Reading Comprehension through Summarization of Narrative Stories: An Action Research Study

Abstract

This study focused on implementing summarization as a strategy to enhance reading comprehension of narrative stories. This innovation was implemented to improve students' reading comprehension. It involved 26 participants who had different English levels proficiency: 15 elementary, 7 pre-intermediate and 4 intermediate level. Taking into account the participants’ English proficiency, they had to read and summarize seven stories implemented during a period of 25 pedagogical hours. In the group, there were 10 women and 16 men, and they were high school students. This action research study included the following quantitative instruments: a pre survey, a pre-post-test and a pre-post checklist; and a qualitative instrument named as “Time to reflect” template. The results showed that 13 of the participants improved the way they summarize. The participants were engaged from the beginning until the end of the innovation. This study is aimed at supporting authorities and teachers of English as a foreign language from other institutions, who will improve their reading comprehension results and motivate a skill that students often find difficult to work.