Thematic principle and questions for the reading of chronicles: A proposal of ordering and sequencing

Abstract

The present study aims at putting forward a theoretical-methodological proposal of ordering and sequencing of questions for the reading of the text genre Chronicle, with the latter being adopted in Middle School. The study is based on the notion of the thematic principle advocated by The Bakhtin Circle. It has been conducted with a view to contribute to research on written first language teaching and learning processes, not only in terms of reading skills, but also regarding written production. To this end, it focuses on views about reading, particularly with emphasis on Applied Linguistics and the practice of ordering and sequencing of reading, both of which highlight the relevance of such a proposal as constituent of the process of student development as reader in school. The following steps are taken into account for the making of such a proposal: (1) scrutinizing the main ideas of the text; (2) writing a text on the basis of such ideas; (3) setting reading questions also on the basis of the selected ideas; (4) having the student-reader to write a text as rebuttal/counterword on the basis of answers given to the questions. The outcomes of the proposal of ordering and sequencing of questions reveal: (1) identifying the main ideas relative to the text; (2) taking a stand as regards text theme; (3) producing a text as rebuttal/counterword as consequence of the whole process.

Keywords: ordering, sequencing, reading questions, theme, chronicle.