Signpost Lessons
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.