2.3.3.1 --- Nature of Strategies --- p.30 / Chapter 2.3.3.2 --- Types of Strategies --- p.31 / Chapter 2.3.4 --- Mental Representation and Reading Comprehension --- p.38 / Chapter 2.3.4.1 --- The Function of Mental Representation --- p.38 / Chapter 2.3.4.2 --- Levels of Meaning Representation --- p.40 / Chapter 2.3.5 --- Schema Theory and Reading Comprehension --- p.55 / Chapter 2.3.6 --- Inferencing and Reading Comprehension --- p.61 / Chapter 2.4. --- "The Relationship between Signals, Cohesion, Coherence and Reading Comprehension" --- p.52 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- "The Meaning , Types and Functions of Signals" --- p.53 / Chapter - --- An overview of the important notions of signals / Chapter - --- Other related notions of signals identified in this study / Chapter 2.4.2. --- "The Interplay of Signals, Cohesion and Coherence" --- p.64 / Chapter 2.4.3 --- Interplay between Signals and Comprehension Process --- p.70 / Chapter 2.4.4 --- Signal Studies --- p.74 / Chapter 2.4.4.1 --- Single signal studies --- p.74 / Chapter - --- Conjunctions / Chapter - --- Lexical and Semantic Cues / Chapter - --- "Headings, Previews & Titles" / Chapter 2.4.4.2 --- Multiple Signal Studies --- p.77 / Chapter 2.5 --- Brief Summary of Literature Review --- p.79 / Chapter Chapter3 --- Research Design / Chapter 3.1 --- Hypotheses and variables --- p.83 / Chapter 3.2 --- Sampling --- p.85 / Chapter 3.3 --- Subjects --- p.85 / Chapter 3.4 --- Materials --- p.86 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Source and Text Content --- p.86 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Simplifying Authentic Text --- p.87 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- Topic and Difficulty of the Passage --- p.89 / Chapter 3.5 --- Design of the Test --- p.89 / Chapter 3.6 --- Validity --- p.92 / Chapter 3.6.1 --- Construct Validity --- p.92 / Chapter 3.6.2 --- Construct Validity --- p.94 / Chapter 3.6.3 --- Criterion Validity --- p.95 / Chapter 3.7 --- Measuring Reading Comprehension --- p.98 / Chapter 3.8 --- Preliminary Study and Pilot Studies --- p.101 / Chapter 3.8.1 --- Preliminary Study --- p.101 / Chapter 3.8.2 --- Pilot Study1 --- p.105 / Chapter 3.8.3 --- Pilot Study2 --- p.107 / Chapter 3.9 --- Testing Procedure --- p.108 / Chapter 3.10 --- Scoring --- p.109 / Chapter 3.11 --- Research Design --- p.110 / Chapter 3.11.1 --- Statistical Design / Chapter 3.12 --- Limitations --- p.112 / Chapter Chapter4 --- Results and Discussion / Chapter 4.1 --- Statistical Analysis of Tests Scores --- p.113 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- Reliability and Discrimination Index --- p.135 / Chapter - --- The Pilot Studies --- p.113 / Chapter - --- The Main Study --- p.114 / Chapter 4.1.2. --- "The Interaction between ""Versions"" and ""Groups"" Of the Entire Sample" --- p.115 / Chapter 4.1.3 --- The Insignificant Difference of Signalled Versions and the Non-Signalled Version on the Reading Comprehens ion Scores of the High Group and the Medium Group --- p.116 / Chapter 4.1.4 --- The Significant Difference of Signalled Versions and the Non-Signalled Version on the Reading Comprehension Scores of the Low Group --- p.116 / Chapter 4.1.5 --- "The Means and Standard Deviations of the Low Ability Groupin Total Reading Comprehension Scores, Macrostructure Scores and Microstructure Scores of the 4 Versions in the Main Study" --- p.118 / Chapter 4.1.6 --- Results of the Means and Standard Deviations of the Three Kinds of Reading Comprehension Scores on the Entire Sample --- p.122 / Chapter 4.1.7 --- The relationship between Versions and Groups (Ability Group) --- p.122 / Chapter 4.2 --- Discussion --- p.128 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Summary of Research Findings --- p.128 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- The Relationship between Text Relations and Logical Connectives --- p.131 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Coherence Established through Logical Connectives --- p.142 / Chapter 4.3 --- The Roles of Paragraphs in Language Processing --- p.148 / Chapter 4.4 --- Comparison of the Effects of Different Types of Signals on Reading Comprehension --- p.152 / Chapter 4.5 --- Discussion on the Ability Difference in Making Use of Signals --- p.155 / Chapter 4.6 --- Summarization of Text Processing With or Without Making Use of Signals --- p.168 / Chapter Chapter5 --- Conclusions --- p.170 / BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.173 / "Appendix A (Examination Syllabus of Reading Comprehension Section C, Hong Kong A-Level Examination,1985)" / Appendix B (Skills invovled in Understanding Written Materials in Paper II of Hong Kong Certificate Education1989) / "Appendix C (Passages for the Reading Comprehension Post-Test: Versions 1, 2, 3,4)" / Appendix D (Question Papers for the Reading Comprehension Post-Test) / Appendix E (Pre-test Passages and Question Papers) / Appendix F(Discrimination Index of the 25 Test Questions in Pilot Study 2 Selected for the Main Study) / Appendix G (Discrimination Index of the 25 Test Questions in the Main Study) / "Appendix H (Results of T-Test on the difference among the 4versions of the Total Scores, Macrostructure Scores and the Mocrostructure Scores of the High Ability Group in the Main Study)" / "Appendix I (Results of T-Test on the difference among the 4versions of the Total Scores, Macrostructure Scores and the Microstructure Scores of the Medium Ability Group in the Main Study)"

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education