Narrative Profundity
 OR.. what the heck is that?
Profundity is
a theoretical construct (developed
by Sargent, Huus and Anderson1970) intended to direct thinking at
the HS level to identify a theme or
themes of a story.
The Profundity Scale is used in
Michigan to implement MDE LA
GLCE’s assessing complex, enduring
understandings.

Two Profundity Scales
are explicit teaching tools to develop
deep thinking in:
Narrative readings
Expository readings (a distinct skill
in Content reading)


Narrative Scale
The Narrative Profundity scale is a
heuristic stairway to thinking
developed to deepen and expand
thinking. Each step builds upon the
prior step.
1. Physical Plane
The reader visualizes the setting
and characters.(VISUALIZE)
The reader identify the turning point
or resolution to the problem.

(DETERMINES IMPORTANCE)
The reader summarizes the actions
of the characters. What did they
physically do? (SUMMARIZE)
2. Mental Plane
The reader asks the question of
“WHY did the characters do what
they did?” (QUESTIONING)
To be able to answer this,
the reader is
again DETERMINING IMPORTANCE of the
actions, MAKING CONNECTIONS to other
actions, and INFERRING about character
actions.
3. Moral Plane
The readers compare how the
actions of the characters fit their
beliefs and morals. “Was what the
character did right or wrong?”
Comprehension strategies used at
this plane: INFERRING, MAKING

CONNECTIONS, SYNTHESIZING
4. Psychological Plane
The reader wonders “How does the
character benefit from his/her
actions?”
In looking at the benefits, the
reader is using DETERMINING

IMPORTANCE and MAKING CONNECTIONS
5. Philosophical Plane
The reader connects all the prior
thinking into a package looking at the
lessons learned and universal truths.
“What lesson was this story teaching?”
(QUESTIONING)
“Is the lesson learned the one the
author intended?” (INFERRING) What
was the most important lesson the
characters learned? (DETERMINING
IMPORTANCE)

Why bother with Profundity?
It is an explicit series of strategies to
take students from simple to abstract.
It starts by reducing complicated things
to simple principles.
It allows for the realization that 2
different ideas can share attributes.
It transforms thinking into themes and
universal truths.



“The lessons learned, theme, or
universal truth is generative and can
be used to change your world view,
make connections to your life, and to
solve problems.”
Elaine Weber, Barbara Nelson, Jeff Beal 2002