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Preparing Students for
An Action Research Project Proposal
Dr. Nellie Deutsch
University of Phoenix
2005

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Action Research Project Proposal
Grade nine EFL students lack the skills to cope with reading comprehension tests.

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Action Research Project Proposal
• Determine the causes
• Build a workable curriculum program
• Provide students with test taking techniques
• Improve student scores

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Action Research Project Proposal
• Population
• Work Setting
• Writer’s Role

Action Research Project Proposal
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Two Surveys
• Online Questionnaires
 Students
 Parents
 Teachers
• Offline Questionnaires
 Students

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Action Research Project Proposal
(Before Intervention)
QuestionPro Online Survey Program http://www.questionpro.com/akira/ShowResults?id=161974

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Action Research Project Proposal
Students: What thoughts do you have during the test?
I wish I had prepared myself better.
I won't have enough time.
I am doing great.
I wish I could be somewhere else
25.71%
39.05%
20.95%
14.29%

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Action Research Project Proposal
Teachers: ESL/EFL students are anxious during reading comprehension tests in English.
Strongly Agree
Agree
Undecided
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
34.15%
45.85%
8.29%
8.78%
2.93%

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Action Research Project Proposal
Teachers: ____ of my ESL/EFL students are/were anxious during reading comprehension tests.
Most
Some
Many
None
A few
31.03%
36.55%
25.52%
2.07%
4.83%

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Action Research Project Proposal
Parents : My daughter/son gets anxious when there is reading comprehension test in school.
Strongly Agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
41.03%
17.95%
23.08%
18.38%
2.56%

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Action Research Project Proposal
Parents: Reading strategies would improve reading comprehension in English
Strongly Agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
70.27%
21.62%
8.11%
0.00%
0.00%

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Action Research Project Proposal
Teachers: ESL/EFL students would benefit from relaxation exercises before reading comprehension tests.
Strongly Agree
Agree
Undecided
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
28.29%
37.07%
27.80%
3.90%
2.93%

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Action Research Project Proposal
Brief summary
• Problem
• Solution

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Action Research Project Proposal
Reading Comprehension Test Taking Skills
12 Week Curriculum Program:
• Reading Strategies
• Test Taking and Relaxation Techniques

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Action Research Project Proposal
• General Layout
 Paragraph: Introduction, body and conclusion
 Type of writing: letter, report, description, persuasion …
 Skimming and scanning: Numbers, capital letters

Action Research Project Proposal
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• Relaxation Exercises
 Mindfulness: Present
 Breathing: Counting to 10
 Color Visualization and Chakras
 Self-talk: Positive affirmations
• Time
• Organization

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Action Research Project Proposal
Student scores before and after the 12-week implementation
80.15
57.3
Students

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Action Research Project Proposal
• Questions
• Comments

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Action Research Project Proposal
• Needs Assessment Survey
 Questionnaire on test taking anxiety
 Questionnaire on reading strategies
• Action research project
• Comparison of grades before and after test taking and reading strategies curriculum program

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Action Research Project Proposal