Comprehension Strategies and Questioning

By: Jessica Kellett

What is Nonfiction

• A nonfiction text is a text that is true or has really happened.

• Examples of nonfiction texts are:

1. Biographies

2. Newspapers

3. Magazines

4. Encyclopedias and Dictionaries

Questions to Support Comprehension of Nonfiction

Personal and Textual Connections:1. What do you already know about this

topic?2. How does this book remind you of other

books that you have read?3. What is your interest in this topic?4. How does the information in this book fit

with what you already know?

Questions to Support Comprehension of Nonfiction

Content Questions:

1. What did you learn about this topic?

2. What does this text make you want to learn more about?

3. What are some of the most important words related to the topic, and what do they mean?

What is Fiction

• A fiction text is a text that is not true.

• Examples of fiction texts are:

1. Junie B. Jones

2. Dr. Seuss

3. Fairy Tales

4. Charlotte’s Web

Questions to Support Comprehension of Fiction

Personal and Textual Connections:

1. How does the story make you feel?

2. Does this book remind you of another book?

3. How are the characters, setting and problems like those in other stories that you have read?

4. What does this story make you think or wonder about?

5. What surprised you?

Questions to Support Comprehension of Fiction

Questions about the Setting:1. Where and when does the story take

place?2. Is the place important to the story? How?3. What words did the author use to describe

the place?4. How is the setting like another place you

know?

Questions to Support Comprehension of Fiction

Questions about the Characters:

1. Who is the most important character? Why?

2. What choices did the character have?

3. What did you learn from one character in the story?

4. How did the characters feel about one another? Why?

5. Are the characters believable? Why or why not?

Questions to Support Comprehension of Fiction

Questions about the Language:1. What are some interesting words, phrases

or sentences in the book?2. What were some of the strongest words

that the author used?3. How did the author begin/end the story?4. Was any of the language especially

interesting, vivid, or surprising?

Questions to Support Comprehension of Fiction

Questions about the Illustrations:

1. How important are the illustrations in the book?

2. What is your favorite illustration? Why did you choose it?

3. Could you picture what was happening when there was no illustration?

Questions to Support Comprehension of Fiction

Questions about the Genre:

1. What is the genre? How did you know?

2. How is this book like other books you’ve read in this genre?

3. What do you find difficult about reading books in this genre?

Any Questions???