CONTENT SCHEMA AND READING: SCHEMATA, ACTIVATING SCHEMA, AND GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS

20 Question-and-Answer style flashcards covering key concepts from content schema, schemata, activating schema, and graphic organizers as described in the notes.

What is schema?

A mental framework that helps organize and interpret information; it is built from a person’s prior knowledge and experiences.

What are the three schemas readers use?

Content schema, linguistic schema, and formal schema.

What is content schema?

Knowledge about the subject matter that readers bring to a text; it helps predict, visualize, and question, and relates new information to prior experiences (enhanced by concept maps and KWLH charts).

What is linguistic schema?

Knowledge of language features such as vocabulary, syntax, and other linguistic cues used during reading.

What is formal schema?

Knowledge of the structure and format of texts (genres, layouts, headings) that guide understanding.

What does ‘schemata’ refer to?

Past experiences and knowledge collectively—the mental frameworks readers bring to new material.

What does activating schema involve before reading?

Recalling relevant experiences, paying attention to the title, predicting, and forming questions to connect with the text.

How can a title help activate schema?

By allowing you to predict what the text will be about based on the title.

What is a KWLH chart?

A graphic organizer: Know, Want to Know, Learned, and How you will use the information.

What is a Fishbone diagram used for in content schema?

A graphic organizer that helps analyze causes and relationships related to a topic.

What is a Flow Chart?

A graphic organizer that shows the sequence of steps in a process.

What is a Venn Diagram?

A graphic organizer used to compare and contrast two or more items.

What is a Semantic Features Analysis Map?

A graphic organizer that analyzes the presence or absence of features across concepts to compare them.

What is a Concept Map/Idea Map?

A graphic organizer that shows concepts and their interrelationships.

What is a Cluster Map?

A graphic organizer that groups related ideas around a central concept.

Why are graphic organizers used with content schema?

They visually organize information, help connect new material to prior knowledge, and support evaluating information.

What is the main focus of content schema in reading as described in the notes?

Activating and applying content knowledge to understand the text.

What should readers remember about their prior knowledge when culture is involved?

That prior knowledge may not exactly match the text; be prepared to adapt and consider cultural differences.

What is activating schema?

The process of recalling prior knowledge and experiences to prepare for reading, including predicting, questioning, and connecting to the text.