Dense Questioning Strategy Name Title
Directions: Act as if you are teaching this novel to students and are asking questions to test their knowledge of the book. Each of your questions should be specific to the novel (not generic – I should be able to tell that you read it from the details in your question) and fit the category. You do not have to answer your own question. If it is easier for you to write multiple connected questions to meet all parts of a denser questions, that’s fine.
Type of Question
/
Questions Generated
Text
Information found directly in the text
Reader
Connects novel to reader’s experience, values and ideas
World or Other Literature
Connects novel to knowledge of history, other cultures, or other literature
Text / Reader
Combines details from text with reader’s experience, values and ideas
Text / Other Literature
Combines details from text with knowledge of other pieces of literature
Reader / World
Combines knowledge of reader’s own experiences with knowledge of history/culture – tie to novel
Reader / Other Literature
Combines knowledge of reader’s own experiences with other pieces of literature – tie to novel
Dense Question
Combines knowledge of all three areas (text/reader/world) into one dense question (or series of related questions)
Dense Questioning Strategy Name SAMPLE
Text Title and Author: To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee__
Type of Question
/
Questions Generated
Text
Information found directly in the text
/ What was the name of Scout and Jim’s mysterious neighbor?
Reader
Connects novel to reader’s experience, values and ideas / Do you agree or disagree with Atticus defending Tom Robinson, based on your moral beliefs?
World or Other Literature
Connects novel to knowledge of history, other cultures, or other literature / Based on American prejudices at the time the novel was set, why is Tom Robinson accused and treated the way he is?
Text / Reader
Combines details from text with reader’s experience, values and ideas / Do you think you would treat Calpurnia the way that Scout does if you had grown up without a mother?
Text / Other Literature
Combines details from text with knowledge of other pieces of literature / How does the prejudice and treatment of Tom Robinson mirror the treatment of Elie Wiesel and other Holocaust victims in Night.
Reader / World
Combines knowledge of reader’s own experiences with knowledge of history/culture – tie to novel / Have you ever stood up against prejudice, like Atticus Finch? How were you treated? How does society respond to those who are countercultural?
Reader / Other Literature
Combines knowledge of reader’s own experiences with other pieces of literature – tie to novel / How would you compare Atticus Finch to the defense attorney in Inherit the Wind? Do you feel more emotionally attached to one of the characters based on your own experiences with unfair treatment?
Dense Question
Combines knowledge of all three areas (text/reader/world) into one dense question (or series of related questions)
/ The treatment of African Americans (Tom Robinson) and mentally handicapped (Boo Radley) during the setting of TKAM was very prejudiced. Do these prejudices still exist in America today? Towards the same groups of people or different groups? Have you ever been a victim of, witnessed, or taken part in such prejudicial treatment.
