Text-Dependent Questionsand Evidence-Based Answers

Participants will create text-dependent questions using a complex text of their choice.

Defining Text-Dependent Questionsby Christina Hank

How does Christina Hank define text-dependent questions?

How do we recognize a good text-dependent question?

Why does Christina say we need to engage in a “different kind of planning”?

How has Christina’s questioning changed?

Reread the first section “Courage”.

Modeling of Text-Dependent Questions using

What Can a Small Bird Be?

Text-dependent Questions Demonstration

• What does the word “surfaced” mean in this text? Why do you think the authors chose this word? (page 3 of Courage section.)

• The text begins with: There once was a curious bird who wondered, What can a small bird be? Why do you think the authors chose to begin the text with this question?

Text-dependent Questions Demonstration

• What is the meaning of “courage” and how does Tortoise demonstrate “courage” in this text?

• What evidence is there that shows Bird is wondering, “What can a small bird be?” and working on a solution?

Evidenced-Based Answers

Text-based evidence facilitates rich and rigorous evidence-based discussions and writing through specific, thought-provoking questions about common texts (including, when applicable, illustrations, charts, diagrams, audio/visual, and media).

Matching Activity

Directions:

Blue cards: Sort the QUESTIONS (blue cards) into two categories: examples and non-examples.

Did you sort out these non-examples?

Red cards:

Align the STANDARDS (red cards) with the QUESTIONS (blue cards).

Question Standard(s) Addressed

What does the word surfaced mean in this text? Why do you think the authors chose this word?

L.6.4Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words or phrases based on grade 8 reading and content, choose flexibly from a range of strategies.a. Use context as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase.

The text begins with: There once was a curious bird who wondered, What can a small bird be? Why do you think the authors chose to begin the text with this question?

RL.6.5Analyze how a particular sentence, chapter, scene, or stanza fits into the overall structure of a text and contributes to the development of the theme, setting, or plot.

What is the meaning of courage? How does Tortoise demonstrate courage in this text?

RL.6.4Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone.RL.6.2Determine a theme or central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or judgments.

Question Standard(s) Addressed

What evidence is there that shows Bird is wondering, “What can a small bird be?” and working on a solution?

RL.6.3Describe how a particular story’s or dramas plot unfolds in a series of episodes as well as how the characters respond or change as the plot moves toward a resolution.

What evidence shows that the crows are bullying the Tortoise? What is Bird’s response?

RL.6.1Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.

What words or phrases does the author choose to persuade you that the crows are bullies?

RL.6.5Analyze how a particular sentence, chapter, scene, or stanza fits into the overall structure of a text and contributes to the development of the theme, setting, or plot.

Why does Bird wink at the Tortoise? RL.6.6Explain how an author develops the point of view of the narrator or speaker in a text.

Add to your alignment (matched red and blue cards) the FEATURES of good text-dependent questions (yellow cards).

Yellow cards:

Text-dependent Questions ask students to:

Example

Analyze paragraphs on a sentence by sentence basis and sentences on a word by word basis to determine the role played by individual paragraphs, sentences, phrases, or words

What is the meaning of courage? How does Tortoise demonstrate courage in this text?

Investigate how meaning can be altered by changing key words and why an author may have chosen one word over another

What does the word surfaced mean in this text? Tortoise flailed his legs and surfaced with a mouth full of water. Why do you think the authors chose this word?

Probe each argument in persuasive text, each idea in informational text, each key detail in literary text, and observe how these build into a whole

What words or phrases does the author choose to persuade you that the crows are bullies?

Text-dependent Questions ask students to:

Example

Examine how shifts in the direction of an argument or explanation are achieved and the impact of those shifts

What evidence shows that the crows are bullying the Tortoise? What is Bird’s response?

Question why authors choose to begin and end when they do

The text begins with: There once was a curious bird who wondered, What can a small bird be? Why do you think the authors chose to begin the text with this question?

Note and assess patterns of writing and what they achieve

What evidence is there that shows Bird is wondering, “What can a small bird be?” and working on a solution?

Consider what the text leaves uncertain or unstated

Why does Bird wink at the Tortoise?

How will we know theylearned it?

Let’s PracticeCreating Text-Dependent

Questions