The article contains a review of reading comprehension research since 1980, based on an interactive model of reading, with a focus on reading disabilities/learning disabilities. Included are studies which have investigated the influence of readers' prior knowledge of a topic, the influences of text structure and task demands, and metacognitive…

Describes a discussion model based on the reader-response approach which thrives on controversy and encourages students to become an active, responsible "community of interpreters." (MM)

Argues that composition is a distinct discipline, separate from literature and literary studies. Discusses problems associated with using literature in composition classes. Asserts that although traditional aesthetic literature is not necessary in the composition class, with limited use it can strengthen student writing. (MM)

Recommends teaching both mental imagery (an unobtrusive, natural text processing strategy) and summarizing (an efficient text reorganization strategy) to students who do not spontaneously use them. (NKA)

Presents the thoughts of an author who participates in and espouses the "Writers in Education" project in Great Britain, and notes that she enjoys speaking with younger students because they see her as a fellow writer and are less deferential than older students. (JC)

Presents a five-phase model for college reading improvement courses using literature to provide variety and motivation and to aid in developing a vehicle for developing analytic skills. (NH)

Notes that in the fourth grade, readers begin a transitional period where emphasis shifts from experiential reading to include informational and expository material. Discusses reading in the different content areas--English, history, mathematics, and science--and asserts that teachers should spend more time preparing students to read in these…

Reports on five studies which investigated reading for pleasure. Finds that this reading is characterized by within-text reading rate variability, is more arousing physiologically than other waking activities, and gives readers a feeling of control. Also finds that the Fog Index of readability predicts readers' preferences and difficulty rankings.…

Situates the mid-nineteenth century feminine romance within its social, political, and historical context in order to reveal the cultural authority for its existence. Focuses on "The Lamplighter" by Maria Cummins as an archetypal novel representative of its genre. (SRT)

Indicates that both novices and experts considered (1) definitions more important than facts, though novices applied this rule more strongly, and (2) information high in the passage hierarchy more important than lower level information. Finds that hierarchical level has a greater effect on the perceived importance of definition than facts. (JD)

Records the attempts of a very young child to construct his own understanding of what it means to die and of the social impact of death within his own culture. Includes transcripts in which the child uses narrative to frame his first, tentative ideas about death and responds to literature to further extend his understanding. (JD)

Investigates the effects of structural cueing (color or no color) and decision level (rote or semantic) on students' verbatim retention of technical prose and concludes that the results support the distinctiveness of encoding hypothesis for learning via the microcomputer. (DF)

Describes a metacognitive study method, LETME, designed to help students manage the entire study process by facilitating the understanding, selection, organization, retention, and analysis of information from expository text. (DF)

Concludes that vocabulary knowledge can produce effects on reading comprehension, but that the nature of the effects depends on the method used to present the knowledge and the manner used to measure reading comprehension. (FL)

Reviews various methods of teaching literature and proposes that response to literature be an element in the teaching of literature. Considers the role of the teacher in a response-centered classroom and how to create a classroom environment that will encourage interpretation and response to literature. (SRT)