Asking Questions
Reading Strategy
Four Kinds of Questions
• #1. Clarifying
•
•
•
#2. Predicting
#3. Inferring
#4. Pondering
Clarifying
Clarifying means to understand better.
*What does this word or sentence mean?
Example: The butterfly emerged from its
chrysalis.
Predicting
Predicting means to guess what is coming.
*Will ____happen next?
• On Tuesday the very hungry caterpillar
ate through two pears, but he was…..
Inferring
Inferring means that the answer will not
be written in the book, but you will be
able to figure the answer out in your
head.
*Did the author mean___?
Pondering
Pondering means to think carefully.
*I wonder if butterflies are insects?
Yes! Butterflies are insects because I
know that butterflies have three body
parts and two pairs of wings.
Thick and Thin Questions
• Thick questions
make you think,
and do not have
quick answers.
They are complex
and open ended.
• Why?
• What if?
• Thin questions
make you think as
much, and have
quick answers.
Those answers
are short and
closed ended.
• How far?
• When?
Questions and Answers
Where can I find the answers to my
questions?
#1. In the book: right there
The answer can be found in the book
(characters names, setting, etc.)
#2. In my head: the author and me
The answer can be found using your own thoughts and
knowledge as well as information in the text.
#3. In my head: on my own
The answer can be found using your own thoughts.
#4. In the book: think and search
The answer is in the book, but you must think carefully
about the whole story.
Get Started With These:
Which
What
How
Where
Why
Who
are?
could?
was?
will?
did?
might?
is?
were?
may?
do?
am?
would?