Using Discourse Structure-Based Graphic Organizers (GOs) in Developing EFL Learners’ Reading Comprehension

Abstract

This study investigated the effectiveness of discourse structure-based graphic organizers (GOs) on students' reading comprehension. Seventy learners were randomly divided in two equal experimental and control groups. They took a pre-test of reading comprehension. Then the experimental group analyzed the textual structures based on the frameworks of GOs and discussed the cohesive and coherent devices in each passage while the control group read the passage and do the textbook exercises. Data analysis revealed that GOs significantly affected the students' reading comprehension. The implications suggest that familiarizing the learners with graphical structures could facilitate reading comprehension.