Asking Questions

Why do we Ask Questions?

• To clarify, wonder, determine author’s style or intent, to better understand, when the reading gets confusing, to monitor our reading, to synthesize new information, and to determine importance
• To stay actively involved in the reading
• To read with a purpose
• To deepen comprehension (Thick vs. Thin Questions)

When do we Ask Questions?

• Before, during, and after reading ~ just look at the cover and title and begin asking!
• When you use the strategies:  Is my prediction good or do I need to change it?  What am I visualizing?  Do I need to change my mental image?  What’s happened so far?   Does this remind me of anything?
• If we don’t have the background knowledge we need to ask more questions.
• Hearing other people’s questions inspires more of our own questions.
• As you read, does it make sense?
• Just go outside ~ what questions do you have about nature?  What questions do you have about a painting or illustration?

How do we Ask Questions?

• Start by using a wordless book ~ what questions do I have?
• Before we read and as we read many of our questions are predictions.  Our “after the book has been read” questions are the most thought provoking.
• Create an “I Wonder” chart before, during, and after the story.  Which questions were answered?  Which had to be inferred?
• There are 3 types of questions ~ Predicting Questions move us forward, Monitor Questions pull us back, Thinking Questions makes us infer
• Questions start with who, what, where, when, why, how, would, could, should, did
• What happened?  Why did it happen?  Think about cause and effect.
• Thick questions deepen our comprehension and thin questions can be found in the text
• Questions can be related to the text  type ~ narrative, expository, technical, persuasive, or text structure ~  sequence, problem/solution, cause/effect, descriptive, compare/contrast
• We use connections to help us make meaningful questions
• Ask ~ What does my question do for my reading?
• Begin with a KWL chart for nonfiction texts
• Give students a list of answers.  THEY come up with the questions!

How do we answer Questions?

•  A – answered in the text, BK – answered from someone’s background knowledge I – inferred, D – discussion, RS – research needed C- signals confusion
• We also use our own interpretation, the pictures, and rereading

Types of Questions

• Does the question start with: What did, Who did, How many, What was, Who are, What does ___ mean, Define, What kind ~ then the answer is RIGHT THERE
• Does the question start with: How do you, How did, What, What happened to, What happened before/after, How many times, What examples, Where did ~ then I must THINK and SEARCH for the answer.  The answer is found in different parts of the story.  Words to create the question and answer are not in the same sentence.
• Does the question start with:  Have you ever, If you could, If you were going to, In your opinion, Do you agree with, Do you know anyone who, How do you feel about ~ then you are ON YOUR OWN and you need to think about the answer.  The answer is NOT in the story.

Questions to think about

• What is the author trying to tell us?
• Why did the author write this book?
• Is the title appropriate?  What is my evidence?
• What did the character learn?
• Who/what is each paragraph about?