Responses to fiction in English (short story) by a variety of year VI students

Abstract

This dissertation is based on a study concerning fiction reading in English conducted on a group of Year VI students in Maltese Government Primary Schools. The first part deals with the theoretical aspects of reading; a definition of reading, the significance of reading as a leisure activity, factors which influence children's attitudes towards this activity and the characteristics which make a short story suitable for the children of to-day. In the second part follows a description of how the survey was carried out, a close analysis of both questionnaires as well as conclusions and comments on the study. Suggestions for improving a child's response to fiction are found in the third part of this dissertation. These suggestions focus mainly on encouraging children to read more for leisure, reasons why a child should respond to literature and finally techniques which may elicit a reaction to leisure reading.