Comprehension of stories and expository text

Abstract Four topics related to reading stories and expository text are discussed. First, the prose analysis technique employed by the authors is described. This technique yields a hierarchically arranged tree structure of idea units. Next, four major research findings utilizing this technique are presented. Generally, the relations between the top-level structure of a passage and recall are briefly described. Third, some of the authors' studies using both stories and expository text are summarized. Finally, Meyer's prose analysis technique is applied to an Aesop fable, and the similarities and differences between stories and expository text are considered. The prose analysis technique was shown to be capable of handling both expository text and stories.