Z Level Fiction Questions

Thinking within the Text - 

SUMMARY: 

• Summarize the important events from the text in the order that they happened. 
• Summarize ideas from a text and tell how they are related.
• What was the conflict/problem in the story?
• How did the characters solve the problem/conflict?
• How did the story end? If applicable, what was the surprise at the end?
• What new information did you learn about _____?
• Summarize the important events at intervals during the reading of a longer text.
• Describe characters in a story (e.g., their traits, motivations, or feelings).
• Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative language such as metaphors and similes.
• Tell the important ideas in an organized way (orally or written response).
• Summarize chapters, short stories, or sequels in order to understand larger themes.
• What were the events that led to the ending?

Thinking beyond the Text - 

PREDICT: 

• Based on what you know about a character, predict what he or she will do.
• Based on what you know, what might happen next?
• After reading the text, predict what might happen next. What clues from the book or personal experience helped you with this prediction?
• Has your prediction happened? How do you know?
• Based on clues from the story, predict what the character will do next, feel, etc.
• With new events in the story, how did you revise your prediction?
• Based on what you know about the genre, what might happen next?
• Based on personal experience, content knowledge, and knowledge of similar texts, how did you revise your prediction?

MAKE CONNECTIONS:

• Can you think of another book that is similar to this one?

• How is the (topic, characters, ending) similar to (title of another book)?
• How is the character the same in this book as in previous books?
• What connection can you make (personal, text, world)? Explain how they are connected.
• How did what you know about the topic help you understand the text?
• Based on a personal experience, what connections can you make to the people of other cultures, times, and places
• Compare characteristics of texts within and across genres.
• What connections can you make between social or moral issues of today and those presented in the text (biography, realistic fiction, historical, fantasy)?
• What connections can you make between the satire in the text and the social issues they represent?

SYNTHESIZING:

• What new information has been added to what you already knew about the topic?
• After reading, has the new information changed your thinking about the topic? (Different people and cultures)
• What did you learn about __________ after reading this book? Show where you found this information.
• How has your thinking changed after reading? Why?
• Explain ___________ in your own words.
• What lesson did the character learn in the story?
• How are __________ and ____________ alike? How are they different?
• How do you have a better understanding of a character or plot after reading another chapter, connected short story, or sequel?

INFERRING:

• Look at the dialogue in the text. What does the dialogue tell you about how the characters are feeling or thinking?
• Why do you think the character felt _______ or acted _________?
• Tell what you learned about (character).
• Why did the character ______________? How do you know?
• How did the author show ___________?
• Why do you think __________?
• How did the character change from _________ to _________? Why?
• How would you feel if ________ happened to you? Would you solve the problem the same way the character did?
• What caused the problem or outcome?
• What is the big idea/theme of the text? How do they apply to our lives today?
• If applicable, what information can you gather about (setting, character’s traits and feelings, and plot) from the illustrations in graphic novels (texts)?
• How did the characters feelings towards each other change from _________ to ______? Why?
• Based on the dialogue, what are the characters feelings and motivations?
• Based on the characters actions or motives, why did he or she behave that way (even if you don’t agree with their actions or motives)?
• How do actions of one character affect another?
• What does the author mean by ___________ (symbol – objects, events, characters)? How does it enhance the meaning of the story?
• Based on the characters actions or motives, describe the traits of the character.
• How did the character’s thinking or actions impact the turning point of the story?
• If applicable, how are the characters with problems dealing with mature issues? What are their feelings? How are they dealing?

Thinking about the Text - 

ANALYZING:

• What did the author do to make the characters, situation, or topic interesting?
• What is the genre of the book? What are the aspects of this genre that you noticed? (realistic and historical fiction, complex fantasy, biography, autobiography, memoirs and diaries, myths and legends, hybrid texts and other nonfiction)
• What text features did you notice in the book? How did they help you understand the book?
• Could this story really happen? Why or why not?
• What descriptive language did the author use? How did it add to your enjoyment or understanding of the text?
• Show where the problem was resolved in the story. How do you know?
• Look at the way the writer ended the book. Do you think this was a good way to end? Why or why not?
• What is the text structure of this book? Why did the author choose this? How would you represent this information in a diagram or graphic organizer? (description, compare and contrast, sequence, cause and effect, problem and solution)
• What role does the setting play (realistic fiction, historical fiction, fantasy)?
• What aspects of writer’s craft (style, language, perspective, theme) did you notice after reading several texts by this author?
• Compare and contrast the themes, settings, and plots of stories written by the same author about the same or similar characters (e.g., in books from a series).
• What does the writer mean by ______________?
• Find the part of the story where the writer showed _______________.
• What did the writer want you to learn from this book?
• How do you know that the author is qualified to write about this topic?
• If applicable, how did the use of special types of language, such as irony, add to the quality (enjoyment and understanding) of the text?
• What was the most important part of the story and why?
• If applicable, what was happening during this part of the story (distinguish between foreshadowing, myths, jokes, dream sequence, fantasy and real events)?
• Show a place in the book where the writer showed you _________(descriptive phrases). How did this help you?
• Demonstrate, using a plot diagram, the complex plot of the story.
• Identify and discuss examples of symbolism in the text. What else could this mean?
• If applicable, how is symbolism used to represent good and evil?
• If applicable, identify examples of non-English words, regional dialect, and period phrases. What do they mean? How does it enhance the meaning of the text?
• What is the genre text, based on the author’s purpose?
• The writer used specific words or phrases to describe __________. Give some examples of words implied.
• How did the character’s traits change throughout the story and what impacted this change?
• What are some examples of irony used by the author? Why did the author use them?
• Identify an example of an idiom and discuss why the author used it.
• Identify the elements of fantasy and discuss what they represent (“the quest”, “the hero”, symbolism representing good and evil).
• From what point of view is the book written and why?
• What is the significance of ________?
• How do the language, illustrations, and layout work together to set mood and convey meaning?
• What are other interpretations of the symbolism in the text?
• Analyze multiple works from an author to determine patterns and themes. 
• Analyze multiple works on the same content to determine patterns and themes.
• What is the author’s point of view? Does the author show bias? Cite evidence for both.
• Compare and contrast two or more characters, settings, or events in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e, g., how characters interact).

CRITIQUING: 

• What did you like/dislike about this (book, beginning, characters, ending)?
• What did you think about (book, beginning, characters, ending)? Why?
• What was the most important part of the story? Why?
• What do you think (character) was thinking? Why?
• Why do you think the author included this information?
• How does the author help you learn about _____________?
• Do you agree or disagree with __________? Why or why not?
• Using other sources, determine if this is a realistic portrayal of what could happen in this situation or time period? Why or why not? (i.e. historical fiction)
• Was the title of the text a good one? Why or why not?
• How do you know that the author is qualified to write about this topic? Are these qualifications valid?
• Share you genre preferences. Support your answer with specific descriptions of text features. What aspects of the genre do you like?
• Evaluate the author’s character and plot development. (i.e. believability, depth)
• Check the authenticity of the information in the text. Are social issues and cultural groups accurately represented?
• What is the author’s point of view? Does the author show bias? Cite evidence for both.
• How does the author use exaggeration and subtle misinformation to express his or her bias in the text?
• Critique the content of the story. Do you think the writer should have included any other information? What?

Z Level Nonfiction Questions

• What do you already know about this topic?
• What new ideas have you learned?
• How did what you learned add to your knowledge?
• What connections can you make to other books?
• Have you changed your mind after reading this book?
• What did the author want you to learn or know?
• What caused the problem?  Why did that happen?
• How can you tell this book is nonfiction?
• How did the author organize the book?  (Text structure?)  Why did the author organize the book this way?
• How well do you think the author used illustrations and graphics? How did they help you as a reader?
• What else would you have included if you were the author?
• What does the illustration mean?
• Find facts and opinions.
• Do you agree with the author’s point of view? Support your answer.
• Judge this text. Explain your judgment.
• What did the author do that made this book interesting?
• How would you categorize the information?
• How can what you have read in the past help you understand the people and cultures in this text?
• What qualifications does the author have to write an informational text?
• How does this book give you a new perspective?
• Are the social issues/cultural groups in the text accurate? Why or why not? Use evidence from text.
• What do you think of your subject(s)’s decisions, motivations, accomplishments, etc.? Support your opinion.
• Does your author write with a biased point of view? Use propaganda? Provide evidence.