This popular text, now in its third edition, "unpackages" the various dimensions of literacy – linguistic (the nature of language, oral-written language relationships, language variation); cognitive (constructive nature of perception, the reading process, understanding written discourse, the writing process); sociocultural (literacy as social practices, authority of written discourse); and developmental (constructing the written language system) – and at the same time accounts for the interrelationships among them. Distinguished by its examination of literacy from a multidimensional and interdisciplinary perspective, it provides a strong conceptual foundation upon which literacy curriculum and instruction in school settings can be grounded.
Dimensions of Literacy links theory and research to practice in an understandable, user-friendly manner; provides in-depth coverage of the various dimensions of literacy; and includes demonstrations, hands-on activities, authentic reading and writing events that reflect key concepts, and tables and figures that summarize the concepts.
Changes in the third edition:
- provide more clearly focused discussion on the nature of language and addresses the role of various other sign systems in reading and writing
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- cover new research on eye movements and miscue analysis (EMMA) and reading fluidity (i.e., flow)
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- expand the discussion of bilingualism and biliteracy through the book
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- extend the discussion of new literacies/multiliteracies/multimodal literacies
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- include updated references throughout the entire book.
Table of Contents:
Preface
Third Edition Introduction
Acknowledgments
Part 1- Introduction
CHAPTER 1- A Multidimensional View of Reading and Writing
Part 2- The Linguistic Dimension of Literacy
CHAPTER 2- The Nature of Language and Other Sign Systems
CHAPTER 3- Oral and Written Language Relationships
CHAPTER 4- Language Variation
PART 3- The Cognitive Dimension of Literacy
CHAPTER 5- The Constructive Nature of Perception
CHAPTER 6- The Reading Process
CHAPTER 7- Understanding Written Discourse
CHAPTER 8- The Writing Process
PART 4- The Sociocultural Dimension of Literacy
CHAPTER 9- Understanding Literacy as Social Practices
CHAPTER 10- The Authority of Written Discourse
PART 5- The Developmental Dimension of Literacy
CHAPTER 11- Constructing the Written Language System
PART 6- The Educational Dimension of Literacy
CHAPTER 12- The Dimensions of Literacy: Implications for Reading and Writing Instruction
References
Author Index
Subject Index
About the Author :
Stephen B. Kucer is Associate Professor at Washington State University -- Vancouver, where he teaches graduate courses in language and literacy education. He is a member of the Reading Commission for the National Council of Teachers of English, and is on the Editorial Board of Reading Research Quarterly.
