Question Formulation Technique
Anthem
Objective
Today all students will develop questions based
on a focus topic related to Anthem. They will
choose priority questions as prompts for their
final Argumentative Essay.
Question Formulation Technique (QFT)
Step 1: Produce questions based on QFocus
Step 2: Categorize questions
Step 3: Improve questions
Step 4: Prioritize questions
Step 5: Questions Argumentative Paper
Step 6: Reflection
Before we get started, let’s go over ground rules
Group Ground Rules:
Rules for Producing Questions
1. Ask as many questions as you can
2. Do not stop to discuss, judge, or
answer the questions
3. Write down every question exactly
as it is stated
4. Change any statement into a
question
What may be difficult about following these rules??
Are you ready to start QFT??
1. Select a Scribe
2. Follow the Ground Rules of Producing
Questions
3. Share questions slowly to allow the
scribe to capture questions accurately
etc.
Focus
“When a man
cannot choose, he
ceases to be a
man.” - Anthony
Burgess
Step 2: Categorizing Questions
Identify the level of your questions
(write level # on chart in a different color)
LEVEL ONE
Specific information that can be found
directly in the text (such as a definition); one
word or yes/no answers; “copy and paste”
LEVEL TWO
Answer implied in the text by finding information
for the answer in several places
LEVEL THREE
Answers based on experiences and opinions that
is supported by textual facts
Step 3: Improving Questions
Look over your list of questions and select
three (3) questions to “bump up”
Change a Level 1 to either Level 2 or 3
Continue your numbering with these questions
Step 4: Prioritizing Questions
Choose the two (2) most important questions
from your list
Keep this in mind when selecting questions:
What questions would you need
answered to write an Argument
essay on choices, based on the
book Anthem?
Share your Questions
Please Share:
–1 priority question
–Rationale for selecting it
–Question Level
Listening focus during sharing – listen for questions
similar to your group’s priority questions; tally # of times
Step 5: Next Steps – Using
Priority Questions
Students will pick one of the final
Priority Questions to write their
Argument essay for Anthem
Period 4 Priority Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
In your own words, explain what makes something good and bad.
Give examples. (2)
Who is Anthony Burgess and what is his opinion on this quote?
How would you react to his opinion and why? (3)
What do you think is more important, choices and rights of an
individual or the well being and success of the whole society? Use
textual evidence and personal experience. (3)
How does this quote “When a man cannot choose, he ceases to
be man” relate to the book and to reality? (3)
Will there be backfire if he chooses one over the other? (2)
Can equality be a good or bad thing? (2)
How can a man cease to be a man, and in what circumstances can
this quote relate to the novella Anthem? (3)
Period 2 Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Would not being able to choose be considered detrimental, why
or why not? (3)
If free-will is taken away, what will be left of a person? (Is a person
truly a person without free will?) (3)
What things change a man from being a man? (2)
Is choice good or evil? Does choice matter? What are the pros and
cons of choice? (3)
What happens when a man cannot choose? (2)
Does choice matter, why or why not? (3)
Why can’t men choose? Support your claim with textual evidence.
(2/3)
If a man cannot choose, what is the point of life for humans? (3)
Even when equality is praised, why do men still strive for
individuality? (3)
Period 1 Questions
1.
2.
3.
Why does choice create sacrifice? (3)
How does this quote relate to the book Anthem? (3)
Would a society be considered a perfect society if they have
individuality and choice, why? (3)
4. When is it okay to not have a choice? (3)
5. Does choice dictate whether someone is human or not? (3)
6. Why is it hard for people to express who they really are? (3)
7. Will a man’s choice in life define himself? (3)
8. Even when equality is praised, why do men still strive for
individuality? (3)
9. What are people’s perspective of a man? (3)
10. If you were to choose one, which is more important, freedom of
choice emphasized by Anthony Burgess through his quote, or
social equality depicted in the book Anthem? (3)
11. Why can’t people be free in Anthem? (2)
QFT Written Participant
Reflection
-Why is learning to ask your own
questions important for learning?
-What was positive and challenging
about this activity?