1. Nonfiction Signposts
recognizing author’s craft to enhance comprehension and generate inferences.
Quoted words
Word Gaps
Contrasts and Contradictions
Extreme and Absolute language
Statistics and Numbers
When the author shows you how things/people/ideas contrast or contradict (argue) on another
What is the difference and why does it matter?
Direct signals : On the other hand, by contrast, however, another viewpoint is…
You think: We don’t live like this Or our government isn’t that way…
When the author uses language that leaves no doubt about a situation or seems to exaggerate
Why did the author use this language?
Direct signals : all, none, everyone, always, never, totally
You think: It is not possible for ALL people ALWAYS to…
When the author uses specific quantities or comparisons to show amount, size, or scale.
Why is the author use (or not use) numbers?
Direct signals : 90%, 3,400, 1 out of every 10, four times as many
You think: Why do I need to know how many, most, some, or taller than…
When the author includes opinions of someone who is an expert
Why is this person quoted? What does this quote add to the text?
Direct signals : Doctor Soandso, Professor Soandso, “……”
You think: Can I trust this quote?
When the author uses unfamiliar vocabulary.
Do I know this word from somewhere else?
Does it seem like technical talk for this topic?
Context Clues
Prefix, Suffix, Root?
Synonyms or Antonyms?
Read around the work…
LOOK it UP!
Define ?
Clues
Recognizing nonfiction signposts help readers_________________________________________________________.

2. Nonfiction Big ?s Big Question 1 Big Question 2 Big Question 3
The FRAME Routine
Key Topic
Main idea
is about…
So What? (What’s important to understand about this?)
Essential details
Nonfiction Big ?s
gaining a questioning stance to help readers critically think about a real issue.
Big Question 1
Big Question 2
Big Question 3
What surprised me?
What did the author think
I already knew?
What changed, challenged, or confirmed what you already knew?
Details reader should think about during and after reading
I was shocked when…
I never thought…
Really?
I could not believe…
I did not know…
I was confused by…
The author assumed/thought I knew…
At first I thought___but…
I had to rethink…
I changed my mind when…
I was right/wrong about…
-new info (I didn’t know that!)
-suspicious info (Really…is that true?)
-clarifying info (Oh! Now I get it!)
-different perspectives (I hadn’t thought of it that way.)
-visualize (The author thought I could picture this.)
-prior knowledge (The author thought I knew about it before.)
-sequence/causal relationships (The author thought I would understand how this happens.)
-We read nonfiction to learn.
-Learning involves changing the way we think about an issue or idea.
-We can change is several ways.
1. Confirm what we know.
2. Modify our thinking
3. Change our minds completely
Asking myself the BIG 3 BEFFORE I decide on a multiple choice answer will help me think critically and prevent me from making mistakes.