prior and background knowledge in reading

WHAT? WHY? WHEN & HOW?

DEBBIE LAHAV

Prior Knowledge and Background Knowledge

in Reading

What is prior or background knowledge?

Prior or background knowledge is everything you know about something.What do you know about…. ?

The French Revolution Ice cream – chocolate, in particular Family Nanotechnology

Everyone’s knowledge of a topic is different.

Why do need background knowledge in reading?

Read the text. What “prior or background knowledge” is missing to understand the message of the text?

You probably have never heard of the “Luddites.” We can understand from the text that the Luddites

are against technology but we do not know what context to put them in.

BUT to get the message of the text we need to know who these people are/were?

The Luddites are archetypal opponents of new technology.

When….

When you realize that you do not have the background information, it is your job to go find out!It’s easier then ever today, thanks to…

How?

How and When?

Activate your prior knowledge or get the missing background

knowledge while you are reading!

REMEMBER: Not having prior knowledge or the background knowledge is like trying to put together a puzzle when there are pieces missing. You will never get the whole picture.