Which ESL objective focuses on constructing meaning from literary and informational text?

• A. Memorize vocabulary lists
• B. Read aloud and paraphrase text?
• C. Construct meaning from literary and informational text
• D. Ignore audience

Answer: (C)

Understanding how students derive meaning from what they read is essential. The objective that focuses on constructing meaning from literary and informational text targets comprehension, interpretation, and the ability to connect ideas across different texts. It involves using strategies to understand purpose, identify main ideas, draw inferences, and explain what the text means in one’s own words with evidence from the text.

Memorizing vocabulary lists centers on recall of individual words rather than making sense of a whole passage. Reading aloud and paraphrasing can support pronunciation and restatement, but it emphasizes oral practice more than building meaning from text as a whole. Ignoring the audience isn’t helpful for developing clear, purposeful communication, which is a key part of reading comprehension.