Question
Reading short stories is an active process. It is a process in which you visualize
what is happening in the story and derive meaning from the picture you are
visualizing. You do this through the strategy of ACTIVE READING. As you
read, remember to use the following strategies:
QUESTION: What questions come to mind while you are reading? Why do
characters act as they do? What causes events to happen? Why does the writer
include certain pieces of information? Look for answers to your questions as you
read on.
 Why is the character so angry?
 What is happening? I’m confused?
 Why is everyone acting so strangely?
Do’s
- Write every question that comes to mind because it could be useful later
- Ask specific questions that you will be able to reference during discussion
- Answer your questions even if you don’t know the answer (infer)
Do Not’s
-
Judge your own questions even if obvious
Be too vague or generic
Just forget about the questions you’ve written
EXAMPLE: Excerpt taken from The Awakening by Kate Chopin
Chapter 1
“A green and yellow parrot, which hung in a cage outside the door, kept
repeating over and over:--(I wonder to whom the parrot belongs.”)
"Allez vous-en! Allez vous-en! Sapristi! That's all right!"
He could speak a little Spanish, and also a language which nobody
understood, unless it was the mocking-bird that hung on the other side of
the door, whistling his fluty notes out upon the breeze with maddening
persistence.
Mr. Pontellier, unable to read his newspaper with any degree of comfort,
arose with an expression and an exclamation of disgust. –(Is there
something else possibly bothering him? That seems to be a very strong
reaction for just being annoyed.”
He walked down the gallery and across the narrow "bridges" which
connected the Lebrun cottages one with the other. He had been seated
before the door of the main house. The parrot and the mockingbird were
the property of Madame Lebrun, and they had the right to make all the
noise they wished. Mr. Pontellier had the privilege of quitting their society
when they ceased to be entertaining.
He stopped before the door of his own cottage, which was the fourth one
from the main building and next to the last. Seating himself in a wicker
rocker which was there, he once more applied himself to the task of
reading the newspaper. The day was Sunday; the paper was a day old.
The Sunday papers had not yet reached Grand Isle-(Where is Grand
Isle?). He was already acquainted with the market reports, and he glanced
restlessly over the editorials and bits of news which he had not had time
to read before quitting New Orleans the day before.
Mr. Pontellier wore eye-glasses. He was a man of forty, of medium height
and rather slender build; he stooped a little. His hair was brown and
straight, parted on one side. His beard was neatly and closely trimmed”
(Chopin 1).
GUIDED PRACTICE:
Actively read “Poor Richard’s Almanack” by Ben Franklin. Write a minimum of 5
questions (and possible answers) responses and a minimum of 3 other active reading
strategy entries (unless it is your first module).
“Poor Richard’s Almanack”
Benjamin Franklin
1733-1758
Who judges best of a man, his enemies or himself?
If you would keep a secret from an enemy, tell it not to a friend.
The worst wheel of the cart makes the most noise.
He that cannot obey, cannot command.
No pains without gains.
Tis easier to prevent bad habits than to break them.
A rolling stone gathers no moss.
Today is yesterday’s pupil.
Most fools think they are only ignorant.
An empty bag cannot stand upright.
Experience keeps a expensive school, yet fools will learn in no other.
What signifies your patience, if you can’t find it when you want it?
He that lies down with dogs, shall rise up with fleas.
Well done is better than well said.
What you seem to be, be really.
Honesty is the best policy.
Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time; that’s the stuff life is made of.
Keep thy shop, and thy shop will keep thee.
Beware of little expenses, a small leak will sink a great ship.
A penny saved is a penny earned.
Don’t count your chickens before they are hatched.
Buy thou has no need of; and e’er long thou shall sell thy necessaries.
Not to oversee workmen, is to leave them your purse open.
Fish and visitors smell in three days.
Quarrels never could last long, if on one side only lay the wrong.
Love thy neighbor; yet don’t pull down your hedge.