Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Dr. Kyleen Beers and Dr. Bob Probst After a lot of very scholarly
analyzed many of the books most research and testing, they decided
commonly read by young people both that students could think more deeply
in and outside of school, and found and write more analytically about
some common moments in them. literature with the help of six of these
common tools.
They call them signposts, like
the signs along the road that help you
navigate a journey.
Signposts you Might Notice
➢ Contrast and Since these are general,
common devices, not every
Contradictions
story will have all of them
➢ Aha Moment They are listed, and are
➢ Tough Questions taught, in order from most
➢ Words of the Wiser common to least.
➢ Again and Again
➢ Memory Moment
Contrast and Contradictions
Ask:
NOTICE:
Why is the character doing that?
When a character does
something that contrasts NOTE: Write and/or discuss your
questions and possible answers to
with what you'd expect, or them.
contradicts his/her earlier
acts or statements, The answers might help you
make an prediction or draw
an inference about the
character, plot or conflict.
Contrast and Contradictions
How do the Ask Yourself:
character's words or
actions differ from Why is the
what you would character doing
expect, or contradict that?
things you know
about him?
The answer is
likely a theme of
the story.
Again and Again
Ask:
NOTICE:
Why does this keep happening
When a word, phrase,
again and again?
image or situation is
mentioned over and over, NOTE: Write and/or discuss your
questions and possible answers to
them.
This repetition is an author's way of
telling you that something about this
word, phrase, or situation is
important. It might foreshadow
something that is coming. Use it to
predict what is coming up.
Again and Again
Ask Yourself:
This repetition
could be a clue
that the phrase
or word or
situation is
important. It can
help you predict
future plot
Sometimes, a repeated image becomes a symbol that is important to a events.
theme of the story.
Memory Moment
Ask:
NOTICE:
Why might this memory be
When the author important?
chooses to interrupt NOTE: Write your questions and
the action to tell you possible answers to them.
The answer will help you determine
about a memory, theme, conflict, or even
foreshadow future events.
Memory Moment
What do we learn Ask:
about the Why might this
character's past? memory be
important?