Notice & Note Signpost Lessons

Stop! Notice and Note Signpost #1: Contrasts & Contradictions & The Unexpected When you are reading and you notice… a character’s actions are contradictory to (different than) how the character has acted in the past. a difference among characters (a way that one character acts versus another) is revealed. a character acts differently than how YOU would behave in a similar situation. there are contrasting/unexpected story elements, such as plot, setting, etc.

Signpost #1 Continued… Contrasts & Contradictions & The Unexpected You should stop and ask yourself: “Why is the character doing that?” OR “Why are the characters so different from each other?” OR “Why would the author choose to do this?” The answers could help you make a prediction or make an inference about the plot and conflict and author’s purpose. Possible ANCHOR QUESTIONS

Stop! Notice and Note Signpost #2: Epiphany When you are reading and suddenly a character realizes, understands, or finally figures something out (an “Ah-ha!”)… You should stop and ask yourself: “How might this realization be important or change things?” If the character figured out a problem, you probably just learned about the CONFLICT. If the character understood a life lesson, you probably just learned the THEME. ANCHOR QUESTION

Stop! Notice and Note Signpost #3: Tough Questions When you are reading and the character is confused or uncertain and asks him/herself a difficult question that doesn’t have an easy answer…(the answer may shape his/her life)… You should stop and ask yourself: “What does this question tell me about the character?” OR “How might the character answer it?” OR “How might the answer affect the story?” The answers will tell you about the CONFLICT and might foreshadow later events. Possible ANCHOR QUESTIONS

Stop! Notice and Note Signpost #4: Words of the Wiser When you are reading and a character takes the main character aside and gives serious advice that is helpful at this moment in the story but could also be helpful throughout life… You should stop and ask yourself: “What’s the life lesson, and how might it affect the character?” Whatever the lesson is, you’ve probably found a THEME for the story. ANCHOR QUESTION

Stop! Notice and Note Signpost #5: Repetition When you are reading and you notice a word, phrase, object, situation, or idea mentioned over and over… You should stop and ask yourself: “Why does this keep showing up again and again?” The answers will tell you about the THEME and CONFLICT, or they might foreshadow what will happen later. ANCHOR QUESTION

Stop! Notice and Note Signpost #6: Flashback When you are reading and the author interrupts the action to reveal a memory… You should stop and ask yourself: “Why or how might this memory be important?” The answers will tell you about the THEME, CONFLICT, or might foreshadow what will happen later in the story. ANCHOR QUESTION