Asking Questions While Reading Nonfiction
Readers of nonfiction ask themselves questions before, during, and after reading. We do this to activate prior knowledge, build understanding, and monitor comprehension.
Readers of nonfiction ask themselves questions before, during, and after reading. We do this to activate prior knowledge, build understanding, and monitor comprehension.
Before Reading How does the title help me know what this text is going to be about? The book is called Henry's Freedom Box so I think that the book is about slavery and freedom. What do I know about this topic or subject? I know that slaves were people that had a master that told them what work on. What questions do I have? I wounder if the slaves got caught for escaping or steeling something. What type of nonfiction is this? How does that help me prepare for this read? This book is a literary nonfiction. Is there a particular way that the text is structured? It might be literary or biography. I will have to find out. | During Reading What do I understand? I understand that slaves are passed down to another slave owner when their original owner is sick or near death. What is unclear? I don't get how slaves can meet if they have different owners. What new questions do I have? Will Henry's family be separated. Why can't slaves sing on the street? I think that if the slaves sing it might annoy somebody. | After Reading What have I learned? What are the important ideas that stuck with me? The underground railroad was a passageway for slaves to escape to freedom to Canada. It was not easy to escape but many slaves tried and about 100,000 did. What new or lingering questions do I have? How many slaves died trying to escape? |