'Head'
Comprehension Question Stems - Author's Intention
'Head
Questions' are those that the answers can be found in your head by
thinking about them.
Here
are two pages of question stems that I use in my reading sessions.
How
to use this guide:
-
when running a Guided Reading Session have these question stems next
to you and formulate appropriate questions as you see a context.
- choose the questions appropriate to your group.
- have the students create their own questions to be answered by the
group.
Focus
on Author - Author's Purpose - Author's Intention
-
What lesson do you think the author is teaching us in this passage?
- What lesson do you think (character) is teaching us in this passage?
- Why do you think the author wrote this piece?
- What do you think the author's message is in this text?
- What message is the author trying to send us in this piece of writing?
- What do you think motivated the author to write this book? (NB 'Money'
is a given. Move on! hehehehe)
- Why do you think this text was written?
- What is the text mainly about?
- Why do you think the author decided to...?
- What audience do you think the author wrote this book for? Give
three pieces of evidence that tells you this?
- What do you think are the author's views on (subject)? What sections
of the text lead you to think this?
- The author says '....................' What does this mean?
- What do you feel is the author's best use of metaphor in the text?
Why?
- In your opinion, what is the best example of description in the
text? i.e a passage that created a vivid image in your mind's eye.
- The author made an analogy in the text by saying (insert analogy).
Tell me why you think the author has done this.
- What lessons from this author's writing can you apply to your writing
to make it more interesting for your readers?
- Writing a book sometimes takes a lot of thought. What do you think
would have been the hardest problem in the text to solve successfully?
- The author says '....................' What does this really mean?
- The author uses the phrase (phrase) to give us the idea that...
- Describe the value of this piece of writing in terms of big picture
stuff. i.e. 'Life, The Universe and Everything'
- What are the 'big picture' themes raised by the author in this text?
- How do you think the author felt about (character)?
- What do you think the author's attitude to his/her audience?
- Describe the tone of this piece of writing?
- What is the author's purpose in this text? i.e. Is it to entertain?
Persuade? Inform? Espouse? or something else?
- The author has capitalised the words (Words in Capitals) to show...
- The author has written the words (insert words) in italics to indicate...
- The author uses the phrase (phrase). This phrase suggests...
- The author made an analogy in the text by saying (insert analogy).
What irrelevant meanings might be implied from this?
-
Make a list of 5 questions you would like to ask this author in an
email. (NB How much money do you make is NOT an option hehehehe) To
help you 'rise above the mundane', here are a few of mine...
-
What inspires you to write for (audience)?
- How did you approach writing (piece of writing)?
- What advice do you have for young writers?
- In your career so far what book has given you the most satisfaction?
- You said (quote) in (media). What did you mean by that?
- What was your initial inspiration to write...?
- What is the hardest part about writing for you? How do you overcome
this?
