Introduction 1
Section Ⅰ:Understanding L2 reading 7
1 The nature of reading abilities 9
1.1 Purposes for reading 11
1.2 Defining fluent reading comprehension 17
1.3 Describing how reading works:Components of reading abilities 19
1.4 Synthesising research perspectives:Models of reading 31
1.5 Conclusion 37
2 Comparing L1 and L2 reading 40
2.1 Linguistic and processing differences between L1 and L2 readers 42
2.2 Individual and experiential differences for L1 and L2 readers 55
2.3 Socio-cultural and institutional difierences influencing L1 and L2 reading development 58
2.4 Conclusion 62
3 Dilemmas for L2 reading research and instruction 64
3.1 Reading research and instruction:A source of dilemmas 65
3.2 General dilemmas for L2 reading 67
3.3 Instructional dilemmas for L2 reading 75
3.4 Conclusion 91
Section Ⅱ: Exploring research in reading 95
4 Key studies in L1 reading 97
4.1 Research studies as stories:An extended example 98
4.2 Nine key research studies 105
4.3 Seeing the story structure of research studies 123
4.4 Conclusion 124
5 Key studies in L2 reading 125
5.1 Topics to explore in L2 reading research 126
5.2 Ten good stories from L2 reading research 129
5.3 Conclusion 150
Section Ⅲ:Researching reading in the classroom 153
6 The reading teacher as classroom researcher 155
6.1 Teachers investigating their own classrooms:'How to'guidelines 159
6.2 Conclusion 181
7 Vocabulary,fluency and rate development:Action research projects 183
7.1 Model action research projects 185
7.2 Conclusion 201
8 Strategic reading and discourse organisation:Action research projects 202
8.1 Model action research projects 205
8.2 Conclusion 224
9 Reading instruction and student affect:Action research projects 226
9.1 Model action research projects 229
9.2 Conclusion 244
Section Ⅳ:Resources 245
10 Resources for action research 247
10.1 Journals dedicated to reading and related issues 248
10.2 Journals that report studies related to reading and other topics 248
10.3 Journals that periodically have articles related to the teaching of L2 reading 249
10.4 L2 teacher resource books on reading and related topics 249
10.5 L1 teacher resource books with good ideas for L2 teachers 250
10.6 Teacher resources on action research 252
10.7 Web sites for reading teachers 252
10.8 Web sites on graphic organisers 253
10.9 Web sites on action research 254
10.10 Professional organisations of interest to reading teachers 255
Glossary 257
Index of studies summarised in Chapters 4-5 and model action research projects presented in Chapters 6-9 269
References 273
Subject Index 286
Author Index 289