A comparative analysis of 8th grade students' summarizing skills of different types read and listened texts

The aim of this study was tocomparatively analyze eighth graders' ability to summarize auditory and written texts and to determine whether summarizing skills differed by learning area, text type, school achievement, gender, number of books read per month, mother's education, father's education and monthly household income. A screening model was used. Study population consisted of eighth-grade students in the central district of the city of Muş. Study sample consisted of 190 eighth gradersof four secondary schools. According tothe achievement results of the Central Examination for Secondary Education Institutions by the Ministry of National Education, the schools in the central district are divided into three levels; high, medium and low achievement. For sample homogeneity two low achievement, one medium achievement and one high achievement schools were selected. Two auditory texts (one narrative and one expository) and two written texts (one narrative and one expository) were used. Participants were asked to summarize the texts. The summaries were thestudy data. The summaries were evaluated using the "Summary Evaluation Scale" developed by Okur (2011). Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 210. A t-test and One Way ANOVA (parametric tests) as well as frequency (f), arithmetic mean (X) and standard deviation (S) were used. Participants had better listening skills than reading skills. Participants from high achievement school had beter summarizing skills than others. Participants who read 4 or more books per month had better summarizing skills than others. Participants whose mothers had a secondary or high school degree had better summarizing skills than others. Participants whose fathers were literate or had a high school or college degree had better summarizing skills than others. Participants with an average household income had better summarizing skills than others. Female participants had better summarizing skills than male participants. However, participants' summarizing skills did not significantly differ by text type. The results were discussed comparatively with those of similar studies. In conclusion, several suggestions were made for teachers, preservice teachers, those who prepare curricula and the Ministry of National Education. Keywords: Eighth grade students, different types of texts, summarizing skills.