The Relative Merits of Two Forms of Discourse when Applied to Children’s Factual Content Reading Material

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to determine the relative merits in chil dren's reading materials of two literary forms. The forms of discourse chosen are conversational and narrative-expository. The narrative exposi tory form presents facts in a somewhat unadorned, largely expository style, while the conversational versions give the facts mingled with con versation between characters. The study specifically attacks the following four phases of the problem : 1. To determine which of the two literary forms is more satisfactorily comprehended. 2. To determine the relative word rate at which the children read the two styles of discourse. 3. To determine whether or not one type has an advantage over the other as to retention of content. 4. To determine which style of presentation children prefer when selecting materials to read which will reveal information.