1. Close Reading non-Fiction
The 3 big questions and signposts

2. Works cited
Reading Nonfiction : Making Nonfiction Reading Engaging and Purposeful Mary James, NBCT Co-Director Red Mountain Writing Project MidSouth Conference on Reading and Writing June 16, (Twitter)

3. Nonfiction Defined for Middle School
Nonfiction is a group of texts in which the
author makes claims or assertions to readers
about the real world, real people, real
experiences, ideas, or beliefs.

4. THE 3 Big Questions 1. What surprised me?
2. What did the author think I already knew?
3. What changed, challenged, or confirmed what I already knew?

5. Breaking down the 3 Questions

6. Signposts
Signposts bring our attention to significant parts of nonfiction texts.
They remind us to stop and to think critically about
what the author is trying to tell us.

7. 1. Contrasts & contradictions
Notice and Note - What’s happening:
When you’re reading and the author shows you
a difference between what you know and what
is happening in the text, OR a difference between
two or more things in the text, you should ask
yourself,
“What is the difference and why does it matter?”
The answer will help you see details that show you the main idea,
compare and contrast, understand the author’s purpose, infer, make a
generalization, notice cause and effect

8. 2. Extreme or absolute language
Notice and Note - What’s happening:
When you’re reading and you notice the author
uses language that leaves no doubt, exaggerates,
or pushes to the limit, you should ask yourself,
“Why did the author say it like that?”
The answer will tell you something about the author’s point-of-view and
purpose. Or, you might realize the author is exaggerating to make you
think a certain way.

9. 3. Numbers, statistics, and diagrams
Notice and Note - What’s happening:
When you’re reading and you notice specific
numbers, number words, or amounts, or even images and special fonts, you should
stop and ask yourself,
“Why did the author use these numbers or
Amounts, or images?”
The answers might help you come to a conclusion, make a comparison,
see the details, infer, find facts, or recognize evidence.

10. 4. Quotes Notice and Note - What’s happening:
When you’re reading and you notice the author
quoted a Voice of Authority, a Personal Perspective,
or cited Other’s Words, stop, and ask yourself,
“Why did the author quote or cite this person?”
The answer will help you think about the author’s point-of-view, purpose, or
conclusions, OR these words will give a perspective, facts and opinions, or
a generalization.

11. 5. Unknown or unclear words
Notice and Note - What’s happening:
When you’re reading and the author uses a word
or phrase you don’t know, you should stop and ask,
“Do I know this word from someplace else?”
“Does this seem like technical talk for experts on this topic?”
“Can I find clues in the sentence to help me understand the word?”
The answers will help you decide if you need to look the word up, or keep
reading for more information.

12. Practice Reading and annotating nonfiction texts
1st read:
Ask yourself the 3 questions
2nd read:
Use signposts to help you stop and think about the text.
You don’t have to use all 5; but try to use 3.
Share your signposts notes with a peer.