KWL Guidelines
Frank, 2012
Name:____________________
As we read The Great Gatsby as a class, you will keep track of what you learned on a individual basis. The first way
you will track your understanding of the reading is with a KWL chart (what you Know, what you Want to know, and what
you Learned). The KWL chart will go in the middle section of your journal; skip 5 pages after your first entry to leave
room for the rest of it. You will update the “K” column before we read each day to review and process the important
information from the previous chapter. The “L” column is for new information. A good way to do the chart is to write
and fill it in as we are reading. For every chapter of the book (there are 9), you will need a new entry of your KWL chart.
Each entry MUST have the following:






The date
The chapter number
At least three sentences of review in the “K” column
A minimum of a six sentence summary in the “L” column
At least three questions in the “W” column
A line indicating your entry for that chapter is finished
Your KWL chart will be graded in journal checks, used as exit tickets and taken up and given a final grade for the unit.
Below is an example of what the KWL needs to look like.
Example KWL
Chapter 5, 6/5/12
Know
Want to Know
Learned
The setting is Afghanistan. In
Afghanistan there is a big
difference in equality between
ethnic groups. Hassan is a
Hazara and Amir is a Pashtun.
This social dynamic dictates both
Amir’s and Hassan’s perception
of their friendship. Amir is
sometimes embarrassed to be
called Hassan’s friend, and
Hassan would do absolutely
anything for Amir.
If Baba thought of Ali as his
friend and equal, then why did
Amir not think of Hassan that
way?
We find out that Ali’s parents
were killed by drunk drivers.
Baba’s family took in Ali and
raised him as an equal to Baba,
despite their ethnic differences.
This explains why Ali and Hassan
are so important to Baba. Amir
often times reads to Hassan
under a pomegranate tree.
Their favorite story is “Rostam
and Sohrab.” Hassan cannot
read, so Amir has to read to him.
Why does Baba ignore Amir’s
talent for writing?
Does Hassan notice that Amir
treats him as an inferior person
when others are around? Why
doesn’t he say anything if he
does?
Chapter 6, 6/8/12
K
W
What is going to happen
between Amir and Hassan?
L
KWL Guidelines
Frank, 2012
Name:____________________