The Art of Effective Questioning

Asking the right questions will improve reading comprehension and help you engage with
the material in a more meaningful way.
There are three levels of questioning:
Level 1 (close-ended questions): These are essentially factual questions.
They have one, and only one, correct answer.
Examples:
Who won the presidential election at the eginning of !A "ound of Thunder#$
What kind of travel agency is Time "afari %nc$
Level 2 (open-ended questions): These questions call for interpretation. They
may have multiple answers ut MUST e supported with evidence drawn from the
text. These questions generally ask you to read etween the lines. &evel '
questions are insightful questions aout the text that will require proof and group
discussion and (construction of logic( to discover or explore the answer to the
question.
Example:
Why was Eckels not ale to shoot the )inosaur$
*ow do you explain the spelling errors in !Tyme "efari %nc# at the end of the story$
Another type of level ' question is literary analysis question: &iterary analysis
questions deal with *+W an author chose to compose a literary piece. *ow did the
author manipulate point of view, characteri,ation, poetic form, archetypal hero
patterns, for example$ These questions might also e aout literary elements and
their function in the text.
Examples:
The title of the short story, !A "ound of Thunder#, is used twice in the text. What is
the meaning of the line each time it is used$ *ow are the two meanings
connected$
What is the mood of this short story$ *ow does the author create this mood$
Level 3: Evaluative questions typically seek some kind of opinion or elief. There
are no factually wrong answers, although answering them requires thought and
logic. -ou cannot .nd the answer emedded in the text. &evel / questions might
connect the text to the real world and0or the reader.
Example:
Would you ever consider time travel$ Why or why not$
Lets take the folloin! e"a#ple f$o# Crime and Punishment to see ho
e can #ove f$o# a loe$-level question to a hi!he$-level question.
Level 1% &ho #u$de$ed the pan'$oke$(
Answer 1straight from the text2: 3askolnikov
Level 2% &h) did *askolnikov 'elieve this #u$de$ as +usti,a'le(
Answer 1requiring some interpretation of the text, ut not speci.cally spelled out2:
*e elieved he was an extraordinary eing, morally superior and perched aove
the lowly masses. *e thought he was not only entitled to choose murder for his
own ends ut that he was doing the world a favor.
Level 3% &hat a$e so#e situations he$e the$e a$e #o$al advanta!es to
co##ittin! a sin!le #u$de$(
Answer 1requiring some evaluation, drawn from your own elief system2: %f the
ends 4ustify the means, such as assassinating a murderous dictator, it is a morally
acceptale 1or unacceptale2 choice ecause5.
-uestion So$tin!
6lease read the following questions. %n the lank space, write a 7, ', or / to identify
which level the question is.
8888888888 *ow did the election results change at the end of the short story$
8888888888 According to &esperance, what would e a paradox of time travel$
8888888888 What is the e9ect of :radury;s vivid imagery in the description of the
Tyrannosaurus 3ex$
8888888888 )o you .nd any <aws in the short story;s logic$ )o <aws in a story logic
lessen your en4oyment of it$
8888888888 *ow does the author use irony in this short story$
8888888888 *ow did the hunters know which dinosaur to shoot$
8888888888 *ow does :radury create suspense at the end of the short story$
8888888888 %s hunting morally acceptale$
8888888888 Will technological advancement eventually cause the end of the human
race$
.../0T1....
2ou$ lite$atu$e ci$cle discussions should ala)s e"plo$e Level 2 o$ 3 questions.
88887888888 *ow did the election results change at the end of the short story$
88888788888 According to &esperance, what would e a paradox of time travel$
888888'8888 What is the e9ect of :radury;s vivid imagery in the description of the
Tyrannosaurus 3ex$
88888/88888 )o you .nd any <aws in the short story;s logic$ )o <aws in a story
logic lessen your en4oyment of it$
888888'8888 *ow does the author use irony in this short story$
88888878888 *ow did the hunters know which dinosaur to shoot$
888888'8888 *ow does :radury create suspense at the end of the short story$
8888/888888 %s hunting morally acceptale$
88888/88888 Will technological advancement eventually cause the end of the human
race$
.../0T1....
2ou$ lite$atu$e ci$cle discussions should ala)s e"plo$e Level 2 o$ 3 questions.
Sound of Thunder Seminar Discussion Questions
Text Questions
How would you describe Eckels?
How would you characterize the business practices of Time Safari, Inc?
!as Eckert "ustified in his fear? !ould you ha#e run from the $ath?
!hat chan%es may ha#e led to the difference in the election?
How did steppin% on the butterfly impact the future? &'se e#idence from the book to create a
possible chain of e#ents, usin% (step on a mouse( as a %uide)
'sin% e#idence from the text, *+, the time tra#elers %o back to fix the mistake?
!hat do you think happened at the end of the story? !hat future conse-uences mi%ht that
e#ent ha#e?
!ho would you say is the prota%onist of the story? The anta%onist?
.radbury repeats multiple times, /Stay on the path0 !hat could the path symbolize?
!hat mi%ht /the sound of thunder0 symbolize?
!hat do you think is the theme of the story? .radbury1s lesson for us?
*onnection Questions
!hat happens when you lea#e the /path0 in your life? How can your actions
affect others? *an your actions impact or destroy the future in any way?
2o you think time tra#el is possible?
o If so, can a time tra#eler1s actions in the past impact the future?
o If not, do you think our actions now impact the future 3 or is the future already written in
stone?
!hat are actions that we humans are doin% now that can hurt our future? .etter it?
Discussion Questions
Directions: As you read A Sound of Thunder Answer the following questions in one to two complete sentences.
1.How would you describe Eckels? (Think personality not physical traits)
2.How would you characterize the business practices of Time Safari, Inc.? Are they responsible? Reckless? Explain.
3.Was Eckels justifed in his fear? Why or why not?
4.Would you have run from the Path? Why or why not?
5.How might stepping on the butterfy have led to the diference in the election? (Be creative but reasonable)
6.CAN the time travelers go back to fx the mistake? Using evidence from the text, support your response.
7.What do you think happened at the end of the story? What future consequences might that event have? (Make a
prediction)
8.Who or what would you say is the antagonist of the story and why?
9.Bradbury repeats multiple times, Stay on the path. What could the path symbolize? Why?
10.What might the title A Sound of Thunder symbolize? Why?
11.What do you think is the theme of the story? (Bradburys lesson for us) Support your answer with reference to
specifc events in the text.
12.What happens when you leave the path in your life? How can your actions
afect others? Can your actions impact or destroy the future in any way? (Connect to real life.)
The Veldt Socratic Seminar Questions
4 !hat aspects of contemporary family life do the /Happylife Home0 and nursery satirize? !hat
ha#e the Hadleys purchased for their home and what do the amenities of /Happylife Home0
offer them?
5 In what ways has the house infantilized &to treat like a child) the Hadleys? How does .radbury
depict this as dan%erous?
6 Ha#e you noticed the allusion to Peter Pan? How is !endy1s name ironic in this story? !hy
does $eter1s name fit?
7 2iscuss the way $eter addresses his father chan%es throu%hout the story !hat mi%ht explain
his word choice in certain situations?
8 2o 9ydia and :eor%e #iew the nursery the same way? How do their #iews chan%e o#er the
course of the story?
; This story is in many ways also a classic :othic horror story &which often portray /sick0 houses
and<or families) !hat clues are readers %i#en throu%hout the story that somethin% /#ery bad0
&to -uote 2a#id =c*lean) is %oin% on in the nursery?
> How is childhood represented in this story? !hat are the effects of the house and nursery on
the children? In what ways does .radbury depict these effects as dan%erous &to the children,
to society)?
? !hat does the story su%%est as the source of the children1s murderous hatred for their
parents? How are :eor%e and 9ydia shown to ha#e failed their children?
@ Try to explain one of the followin%A
a :eor%e1s chewed wallet in the nursery
b 9ydia1s bloody scarf
c Screams that sound familiar
4B How is this story1s depiction of ima%ination, and the /uses0 of fantasy<ima%ination by children,
different than &or similar to) other texts we ha#e read?
=ame: 88888888888888888888888888888888)ate: 88888888888888 >lass 6eriod: 88
*esponse to Lite$atu$e 3 Soc$atic Se#ina$ 4The 5eldt6 ') *a) 7$ad'u$)
After you read, generate di9erent levels of questions and answer them, indicating where
the information can e found in the text 1page numer, quote, etc.2. "ample questions
for each level are provided. The 8nal)tical -uestion is a big question ? one that helps
us explore big ideas and themes related to the text.
7efo$e )ou $ead9
Ask. Think. Discuss.
3ay :radury is known for his short stories, especially science .ction. What are the
characteristics of that genre$ What are some science .ction stories or movies that
you have read or seen$
!The @eldt# was written in 7ABC and deals with ideas aout the role of technology.
What was technology like when the piece was written$ *ow has technology
changed$
8s )ou $ead9
*ighlight or place a sticky note next to any confusing passages or vocaulary.
%dentify the characters, the setting, the con<ict, the climax, and the resolution.
8fte$ )ou $ead9
3ather than answer a list of questions that the teacher provides, you will generate
your own questions and contriute them to the group for discussion. -ou need to
answer your questions y citing speci.c examples in the text 1in other words, tell us
what paragraph or passage, so we can follow along2.
:ettin! to the 7i! -uestion
4*i!ht The$e6
-uestions
Dind the answers in the
text.
4;$ocess6 -uestions
-ou will need to infer or
process information to
get the answer.
48nal)tical6
-uestions
*ow does this connect
to you, other text, or the
world$
1"a#ple%
Why does Eeorge
hesitate to lock the
nursery$
8nse$% The last time
he locked the nursery,
the kids threw tantrums.
!-ou know how diFcult
6eter is aout that.
When % punished him a
month ago y locking
the nursery for even a
few hours ? the tantrum
he threwG And Wendy
too. They live for the
nursery.#
1"a#ple%
*ow does :radury use
simile to descrie the
kids$
Answer: The kids are
descried as having
(cheeks like peppermint
candy, eyes like right
lue agate marles.#
This simile suggests
they are like any typical
children, sweet and
innocent. There is no
indication they are
capale of hurting
anyone.
1"a#ple%
*as society helped or
hindered human
relationships$
These are thoughts to
ponder 1think aout and
discuss2
-ou will choose a
question to answer in
writing after our "ocratic
seminar.
M) -uestion%
8nse$%
M) -uestion%
8nse$%
M) -uestion%
S0<*8T=< S1M=/8* *UL1S
7. 8!$ee to disa!$ee. This is not a deate. We are not arguing
with one another. The point is to share ideas and discuss the
text. 3espect one another.
'. 8sk $elevant questions. All questions should relate to the text
in some way. Even questions that make us think aout other
topics must e connected in some way to the text when you put
the question to the group.
/. Take tu$ns. When a person !has the <oor# they should e the
only one speaking. )on;t interrupt and no side conversations.
H. *espond to questions app$op$iatel). >onnect your response
to the text and e polite.
B. &ait ti#e is oka). )on;t .ll the void of silence with noise ? .ll it
with your thoughtful response or another question.
*ow you can respond:
% like what 88888 had to say aout 8888. % wonder if5.
>ould 888888 clarify what he0she is asking$
>an you tell us where that is in the text$
When % read 888888, it made me wonder$
That was an interesting point, however5.
We may ask some questions that we can;t answer during our seminar.
These questions will go into the !6arking &ot# and we will try to address
them in another class period.
The !:ig# Iuestion:
8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
3espond to the !:ig# question you selected from the "ocratic seminar.
-ou should include your own thoughts, ways to connect the idea to
your own experience or relate it to your world, and refer to speci.c
passages or ideas in the text.