1. Training for Question Writers for APSD Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl
NAHS Ruffin Writers
Training for Question Writers for
APSD Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl

2. Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl
Started in DeKalb County
Georgia Book Award chapter book nominees
Expanded to middle school using the Georgia Book Award chapter book nominees
Expanded to high school using Georgia Peach Teen nominees

3. Meet ..
Helen Ruffin, retired media specialist Sky Haven Elementary, DeKalb County
Dr. April Ruffin, relative of Helen Ruffin who frequently attends the HRRB

4. Competition Format 6 rounds 10 questions per round
5 members on each team
2 teams each round (rotate)
Team members respond individually
10 points for each correct answer
Cumulative Score for all 6 rounds determines 1st and 2nd place

5. Winners Everyone who participates is a winner!
All teams receive a participation trophy!

6. Advancing to the Regional Bowl
Top 2 scoring teams in each division receive first and second place trophies
These teams are determined by cumulative scores for all 6 rounds

7. Room Volunteers Moderator: Console Judge Score Keeper Time Keeper
Reads rules each round
Reads questions
Determines if answer is correct
Makes sure rules are followed
Console Judge
Operates the lockout device
Recognizes student who buzzes in first
May assist moderator in determining if answer is correct
Score Keeper
Keeps score on board
Completes score sheet
Time Keeper
Uses a watch with a second hand to track 10 second time limits
Task may be assigned to score keeper or console judge

8. Time to choose books!
Some of you have already been reading the books. Please fill out the Google Spreadsheet to let the team know what you have read:
Once two or more people have read the same book and questions have been written, we can start quizzing each other.

9. As you write questions remember …
The competition should be fun
The room volunteers have not read the books
All possible versions of an answer should be given

10. Always start questions
In the book <book title>, … For example: In the book Elsewhere, what are Observation Decks?

11. Indicating answers ….
p. #, answer For example: p.64, places where you can see all the way to Earth

12. Things to think about … Is the question based on facts?
Is the question clearly stated?
Does the answer have too many parts (beyond 3 parts is too many, you could ask for 3 out of 7 from a list)?
Can the question be answered differently depending on the point in the story?
Do not use Yes/No and Either/Or type of questions

13. Things to think about …
Is a full name required or will just the first or last name suffice? (Liz Hall or just Liz)
Moderators and other volunteers have not necessarily read the book so list all acceptable answers (i.e. Mein Kampf or My Life or My Struggle)

14. Things to think about …
There may be a very interesting fact in the story …
But it may be too hard to word a question clearly …
So just go on to something else!
There are lots of possible questions!

15. In the following slides
Read the question and answer
Determine if the question is
Good – acceptable for reading bowl
Bad – needs to be rewritten for clarity before being used for the reading bowl
Ugly – wrong facts; correct facts and rewrite or throw out and try another question

16. Good, Bad, or Ugly?
In the book Green Angel, what are the three colors of stones and what did each represent?
p.27, black for her mother, silver for her father, and pure white for her sister
Good!!!

17. Good, Bad, or Ugly?
In the book Notes From the Midnight Driver, what book did Alex bring Sol for Hanukkah?
p.92, Monk
Bad!!!
The question should read what is the title of the book that Alex brought Sol for Hanukkah?

18. Good, Bad, or Ugly?
In the book Phineas L. MacGuire Erupts!, who are the authors?
title page, Frances O'Roark Dowell and Preston McDaniels
Ugly!!!
Frances O’Roark Dowell is the author and Preston McDaniels is the illustrator.

19. Practice writing and entering into the spreadsheet/database
Go to
Choose the tab along the bottom for the book for which you are writing questions.
Type in your two questions following the proper format.
PROOFREAD! Others will see this, and we want it to represent us well.

20. Questions from the whole book!
The 10 questions for each book need to cover the entire book, beginning to end
Total Pages ÷10 = section
Then make 1 question from each section of the book

21. Tending to Grace has 176 pages!
176 ÷ 10 = 17.6 or 18 pages
Sections:
1-18, 19-36, 37-54, 55-72, 73-90
91-108, , , ,
You will write 2 questions for each section of your book!

22. Now it’s your turn -
It is highly recommended that you read the entire book before writing questions
This will alert you to possible questions that could be answered differently at different points in the story
So go ahead and read your book … ENJOY!
Then go back and write questions.

23. Final Words … The Reading Bowl should be fun!
The Reading Bowl cannot happen without your help!
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!