Barretts Taxonomy of Reading Comprehension

1. Literal (lowest): Identify information directly stated/ concern with information stated
explicitly in the text)
Recognition of details (name of characters, places, times)
Recognition of main ideas
Recognition of sequence
Recognition of similarities (identify similarities among characters, places and
names)
Recognition of cause and effect relationships
Recognition of character traits
Recall (produce from memory ideas stated explicitly)
Recall of details
Recall of main ideas
Recall of sequence
Recall of comparisons
Recall of cause and effects relationships
Key phrases to use:
ocate ......
Identify....
!tate.....
"escri#e....
$hat caused.......
$hy......
%. Reorganization: (organi&e or order information a different way than it was presented/
analy&ing, synthesi&ing and organi&ing information that has #een stated explicitly)
'lassifying (placing persons, things and places into groups)
(utlining (organi&ing a selection in outline form)
!ummari&ing (paraphra&ing or condensing a selection)
!ynthesi&ing/ consolidating information from more than a single source)
Key phrases to use:
'ompare...
'ontrast...
ist ....
'lassify...
)araphrase...
!ummarise...
*. Inference: Respond to information implied #ut not directly stated/ using information
explicitly stated along with one+s own personal experience as a #asis for con,ecture
and hypothesis.
Inferring supporting details (suggesting additional facts that might ha-e made the selection
more informati-e, interesting or appealing)
Inferring main ideas (pro-iding the main idea when it is not stated explicitly)
Inferring sequence (con,ecturing a#out what might ha-e happened or will happen when no
explicit statements are included in the text.
Inferring comparisons
Inferring cause and effects relationships (inferring the author+s intentions, moti-ations
or characters)
Inferring character traits (hypothesi&ing charcteristics of persons)
)redicting outcomes (predicting what will happen as result of reading part of thye text.
Interpreting figurati-e language/inferring literal meanings from the figurati-e use of
language)
Key phrases to use:
!uppose....
.ow....
'ould....
$hat are the implications of ....
$hat caused .... (if cause is not stated)
/. Evauation: 0a1e ,udgements in light of the material/,udgements and decisions
concerning -alue and worth.
2udgments of reality or fantasy (,udging whether an e-ent is possi#le)
2udgments of facts and opinion distinguishing #etween supported and unsupported
date)
2udgments of adequacy and -alidity (,udging whether information in a text agrees with
other sources of information)
2udgments of appropriateness (determining relati-e adequacy of different parts of a
selection in answering specific questions)
2udgments of worth, desira#ility and accepti#ility (decisions of good, #ad, right and
wrong)
Key phrases to use:
!hould ....
In your opinion....
"o you agree...
$hat part of the story #est descri#es...
"o you #elie-e....
Is it right.....
3. !ppreciation: (.ighest) 4i-e an emotional or image5#ased response
6motional response to content (-er#ali&ing feelings a#out selections)
Identification with characters or incidents (demonstrating sensiti-ity to or empathy
with characters and e-ents)
Reactions to the author+s use of language (responding to the author+ a#ility to create
language)
Imagery (7er#ali&ing feelings produced #y the author+s selection of words that
produce -isual, auditory, etc. !ensations of images)