TRC Nonfiction Question Stems

Students can identify the reasons an author gives to support points in a text.
The author says __________. What might happen if ______________. Use parts of the book
in your answer.

Students can ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
Why do you think _________is important? Use parts of the book in your answer.

Students can describe the connection between two individuals, events, ideas, or pieces of
information in a text.
Tell how _________ and ________ are different. Use parts of the book in your answer.

Students can use the illustrations and details in a text to describe its key ideas.
Describe _____________. Use parts of the book in your answer.

Students can use the illustrations and details in a text to describe its key ideas.
Write three important details from the book about the main idea.

Students can ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
Tell two or more things that _______________ . Use parts of the book in your answer.

Students can identify the reasons an author gives to support points in a text.
The author says ___________ and __________ are different. Use parts of the book to tell why
it is different.

Students can describe the connection between two individuals, events, ideas, or pieces of
information in a text.
Tell why _____________ is a good title for this book. Use details from the book in your
answer.

Students know and use various text features to locate key facts or information in a text.
Look for the heading ____________. List four facts about ___________ from this part of the
book.

Students can describe the connection between two individuals, events, ideas, or pieces of
information in a text.
Why do you think ______________________? Use parts of the book in your answer.

Students can identify the main purpose of a text, including what the author wants to answer,
explain, or describe.
The author says _______ is/are __________. What is another word to describe _________?
Use details from the book in your answer.

Students can identify the main topic of a multiparagraph text as well as the focus of specific
paragraphs within a text.
Describe ______________. Use details from the book in your answer.

Students know and use various text features to locate key facts or information in a text
efficiently.
How did the timeline/pictures/captions/headings in this book help you understand the text?
Use details from the book in your answer.

Students can identify the main purpose of a text, including what the author wants to answer,
explain, or describe.
What is another good title for this book? Use details from the book in your answer.

Students can identify the main purpose of a text, including what the author wants to answer,
explain, or describe.
Explain why the author wrote this book. Use details from the book in your answer.

Students can describe the connection between a series of historical events, scientific ideas or
concepts, or steps in technical procedures in a text.
Describe two or more effects of ____________. Use details from the book in your answer.

Students can ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring
explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers.
How can a ___________ be helpful? Use details from the text to support your answer.

Students can describe the relationship between a series of historical events, scientific ideas
or concepts, or steps in technical procedures in a text, using language that pertains to time,
sequence, and cause/effect.
Why do you think ___________ does ________? Use details from the text to support your
answer.

Students can distinguish their own point of view from that of the author of a text.
Do you think ____________? Use details from the text to support your answer.

Students can describe the logical connection between particular sentences and paragraphs
in a text.
In what ways can _________ help ________? Use details from the text to support your
answer.

Students can use information gained from illustrations and the words in a text to
demonstrate understanding of the text.
Describe a __________. Use details from the pictures or from the text to support your answer.

Students can describe the relationship between a series of historical events, scientific ideas
or concepts, or steps in technical procedures in a text, using language that pertains to time,
sequence, and cause/effect.
Describe the steps in ____________. Use details from the text to support your answer.

Students can explain events, procedures, ideas, or concepts in a historical, scientific, or

technical text, incuding what happened and why, based on specific information in the text.
Explain the different ways __________. Use specific details from the text to support your
answer.

Students can determine the main idea of a text and explain how it is supported by key
details; summarize the text.
Write a summary of the text. Include the main idea and three or more details.

J.H. Gunn Elementary School

North Star Reading Partners Program 2015/2016