How might a student's misconceptions about a text affect their performance?

A student's misconceptions about a text can significantly affect their performance by leading to incorrect interpretations or unsupported responses. When students misunderstand the key themes, characters, or actions within a text, their responses may reflect a lack of clarity about the material. This could result in a misinterpretation of the text's meaning or an inability to support their arguments with evidence from the text. They may draw conclusions that are not aligned with the author's intent or context, thereby compromising their overall analysis and comprehension. Misconceptions can skew their understanding, making it challenging for them to engage thoughtfully with the text, which is likely to affect their performance negatively on assessments.