A Project of Upgrading Biological Science and Technology Major Students’ Reading Comprehension and Knowledge of Academic Vocabulary Instructor: Dr. Mavis Shang Presenter: Sophia Yar-ling Tsai 19 June 2008 I-Shou University, Taiwan

Setting I-Shou University I-Shou University Department of Biological Science and Technology Department of Biological Science and Technology The department offers students the ability to The department offers students the ability to learn and understand : learn and understand : * general biology * general biology * microbiology * microbiology * cell biology * cell biology * biochemistry * biochemistry

Background Difficulties students encounter: Difficulties students encounter: Understanding specialist vocabulary. Understanding specialist vocabulary. Understanding the main points of the text Understanding the main points of the text Reading at adequate speed to be able to complete reading assignments Reading at adequate speed to be able to complete reading assignments

Aims Students will increase academic vocabulary to prepare themselves for college course. Students will increase academic vocabulary to prepare themselves for college course. Students will learn how to read effectively and how to develop better reading strategies for academic use. Students will learn how to read effectively and how to develop better reading strategies for academic use.

Objectives To use knowledge of words and cueing systems to read fluently. To use knowledge of words and cueing systems to read fluently. To recognize a variety of text forms, text patterns, and to understand of how they help communicate meanings To recognize a variety of text forms, text patterns, and to understand of how they help communicate meanings To read for information To read for information To read interpretatively To read interpretatively

Scope and Sequence 1 Reading with Fluency Reading Familiar Words Reading Unfamiliar Word Predict the meaning of and rapidly solve unfamiliar words using different types of cues Semantic 、 Syntactic Phonological

Scope and Sequence 2 Understanding Form and style Text Forms Identify 、 Explain 、 Analyze Text Patterns Identify 、 Explain 、 Analyze

Scope and Sequence 3 Reading For Meaning Comprehension StrategiesComprehension Strategies Demonstrating UnderstandingDemonstrating Understanding Analyzing Texts Point of View

Scope and Sequence 4 Identify reading comprehension strategies and use them before, during and after reading to understand Identify reading comprehension strategies and use them before, during and after reading to understand Use prior knowledge to brainstorm about the topic Use prior knowledge to brainstorm about the topic Ask questions about information or ideas Ask questions about information or ideas Use visualization to help clarify the sights Use visualization to help clarify the sights Ask questions to monitor understanding Ask questions to monitor understanding Synthesize ideas to generate a new understanding Synthesize ideas to generate a new understanding Make and confirm predictions based on evidence Make and confirm predictions based on evidence Synthesize ideas to broaden understanding Synthesize ideas to broaden understanding

Scope and Sequence 5 Demonstrating Understanding Demonstrating Understanding Restate information from the text. Restate information from the text. Identify important ideas and some supporting details Identify important ideas and some supporting details Summarize important ideas Summarize important ideas Summarize and explain important ideas and citing supporting details. Summarize and explain important ideas and citing supporting details.

Scope and Sequence 6 Analyzing Texts Analyzing Texts Identify the main idea and elements of texts Identify the main idea and elements of texts Identify specific elements of texts and explain how they contribute to the meaning of the texts. Identify specific elements of texts and explain how they contribute to the meaning of the texts. Analyze texts and explain how specific elements in them contribute to meaning Analyze texts and explain how specific elements in them contribute to meaning

Scope and Sequence 7 Point of View Point of View Identify the point of view and suggest possible alternative perspectives. Identify the point of view and suggest possible alternative perspectives. Cite supporting evidence from the text. Cite supporting evidence from the text. Ask questions to identify missing or possible points of view and suggest some possible alternative perspectives. Ask questions to identify missing or possible points of view and suggest some possible alternative perspectives. give evidence of any biases and suggest other possible perspectives. give evidence of any biases and suggest other possible perspectives.

Teaching Approach Content-based and task-based approaches The course is integrated with science, technology and ESL program for students. The course is integrated with science, technology and ESL program for students. A variety of student-centered activities will be given. A variety of student-centered activities will be given. Tasks are basic building blocks. Tasks are basic building blocks. Tasks provide the learner with demonstrable and measurable outcomes of performance Tasks provide the learner with demonstrable and measurable outcomes of performance

Evaluation Categories of evaluation Categories of evaluation Knowledge of content. Knowledge of content. ex. forms of text, terminology ex. forms of text, terminology Understanding of content Understanding of content ex. main ideas, view points ex. main ideas, view points Use of planning skills Use of planning skills ex. gathering information, organizing information ex. gathering information, organizing information Use of processing skills Use of processing skills ex. making inferences, analyzing, synthesizing ex. making inferences, analyzing, synthesizing