Questions-Answer
Relationships
(QAR)
Middle School Staff
Professional Development
November/December/January
ANTICPATE!
O Please complete your anticipation guide for
Question-answer relationships.
O Refer to your anticipation guide throughout
the presentation.
O You will return to it at the end of the
presentation.
Questions-Answer
Relationships
QAR
What is it?
Questions-Answer
Relationships
O Purpose
O The QAR strategy is a reading comprehension
strategy developed to clarify “how students
approach the tasks of reading text and answering
questions (Raphael, 1986).
O The QAR strategy shows students that questions
and answers have a variety of sources, and that
learning about questions and their answers will
help them as readers to become better at
understanding and answering questions (Iowa
Department of Education, 2004).
Questions-Answer
Relationships
O Rationale
O QAR encourages students to be active,
strategic readers of texts (Raphael, 1986).
O QAR gives students a language for talking
about the strategies they use to answer
questions (Iowa Department of Education,
2004)
O QAR helps students develop an awareness of
their own cognitive processes when
answering questions (2004).
Minute Reflection
O Take a minute to think about…What is the
purpose and rationale of using QAR?
O Share
Questions-Answer
Relationships
O Four categories of questions are studies
during strategy use and practice.
Questions-Answer Relationships:
Text-based QAR’s
O “Right There”
O The answer is in one
sentence of the text.
O The question and
answer usually have
the same wording.
O There is usually only
one right answer to
Right There questions
O Who is…
O Where is…
O How many…
O What is…
O When did…
Questions-Answer Relationships:
Text-based QAR’s
O “Think and Search”
O The answer is found
in several parts of
the text.
O The question and
answer have
different wordings.
O Answers are usually
short answers
O For what reason…?
O How did…?
O Why was…?
O What caused…?
O Summarize…
O Compare/contrast…
Questions-Answer Relationships:
Knowledge-based QAR’s
O “Author and Me”
O The answer to the
question comes
from both clues in
the text and student
prior knowledge.
O Students must
synthesize the text
to fully understand
the question.
O Would you…?
O Which character…?
O Did you agree…?
O What did you think
of…?
Questions-Answer Relationships:
Knowledge-based QAR’s
O “On My Own”
O The answers come
entirely from the
students’ prior
knowledge.
O These questions require
inferential and evaluative
thinking.
O Answers to not require
information from the text,
but do require that
students make some type
of judgment about or
relate to the topic.
O Do you know…?
O Have you ever…?
O Would you ever…?
Four Categories: Practice!
With your neighbor, identify the type
of question.
O Jerry picked up his bat and
ball. He loved those sunny
Saturday afternoons.
Before he left the house,
he remembered to grab
his glove from the bin. He
ran the two blocks. Some
boys were already there
hitting and catching fly
balls. Jerry joined right in,
deciding to get in some
extra practice while
waiting for the coach to
show up.
O What did Jerry take with
O
O
O
O
O
O
him?
Where was Jerry’s glove?
Where did Jerry go?
Why does Jerry love
sunny Saturdays?
What is Jerry’s favorite
game?
What is your favorite
game?
Is it a good idea for kids
to play baseball?
Minute Reflection
O Take a minute to think about…what are the
differences between what students are
asked to do with text-based QAR’s and
knowledge-based QAR’s?
O Share
How do you use QAR
O Gradual Release of Responsibility
O Begin by teaching students necessary
vocabulary
O Model the four types of questions
O Guide students by having them identify
different types of questions then answer
them correctly
O Have students practice writing and labeling
different types of questions followed by the
correct answers (Raphael, 1986).
When do you use QAR
O In any situation
where students
interact with nonfiction, as well as
fiction text
O Reading/English/Lan
O
O
O
O
guage Arts
Writing
Math
Social Studies
Science
Why use QAR
O QAR is a research based reading strategy
that benefits every type and level of learner.
O QAR helps students comprehend more of
what they have read and learn that all
answers may not come from the text.
O QAR easily and authentically embeds itself
into every content area.
Questions-Answer Relationships:
Cooperative Learning Activity
O Directions: With your group, brainstorm a list
of various settings and situations you can
use QAR with during the rest of the school
year.
Questions-Answer
Relationships
O Please refer back to your anticipation guide.
O Make any necessary changes and
corrections.
Questions-Answer
Relationships
O Questions?
O Concerns?