8.5.B*

ASKING QUESTIONS

An effective way for students to engage with the texts that they are reading is through asking questions. Students can ask questions throughout the reading process to help better their understanding and to gain more information.

BEFORE you begin reading, it can be useful to ask questions that help you preview and make predictions about a text. This will also help give you a purpose as you read.

Example:

What do I think this text will be about?

What do I already know about the topic of this text?

How does the author organize the text?

Who is the author of the text?

How credible or reliable is the information in the text?

Example:

What do I think this story will be about?

Do I know anything about the topic of the story?

What is the genre of the story?

What point of view is the story in?

Who are the characters in the story?

What is the setting of the story?

AS you are reading, it can be helpful to ask questions to check your comprehension and to make connections throughout a text. If there is anything that you are unsure about while reading, such as an unfamiliar word or topic, it is best to ask a question to clarify its meaning.

Example:

What is the meaning of this word or topic?

How do these two topics relate to each other?

Is the author explaining this idea clearly?

What are the important ideas in this text?

Example:

What will happen next in the story?

Why did the character react in this way?

How have the author's descriptions help set the scene?

What has happened in the story so far?

AFTER you have finished reading, asking questions can help ensure you understand the meaning of the text and address anything else you might want to know about the topic.

Example:

What is the overall idea of the text?

What are the most important ideas that the text discusses?

What are the present or future implications of the text?

Is there anything in the text I still do not understand or want to know more about?

Example:

What is the main message of the story?

How did the characters or situation change over the course of the story?

What will happen to the characters now that the story is finished?

Is there anything about the story that I still don't understand?

NOTE: all of these questions are only examples. There are many more questions that cover several different ideas that readers can also ask! Questions are useful in helping readers gain a better understanding of texts.

Asking & Answering Questions

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS): 8.5.B*

generate questions about text before, during, and after reading to deepen understanding and gain information;

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