Question-answer+relationships

Question-Answer Relationship (QAR)

Description This strategy involves students in assessing the thinking demands of a passage and developing answers for four types of questions: right there (answer is directly stated in text); think and search (answer is in the text, but not stated directly); author and me (the answer is not in the text but is derived from integrating the author’s information with one’s own background knowledge and experiences); and on my own (the answer is not in the text; the reader must develop the answers solely from background knowledge).

Purpose Use during reading to Characterize questions and know where to look for the answers Refute common misperception by students that the text tells all Become more analytical and evaluative about responding to questions Separate factual, implied, inferred, and predictive information while reading Determine the supporting evidence for responses to questions

Directions 1.Prepare a sample text reading with several questions that respond to the four QAR types. 2.Explain that this strategy helps them determine how to seek answers for questions in text. 3.Show students the four types of QAR questions.

1. In the book The answer is stated directly in the text.

2. Think and search The answer is in the text but not stated directly. The reader interprets the meaning from different parts of the text. 3. Author and you The answer is not in the text. The reader must read the text in order to answer, but must use personal knowledge with the information provided by the author. 4. On my own The answer is not in the text. The reader must develop the answer based on knowledge and personal experience only.

4.Introduce several examples of “right there” questions and then introduce several “think and search questions. Emphasize that both of these types of questions require locating information within the text. 5.Introduce several “author and me” and “on my own” questions for the same text reading. 6.Provide guided practice in small groups with several progressively longer pieces of text. 7.As students become more proficient, provide independent practice and give feedback to individual students about their QAR choices. 8.Once students can effectively use QAR to answer questions, have them generate their own questions to practice the various types and use QAR independently.

Extension Link the QAR types of questions to Bloom’s Taxonomy of Critical Thinking: right there to knowledge; Think and Search to comprehension and application; Author and Me to analysis; and On My Own to evaluation and synthesis. QAR Application Activity: Joey in the Military

Read the story below. Then read the questions and decide what type of question is being asked. Underline the “clue words” that help you decide.

“I’m fed up with this stinking army!” Joey stalked back and forth across the barracks. “Umm,” said his listener lazily, shifting his position slightly in the lower bunk. “Just look at me—Joseph P. Riley, PFC. Four years I spend in this army during the war. Finally I’m out. I get me a wife. Two kids. TV repair shop in Brooklyn. I’m set.” “So’re we all, Joey.” “Then, whammo! Some guy in Washington decides we need another war. And some clerk in some dumpy office decides they can’t fight it without me.” “That’s the breaks, Joey.” “So here I sit—typing, for pete’s sake. A thousand miles from action, in the middle of a dust bowl. Wife won’t leave her mother, says this is no place for kids. What’s a guy gonna do?” “Dunno, Joey. Me, I’m going to take a walk.” Source: Unknown

IN THE BOOK QARs 1. In the book The answer is stated directly in the text. 2. Think and search The answer is in the text but is not stated directly. The reader interprets the meaning from different parts of the text.

IN MY HEAD QARs 3. Author and you The answer is not in the text. The reader must read the text in order to answer, but must use personal knowledge with the information the author provides. 4. On my own The answer is not in the text. The reader must develop the answer based on knowledge and personal experience only.

Directions: Put the number in front of each question that matches the QAR question type and underline the key words in the question that support your choice.

___ A. What military group is Joey in? ___ B. What war do you think Joey is in? ___ C. How much schooling has Joey probably had? ___ D. What is Joey’s attitude towards his job? ___ E. Based on your experience, do you think Joey is unpatriotic? ___ F. According to the passage, is Joey in a combat zone? ___ G. Does Joey’s bunkmate like Joey?