Pittelman, Heimlich, Berglund, and French 1991

Pittelman, Susan D., Joan E. Heimlich, Roberta L. Berglund, and Michael P. French. 1991.Semantic feature analysis: Classroom applications. Newark, DE: International Reading Association. 65 pages. 0872072355. Location: Dallas SIL Library 371.3 S471. Interest level: lay specialist.

Semantic feature analysis (SFA) enables students to conceptualize new knowledge and relate it to their prior knowledge. SFA grid graphically represents a student's experiences and prior knowledge and provides an effective way for expanding vocabulary in a logical way.

While a semantic map presents a broad view of semantic relationships within a concept, the SFA grid focuses on the finer relationships between and among words. SFA is applicable across the content areas and provides a simple way for students to organize, compare, and contrast information presented.

Can be used as a prereading activity and a postreading activity for study, review, and assessment. May be used with fiction or nonfiction for either whole-class or small-group discussions. As students become more independent and confident in their use of the technique, they can use SFA to create personal study guides.

• Bibliography module: Pittelman, Heimlich, Berglund, and French 1991
• In overview module: Bibliography (Literacy): P
• In modular book: Bibliography (Literacy), by Doris Gallemore, Trudi C. Hunt, Jeanne Swanson, and Stephen L. Walter
• In document collection: Reference materials
• In bookshelf: Literacy

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 4.0, published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 1999. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 28 June 1999

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