In "Skellig," "Kit's Wilderness," and "Clay", David Almond employs various types of intertextuality to enrich his narratives. Through the use of allusion, adaptation, collage, and mise-en-abyme, he encourages his adolescent readers to seek out precursor texts and to consider the interrelationships between these texts and his own. By so doing, he…

Discusses how seeing relationships between past texts and the current text influences reading comprehension. Shows how teachers can expand the scope of meanings students construct by (1) organizing texts in ways that promote relationships such as complementary texts, conflicting texts, controlling texts, synoptic texts, and dialogic texts; and (2)…

Discusses two distinct views on what a quote is: the exact words of a speaker, or a journalist's rewritten or fabricated version of the speaker's words. Argues that paraphrasing allows writers to taint the evidence and causes the loss of the speaker's voice and the loss of credibility and independent corroboration. (SR)

Reviews models of reading performance as an organizing framework for understanding findings from empirical studies of text and reader factors. Reviews numerous empirical studies of text design and reader variables and their effects on comprehension. Aims to help readers understand this research and its implications in document design decisions.…

Discusses technology and literacy, in particular the characteristics and qualities of hypertext. Seeks to communicate some of the experience of reading hypertext. Argues that the computer is much more than a new device for displaying textual information or for teaching children how to read and write. (SR)

Reports on the Multilingual Resources for Children Project at Reading University, United Kingdom, which examines the problems of relating and controlling dual language texts so that the reader perceives the two texts as equally important. States that the project encompassed five languages: Chinese, Gujarati, Bengali, Urdu, and Panjabi--the most…

The reading of a literary work can give rise to five different kinds of literary knowing: (1) knowing about self; (2) knowing about others; (3) knowing about texts; (4) knowing about contexts; and (5) knowing about processes of making meaning. A literary work can prompt a reader to reflect upon aspects of his or her own life. Concentrating upon…

Addresses paper versus electronic publication, discussing the implications for reading and writing, and whether it is as easy to read from a screen as from a book. Notes that the computer medium arose from a research project to design the perfect book, the Dynabook. (SR)

Discusses what usability is and how to test for it. Offers nine suggestions for technical communicators working on usability testing. (SR)

Since the 1950s, literary study has experienced a major paradigm shift. M. H. Abrams' notion that the author, reader, and the signified world are arranged like satellites around a stable text has been succeeded by one that acknowledges the reader to be a central determinant in any "reading" of a text. Five themes related to reader…

Discusses how psychologists use affect, behavior, and cognition (ABCs) to understand people. Argues that teachers can use these same three domains to learn more about readers, and to assess the ABCs of attitude toward the reading experience. Recommends the use of literature circles and dialog journals as simple, effective instructional techniques…

Looks at the characteristics of outstanding historical fiction including its literary qualities and criteria associated with authenticity. Discusses how teachers invite readers to approach their experiences with these novels. Looks at the role of historical fiction in today's classrooms. Presents brief annotations of 25 outstanding works of…

Combined-text picture books unite multiple genres, providing nuanced information on a single topic from the unique lens of each genre. By providing guided practice in reading and writing a combined-text picture book, teachers can help students develop sensitivity to different types of texts, to what they do and how they do it. Such sensitivity can…

Discusses how the authors' review of literature on ability grouping prompted them to look closer at the objectivity of research in general. Concludes that predispositions to specific topics of research, prompted by preexisting values and characteristics of the particular reader, affects the objectivity of the reader in interpreting research…

Three holistic approaches to reading comprehension instruction for learning-disabled children are described: text-based instruction, explicit comprehension instruction, and a combined model. Following discussion of each model's strengths, weaknesses, and teaching techniques, the combined model is recommended. (Author/JDD)