Understanding Tough Questions: A New Reading Signpost
Explore the new reading signpost of Tough Questions, questioning on a deeper level for a better understanding. Tough Questions are those that don't have easy answers and reveal internal conflicts of characters in novels. Learn how to identify and apply this signpost to independent reading.
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Not last week, but the week before We learned TWO signposts. What were they? Contrasts and Contradictions Aha Moments What are the anchor questions we ask ourselves when we notice these two signposts? C&C: Why would the character act or feel this way? Aha: How might this change things?
A new signpost! Today, we will be learning about the signpost Tough Questions. Turn and Talk: What might Tough Questions be? What might they look like in our reading? Share as a class
Todays Learning Goals Consider texts on a deeper level through questioning Notice Tough Questions in our reading that lead to deeper understanding Apply knowledge of Tough Questions signpost to independent reading
What are Tough Questions? We ask questions all the time. What s for dinner? Where are my clean socks? Should I do my homework? Are these tough questions?
Tough Questions are Questions we sometimes ask ourselves (or someone we trust) that seem to not have an answer. How will I ever get over this? What should I do? Am I brave enough to say no? Why?
When might Tough Questions appear? Tough Questions appear when you are struggling with something. When you share a tough question with a friend, or maybe you just think it to yourself, you are sharing something that is bothering you. So, Tough Questions in our reading show us what the character is struggling with the INTERNAL CONFLICT.
Tough Questions are in our novels They are often very straightforward Main character will ask someone they trust or him- or herself a question that clearly doesn t have an easy answer They can appear in pairs Why won t they talk to me anymore? Why is everyone treating me this way? They can be statements I wonder
When we see a Tough Question We need to ask ourselves the anchor question: What does this question make me wonder about?
A real-life example Imagine that you heard about a party, but you re not invited. You might ask yourself why you were left out or if you had done something to hurt someone s feelings. Because one tough questions often lead to questions about other things, we must ask ourselves the anchor question when we see tough questions: What does this question make me wonder about?
Quick Review! Tough Questions are Questions without an easy and immediate answer Tough Questions show us The internal conflict Tough Questions appear when The main character asks a trusted other or him- or herself a question without an easy answer The anchor question we ask when we notice Tough Questions is What does this question make me wonder about?
Lets take a look Tough Questions Video Cooler Self - A Short Animation by Ozan Basaldi A little nerd who always get beat up wants to be like one of the cool kids at school. But will he be able to give up who he is in order to become one of cooler cats...
Lets look at Tough Questions in action. You will need: Excerpts from A Long Walk to Water (blue handout in center bin) A pen or pencil A post-it note A Long Walk to Water is about what happens to an eleven-year- old who lives in Sudan during a time in which rebels are raiding villages. In a scene early in the novel, eleven-year-old Salva has become separated from the rest of his family after rebels have attacked his small Sudanese village ,and he s now alone and scared and running. Please follow along as I read the excerpt aloud.
Tough Question Alert! I m stopping here because I noticed several Tough Questions. Where are we going? Where is my family? When will I see them again? These are obviously painful questions, especially for an 11-year-old.
When we spot a Tough Question We must ask ourselves the anchor question: What does this question make me wonder about? These questions make me wonder if I could have survived without knowing where my family was or even if they were still alive. I have to wonder, too, how the people he is with will react. They are also in desperate circumstances. I wonder if they will help, or if they will just ignore Salva because he is so young. They are also trying to escape, and might see Salva as a burden, so they turn their backs on him. Most of all, I wonder what he will have to do to survive.
Lets keep reading. We are skipping to a point in the story where Salva, who has been on his own for awhile, finds a small group of people who are trying to survive. Please follow along as I read aloud.
Tough Question Alert! I m stopping because I ve noticed a Tough Question: Would he have given water to those men? Or would he, like most of the group, have kept his water to himself? When we spot tough questions, we need to ask the anchor question: What does this question make me wonder about? Talk to your neighbor and answer the anchor question. Share as a class.
Remember Taking the time to stop, notice the Tough Questions, and answer the anchor question is crucial! It helps us Put ourselves in the story. Visualize what s happening. Imagine how the characters are feeling. If we are able to do these things, we will be able to better understand what Salva is going through, and therefore, the novel as a whole.
Lets keep reading. In this scene, Salva is alone. You ll spot the Tough Questions pretty easily. Jot down the Tough Questions on the text when you notice them.
Your turn! Take a few minutes to think about the Tough Questions you ve noticed and your thoughts about the anchor question. Once you have your thoughts, you can discuss them with your partner. Share as a class.
Lets Review Take one minute to talk to your partner about what you learned today: What is a Tough Question? What do you look for in the text to spot one? What is the anchor question that we ask ourselves when we see a Tough Question?
Your turn! Read independently Be sure to NOTICE and NOTE any signposts (Contrasts and Contradictions, Aha Moments, and Tough Questions) that you see and ask yourself the anchor question Work on Tough Questions HW
