Signpost Lessons
Journal Write
 What would you do if you caught
someone (you didn’t know) trying
to steal something from your
purse or backpack? Be honest.
What would your reaction be?
 Also, would you have the same
reaction as your friend? Your
parent? Your grandmother?
i.e. Lesson of the Unexpected
Notice & Note Signpost #1
Stop! Notice and Note Signpost #1:
Contrasts & Contradictions & The Unexpected
 When you are reading and you notice…
 a character’s actions are contradictory to
(different than) how the character has acted
in the past.
 a difference among characters (a way that
one character acts versus another) is
revealed.
 a character acts differently than how YOU
would behave in a similar situation.
 there are contrasting/unexpected story
elements, such as plot, setting, etc.
Signpost #1 Continued…
Contrasts & Contradictions & The Unexpected
 You should stop and ask yourself:
 “Why is the character doing
that?” OR “Why are the
characters so different from each
other?” OR “Why would the
author choose to do this?”
 The answers could help you make a
prediction or make an inference
about the plot and conflict and
author’s purpose.
Possible
ANCHOR
QUESTIONS
Journal Write
1. Describe a time when you came to a
sudden realization about something.

Examples: You walked into first period
and realized you forgot to do the
homework…or you looked around your
bedroom and suddenly realized it had
crossed over from messy to filthy…
2. How did the realization affect your next
action or choice? (i.e. did you do
anything about the realization—like clean
your room or copy someone’s paper?)
i.e. Aha Moment
Notice & Note Signpost #2
Stop! Notice and Note Signpost #2:
Epiphany
 When you are reading and suddenly a
character realizes, understands, or finally
figures something out (an “Ah-ha!”)…
 You should stop and ask yourself:
ANCHOR
 “How might this realization be
QUESTION
important or change things?”
 If the character figured out a problem,
you probably just learned about the
CONFLICT.
 If the character understood a life lesson,
you probably just learned the THEME.
Journal Write
 Describe a time when you asked
yourself how you might get
through a difficult experience or
period of your life…
 (it doesn’t have to be life-
threatening; it could be an
emotionally challenging
experience, or trying to pass a
class, etc.)
Notice & Note Signpost #3
Stop! Notice and Note Signpost #3:
Tough Questions
 When you are reading and the character is
confused or uncertain and asks him/herself a
difficult question that doesn’t have an easy
answer…(the answer may shape his/her life)…
 You should stop and ask yourself:
 “What does this question tell me
Possible
about the character?” OR “How might ANCHOR
QUESTIONS
the character answer it?” OR “How
might the answer affect the story?”
 The answers will tell you about the CONFLICT
and might foreshadow later events.
Journal Write
Describe a time when
someone gave you advice.
Who was it? What were they
giving you advice about?
Did the advice help you?
Please explain.
Notice & Note Signpost #4
Stop! Notice and Note Signpost #4:
Words of the Wiser
 When you are reading and a character
takes the main character aside and
gives serious advice that is helpful at
this moment in the story but could also
be helpful throughout life…
 You should stop and ask yourself:
“What’s the life lesson, and how
might it affect the character?”

ANCHOR
QUESTION
 Whatever the lesson is, you’ve probably
found a
THEME for the story.
Notice & Note Signpost #5
Stop! Notice and Note Signpost #5:
Repetition
 When you are reading and you notice
a word, phrase, object, situation, or
idea mentioned over and over…
 You should stop and ask yourself:
 “Why does this keep showing
ANCHOR
QUESTION
up again and again?”
 The answers will tell you about the
THEME and CONFLICT, or they might
foreshadow what will happen later.
Notice & Note Signpost #6
Stop! Notice and Note Signpost #6:
Flashback
 When you are reading and the author
interrupts the action to reveal a
memory…
 You should stop and ask yourself:
ANCHOR
 “Why or how might this
QUESTION
memory be important?”
 The answers will tell you about the
THEME, CONFLICT, or might
foreshadow what will happen later in
the story.
Journal Write…
 This week we’ve looked at the six Notice &
Note Signposts: Contrasts/Contradictions,
Epiphanies, Tough Questions, Words of the
Wiser, Repetition, and Flashbacks…
 Reflect on how one or more of these
might help you understand a novel
and/or the author’s purpose for writing
the novel…Look back at your notes for
the signposts and the packet you worked
on yesterday. THINK. Reflect. Ponder.