First and Second Language Readers Distinguishing Fact From Opinion: An Exploratory Study

Results were examined by groups, items, and individuals. These results indicated that readers used evidentials and relied on the first part of combined sentences in making fact and opinion evaluations. The more proficient second language readers evaluated most sentences similar to first language readers. Two differences that emerged between first language and second language readers included: L1 readers evaluated inferential evidentials as more factual than L2 readers; L1 readers evaluated the ambiguous simple sentence John was wrong as more factual than L2 readers. When it was included in combined sentences, L1 readers appeared to use this complement to evaluate the combined sentences. Finally, some readers applied criteria that were more factual or more opinion in their evaluation of the sentences.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Education

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2015

Author dc:creator

• Graney, John Michael

Contributors dc:contributor

• Cziko, Gary A.

• Education, Reading

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

(MiAaPQ)AAI9737120

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/80170