Reflection 2: Teaching Text Structure

As a student, the type of expository reading I had most difficulty with has the "main idea structure." As I read a textbook section for the first time, I tend to lose track of the supporting arguments for the main idea and sometimes only selectively remember the arguments that stood out to me the most. Bakken and Whedon gave a couple of good, simple note-taking guides for the five main types of expository writing (main idea, list, order, compare/contrast, and classification). I think the fact that the proposed study strategy includes a note-taking guide is something that's going to help a lot of students (like me) better organize and remember what they read. Having to write something done while reading forces the reader to process what she just read and put it into her own words.

I also like that Bakken and Whedon suggested that instructors introduce doing these note-taking guides by discussing the purpose of it. Also the students will need some scaffolding if this is their first time reading expository text. So modeling, guided practice, and independent practice are essential components. Overall, I really liked the simple strategies and note-taking guides Bakken and Whedon gave. However, I remember the part I struggled the most during any standardized reading assessment involves higher ordered questions (predict, construct, consider what is implied). While Bakken and Whedon suggests a solid strategy for introducing expository reading, I wonder what could be used to perfect expository reading for readers as they become sufficient but not expert readers (something that promotes more higher ordered thinking).