Disciplinary Literacy Virtual Library > Self-Paced Learning Modules

Module 2: A Deeper Look at Purposeful Reading

Lessons are designed for educators wishing to increase their understanding of disciplinary literacy at their own pace.

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Lesson 2.1:  Introduction—What is Purposeful Reading?

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Lesson 2.2:  Disciplinary Literacy in Action—Purposeful Reading

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Lesson 2.3:  Strategies for Purposeful Reading in the Classroom

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Lesson 2.4:  Planning for Purposeful Reading in Your Classroom

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Lesson 2.5:  A Disciplinary Literacy Concept Map Revisited

Lesson 2:1:  Introduction - What is Purposeful Reading?

 Lesson 2.1:  Introduction-What is Purposeful Reading? 

Task 1:  A Non-example—Reading without Purpose

a)    Read the following text selection:

The procedure is actually quite simple. First you arrange things into different groups. Of course one pile may be sufficient depending on how much there is to do. If you have to go somewhere else due to lack of facilities that is the next step, otherwise you are pretty well set. It is important not to overdo things. That is, it is better to do a few things at once than too many. In the short run this may not seem important, but complications can easily arise. A mistake can be expensive as well.

At first the whole procedure will seem complicated. Soon however, it will become just another facet of life. It is difficult to see any end to the necessity for this task in the immediate future, but then one can never tell.  After the procedure is completed, one arranges the materials into groups again. Then they can be put into their appropriate places. Eventually they will be used once more and the whole cycle will have to be repeated.  However that is part of life. 

(Source:  Bransford, J. D., and M. K. Johnson. “Contextual Prerequisites for Understanding Some Investigations of Comprehension and Recall.” Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior 11, no. 6 (1972): 717-726.)

b)    Disciplinary Literacy Strategy--Quick Write

Respond in writing:  What strategies did you use to comprehend this piece of text?  How did you know which strategies to use?  How might students “attack” text when they aren’t given a purpose?  What strategies might a middle school student have in their mental tool-box?

Task 2:  An Example of Reading with Purpose

a)    Disciplinary Literacy Strategy--Highlighting

When we highlight informational text, we select text that helps us meet our learning goal, or purpose.  For the following text selection, highlight words and phrases that might help you answer the question:  “What is purposeful reading?”

Read and highlight:  Purposeful Reading at the Middle Level by Jennifer M. Conner and Roger Farr

b)    Disciplinary Literacy Strategy--GIST Summary

One way to help students learn to summarize their learning from reading is to have them create GIST summaries.  GIST summaries are one sentence statements summarizing a short selection of text. 

Use the words and phrases you highlighted while reading the text to write a 10-15 word GIST summary to answer the question:  “What is purposeful reading?”

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