Text-dependent questions

1. Text-dependent questions building a critical foundation of knowledge needed for comprehending complex texts

2. Background • A priority of the Common Core State Standards is that students must closely read texts of increasing complexity to acquire knowledge. • The standards strongly focus on students gathering evidence, knowledge, and insight from what they read and therefore require that a majority of questions and tasks that students ask and respond to (both orally and in writing) be based on the text under consideration. • Questions and tasks should require thinking about the text carefully and finding evidence in the text itself to support the response.

3. 80-90% of (CCSS) reading standards require text-dependent analysis yet over 30% of questions in major textbooks do not.

4. Why adjust the way we question? • Asking students to make connections to themselves, other texts and the world is a common style of questioning that guides students away from the text. This type of questioning does not lead to a deep understanding of the text. • We often ask students simple questions that require very literal thinking to ensure they have read the text. Students expend too much time and energy answering these questions rather than slowing down to consider the meaningful text-specific questions that will bring them to a deeper understanding.

5. Studying the StandardUsing a Learning Trajectory • We are going to explore the learning trajectory of reading standard 1in order to more deeply develop an understanding of the alignment of that standard within the K-12 context. • This activity will allow us to understand how the standard builds and increases in rigor throughout the grades.

6. College and Career Readiness Anchor Standard for Reading - Standard 1 This CCR anchor standard is our goal. All students must demonstrate this skill in order to be prepared for college or a career. R.CCR.1: Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text.

7. Learning Trajectory READING CLOSELY TO ANALYZE TEXT RI.5.1 Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text. D: Refer to details and examples A: Quote accurately from the text RI.4.1 Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text. R.CCR.1: Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text. D: Ask and answer questions A: Refer to details and examples when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences RI.3.1 Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers. D: Specific questions such as who, what, where, when, why, and how A: Refer explicitly to the text as a basis for the answers RI.2.1 Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text. A: Who, what, where, when, why, and how are specific questions to be asked and answered CC: demonstrating an understanding of the key details RI.1.1 Ask and answer questions about key details in a text. D: prompting and support RI.K.1 With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text.

8. A Learning Trajectory Big Idea: Reading Closely to Analyze Text R.CCR.1: Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text.

9. Reflection • Consider the following questions and then discuss with a colleague: How does the learning from this trajectory activity impact/expand our understanding of text-dependent questioning? How does the learning from this trajectory activity emphasize the need for questions that are text-dependent?

10. Text-Dependent Questions… • are questions that can only be answered correctly by close reading of the text and demand careful attention to the text. • require an understanding that extends beyond recalling facts. • often require students to infer. • do not depend on information from outside sources. • allow students to gather evidence and build knowledge. • provide access to increasing levels of complex text. • call for careful and thoughtful teacher preparation. • require time for students to process. • are worth asking.

11. What are we looking for? • Rich and rigorous evidence-based conversations about text amongst students and with teachers • Discussions that stay deeply connected to the text so that students make evidentiary arguments • Students revisiting text for evidence to support their argument in a thoughtful, careful, and precise way • Students slowing down to explore and learn from the evidence

12. Which question requires students to read closely for text-specific information? Questions based on: Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave by Frederick Douglass • How did Frederick Douglass’ ability to read contribute to his emotional struggle for freedom? • After reading Frederick Douglass’ narrative, In what ways does America represent the hope for freedom that lived in the heart of Frederick Douglass? Cite examples from the text to support your answer.

13. A Conversation about Text-Based Answers This 11 minute video features a discussion between New York State Commissioner of Education John B. King Jr., David Coleman (contributing author to the Common Core) and Kate Gerson (a Sr. Fellow with the Regents Research Fund) that addresses the shift to Text-Based Answers. http://engageny.org/resource/common-core-in-ela-literacy-shift-4-text-based-answers/

14. Questions to Consider After Viewing Video Independently answer the following questions and then discuss with a colleague: • What does it mean to ask text-based questions? • How will this impact our instruction? • What challenges will we face as we make this shift? • What are the implications for teacher planning and for teacher planning time in schools? • What questions will take the students deeper into this text and cause them to pay careful attention to it?