The Use of Schema Theory in Reading Comprehension for College Fresh Students

[Abstract] Reading plays an inestimable part in our study. To learn reading, to become an expert at reading, to improve reading quality, a reader should learn how to use the three schemas of Schema Theory: formal schema, linguistic schema and content schema.
This article introduces formal schema from two aspects: textural style and transitional words. And for linguistic schema, the most important thing is the meaning of vocabulary. The article emphasizes using context clues and word parts to guess the meaning. While for content schema, reader should try to activate his previous background knowledge and personal prior experience. This article puts forward two methods: prediction and association.
In order to understand an English reading perfectly, readers should also use their critical thinking to evaluate the text and finally form their own opinions.
[Key Words] formal schema, linguistic schema, content schema, critical thinking

图式理论在低年级大学生英语阅读理解中的应用

【摘 要】英语阅读在我们的学习中占据着不可估量的重要地位. 为了学好阅读,成为阅读方面的能手, 并改善阅读质量, 读者应该学习如何运用图式理论的三个图式,即形式图式,语言图式和内容图式.
本篇论文从两个方面建立对英语阅读的形式图式,即文体和过渡词. 对于语言图式,最重要的部分是词义. 本文着重运用上下文及构词法来推测词义.而在内容图式中,读者应尽可能地激活背景知识及个人过去的经历.为此目的,文章提出了两个方法:预测和联想.
为了能圆满地完成英语阅读, 除了运用三种图式,还要求读者以自己的批判性思维,对英语阅读做出评价,形成自己的观点.
【关键词】形式图式,语言图式, 内容图式, 批判性思维

<无忧论文 【http://www.uklunwen.com】FONT face=Verdana>1. Introduction
    The reading demanded in college is different from the reading in high school or on the job or for recreation. College textbooks contain many new words or words used in a way that is different, perhaps，from the way you might use them in everyday language. Every sentence in a college text looks important and may be important. You know you can’t learn everything in the book, but how do you decide what is absolutely necessary or essential?
Here is a situation that might sound familiar to you. You have been reading and concentrating on the textbook. You get to the end of the section or the chapter you are reading, and you say, “Well, I read it, but I’m sure I didn’t understand it.” In this case you have not comprehended what you have read. You may have looked at every word on the page and you may have ever understood each word. But at the end of the page you have to admit that you did not understand whatever it was that all those words added up to.
 
2. Schema Theory
    Schema was first put forward by German philosopher Kant. “All human beings possess categorical rules or scripts that they use to interpret the world. New information is processed according to how it fits into these rules, called schema” [1] German psychologist Burtlett used and developed the concept of schema. According to Rumelhart, “Schema theory is a theory about men’s knowledge, a theory of the mental representation of inf