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Critical Reading Software Reviews

Title of Program

College-Level Reading Comprehension

Publisher or Producer

Queue

Version and/or Date

1991

Setting (in classroom, small groups, etc.)

Individually in the lab

Potential Users

College students who are competent readers

Computer

Hardware: Macintosh/PC

Checklist

(characteristics present indicated by x)

   Overall design of program is good
 x Reading selections are long (several paragraphs).
   Reading selections are complete works rather than excerpts.
 x Content of reading selections is appropriate for college 
       students.
   Tasks involve students in constructing ideas, rather than in 
   answering objective questions.

Reading Strategies

(items present marked by x)

   Previewing
   Accessing prior knowledge
   Establishing a purpose for reading
   Determining text structure and organization
   Asking questions
   Defining terms as used in context
   Monitoring comprehension
   Using fix-up strategies when comprehension breaks down
   Paraphrasing and summarizing author's ideas
   Relating author's background to reading selection
   Determining author's purpose and attitude
   Relating ideas in reading selection to other ideas
   Evaluating the validity of the author's claims
   Collaborating with other ideas

Comments

This program is designed to improve students' speed and accuracy in reading. It provides practice in skimming, making inferences, recognizing main ideas, and identifying supporting details. Both reading passages and questions (in multiple- choice format) are read on-screen. Incorrect answers are explained. This program is a typical read-a-short-passage-and- answer-objective-questions format. The only advantage of its being on

Computer

ratherthan on paper is immediate feedback, re: answers.

Evaluator

Sally Rings

Date of Evaluation

11/93

Critical Reading Software Reviews
Š1994, Maricopa Center for Learning and Instruction (MCLI)
Maricopa County Community College District, Arizona

The Internet Connection at MCLI is Alan Levine --}
Comments to alan.levine@domail.maricopa.edu