PORPE METHOD

Reading is an intensive process in which the eye quickly moves to assimilate text. Very little is actually seen accurately. It is necessary to understand visual perception and eye movement in order to understand the reading process. 

Comprehension is the purpose for reading. Without it the reader is wasting his time because he is not processing and remembering the text It is vital to the education of student to implement strategies to develop reading comprehension skills. Student with literacy problems who do not receive help are in danger of becoming adults with limited employment opportunities and other life challenges.

There are a variety of steps that you can take to assist your student with reading comprehension. For example : with using PORPE Method.

PORPE is a method to study textbook materials in which the students create and answer essay questions. It can be a time-consuming process, but it is an excellent means for preparing for essay exams (www.arc.sbc.edu/porpe.html)

There are five steps in this learning strategy. Those steps are: Predict, Organize,

Rehearse, Practice and Evaluate.

1. Predict: After reading the chapter, predict possible essay questions from the

information contained in the text. In the arrangement of these questions, the students should evade questions that begin with “what,” “who” or “when” and do not include analysis.Some key question words are “explain,” “discuss,” “criticize,” “evaluate”,“contrast” and “compare”

2. Organize: few days before the exam, the organization of information is needed to answer the predicted questions. The organization can be done by outlining or by other methods such as mapping. Main concepts and supporting details to answer the questions are highly recommended to be summarized. The more information is organized, the more advantage can be taken to arrange the practice answers..

3. Rehearse: Recite aloud the information and examine the students memory. Reciting aloud must be performed because the more senses that are involved in forming the memory, the better understanding the students will get. This step helps students to place the key ideas, examples, and overall organization in students’ long-term memory.

4. Practice: In practicing, the students’ answer the students’ predicted essay questions from memory. The students can draft an outline of the essay or organize a complete answer.

5. Evaluate: Evaluate the students’ work by asking the following question: Do I have enough clear examples? Is my answer complete, truthful, and suitable? Is there anything I should study before taking the exam?

REFERENCE

Simpson, M.L.; Hayes, C.G.; Stahl, N.; Robert T. Connor, R. T.; & Weaver D.     (1988).  An Initial Validation of a Study Strategy System. Journal of    Reading Behavior, 20, 149‑80.

Simpson, M.L.; Stahl, N; & Hayes, C. (1988).  PORPE: A Comprehensive    Study Strategy Utilizing Self‑Assigned Writing.  Journal of College Reading and Learning 20, 51‑57.

Simpson, M.L.; Stahl, N; & Hayes, C. (1989). PORPE: A Research Validation.       Journal of Reading, 33, 22‑28.

Stahl, N.; Simpson, M. L.; and Hayes, C. (1992).Ten recommendations from          research for teaching high-risk college students.Journal of          Developmental Education, 16(1).Retrieved November 13, 2005, from http://www.ncde.appstate.edu/reserve_reading/10_Recommendations_Article.