The Use of Graphic Organizers to Facilitate Reading Comprehension of Biographical Narratives Among Computer Science Students

Abstract

This study investigates the effectiveness of graphic organizers in facilitating the reading comprehension of biographical narrative texts. Recognizing the persistent issue of low literacy and reading interest in Indonesia, especially among non-English majors. This research focuses on how visual learning strategies can aid in understanding complex English texts. A total of 65 early-semester Information Systems students from the Computer Science Faculty, Universitas Duta Bangsa Surakarta, participated in the study. Data were collected through pretests and posttests to measure students’ reading comprehension, and through perception questionnaires to explore their attitudes toward the use of graphic organizers. The comprehension aspects measured included vocabulary, reference, main idea, inference, and factual information. They were provided with three biography texts on Bill Gates, Elon Musk, and Steve Jobs. The posttest results showed a clear improvement across all aspects. In the perception questionnaire, results showed a significant score. These scores indicate that graphic organizers are effective in helping students organize and internalize key content from reading materials. These findings suggest that graphic organizers are a powerful tool in enhancing comprehension by helping students visually structure and connect information. The implications of this research highlight the importance of integrating visual learning strategies into English instruction for non-language majors, as they not only enhance comprehension but also foster learner motivation and autonomy. Therefore, educators in higher education are encouraged to implement graphic organizers more widely as part of reading instruction practices.