Think Outside of the Box with

TAKS Question Stems and

Graphic Organizers
How you can increase your students reading
comprehension ability through the use of
TAKS question stems and graphic organizers.
Mrs. P. Bell
You can use the following TAKS
question stem for Main Idea…
Main Idea
• 1. What is ____ paragraph mostly about?
• 2. What are paragraphs 4 through 6 in this
story mainly about?
• _____, ______, and ______ are all
considered…
• In the selection, the main cause for ___ is…
 Main Idea
Graphic Organizers

•
You can use the following TAKS
question stem for Summarization…
Summarization
1. Which of these is the best summary of
the story?
Summarization
Graphic
Organizers
You can use the following TAKS
question stem for comparing ideas:
Comparing Ideas:
1. In this selection, in what way does ____
connect with ____?
2. A theme throughout this story is –
3. An important idea in both selections is-

*** We really need much support with this question

stem. ***
 Comparing Ideas
Graphic Organizers
 You can use the following TAKS
question stem for Style, Tone and
Mood…
Style, Tone and Mood
1. In paragraph ___, the author creates a mood of –
2. In paragraph ___, the author creates a feeling of –
3. ______ tone is ___ paragraph is described as –
4. The author’s choice of words in the ____
establishes a tone that is-
5. The author’s uses language to create a sense of –
 Style, Tone, and Mood
Graphic Organizer
How did you feel after you read the story?

Mood

Tone

Style
You can use the following TAKS
question stem for Supportive
Responses…
Supportive Response
1. Which sentence from the _______
selection supports the idea that ….
Supportive Responses
Graphic Organizers
 More Supportive
Response Graphic
Organizers
More Supportive
Responses
More Supportive Responses
You can use the following TAKS
question stem for Inference…
Inference
1. From the information about _____
provided in the story, the reader can
conclude that –
 Inference
Graphic Organizers
You can use the following TAKS
question stem for Author’s
Purpose…
Author’s Purpose
1. The author wrote this story most likely
to…
2. The main purpose of this article is to –
 Author’s Purpose
Graphic Organizer

Author’s Purpose
Inform Persuade Entertain Express
 Venn Diagram
• Math – Compare even numbers, prime
numbers, and multiples of 3.

Even Prime
Numbers Numbers

Multiples of 3
 Venn Diagram
• Science – Compare 3 body systems

Circulatory Skeletal
System System

Muscular
System
 Venn Diagram
• History – Technology Age from the 1920’s
– 1960’s – 2000’s

1920’s
1960’s

2000’s
 Venn Diagram
• English or Reading – Using a novel to
compare similar historic issues.

The Cay Civil Right Era

Hurricane
Katrina
 Venn Diagram
• Music – Comparing 3 modes of music

Beethoven Ray Charles

Stevie Wonder
 Main Idea Question stem
You can discuss Main Idea in any subject.
• Math – What is the main focus in the word
problem?
• Science – What is the heart’s main job.
• History – Abraham Lincoln was mostly
known for…
• English – What is the central idea?
• Elective - Paragraph 2 and 3 are mostly
about-
 Reading Routine for Success
• Now you can use your question stems and
graphic organizers before, during and after
reading.
• The next 3 slides will help you establish a
meaningful routine to foster comprehension
before, during, and after reading.
• Remember, reading comprehension is all about
making connections, clarifying, setting a
purpose, inferring, summarizing, drawing
conclusions, evaluating, visualizing, and
rereading when needed.
1. Before reading you want to
establish a purpose. You can use
graphic organizers and question
stems to help students accomplish
this goal…
• Review Background Information
• Identify their focus
• Make Personal Connections
• Make Real Life Connections
Ultimately, you want every student to set a
purpose for reading.
2. During reading you want students to
stay focused. Therefore use
questions or graphic organizers to …
• Maintain Attention
• Make Predictions
• Monitor understanding through
summarizing and questioning
• Analyze Material
• Take organized notes to clarify meaning
3. Use questions and graphic
organizers after reading to help
students…
• Reflect on what was read
• Summarize
• Make future predictions or connections
• Synthesize
• Evaluate