1. Text-Dependent Questions
and Evidence-Based Answers
Participants will create text-
dependent questions using a
complex text of their choice.

2. Defining Text-Dependent Questions
by Christina Hank

3. How does Christina Hank
define text-dependent
questions?

4. How do we recognize a good
text-dependent question?

5. Why does Christina say we
need to engage in a “different
kind of planning”?

6. How has Christina’s
questioning changed?

7. Modeling of Text-Dependent Questions
using
What Can a Small Bird Be?
Reread the first section “Courage”.

8. Text-dependent Questions
Demonstration
What does the word “surfaced”
mean in this text? Why do you
think the authors chose this
word? (page 3 of Courage
section.)

9. Text-dependent Questions
Demonstration
The text begins with: There once
was a curious bird who
wondered, What can a small bird
be? Why do you think the
authors chose to begin the text
with this question?

10. Text-dependent Questions
Demonstration
What is the meaning of “courage”
and how does Tortoise
demonstrate “courage” in this
text?

11. Text-dependent Questions
Demonstration
What evidence is there that shows
Bird is wondering, “What can a
small bird be?” and working on a
solution?

12. Evidenced-Based Answers
Text-based evidence facilitates rich and
rigorous evidence-based discussions and
writing through specific, thought-provoking
questions about common texts (including,
when applicable, illustrations, charts,
diagrams, audio/visual, and media).

16. Matching Activity
Directions:
Blue cards: Sort the QUESTIONS (blue
cards) into two categories: examples and
non-examples.

17. Did you sort out these
non-examples?
Non-examples
Have you ever been bullied?
The Bird says to Tortoise, “And you showed yourself,
too.” Describe a time when you showed yourself you
could do something.
The Tortoise demonstrates courage with Bird’s help.
Why is courage an important character trait to have?

18. Red cards:
Align the STANDARDS (red cards)
with the QUESTIONS (blue cards).

19. Question Standard(s) Addressed
What does the word surfaced mean in L.6.4
Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and
this text? Why do you think the authors multiple-meaning words or phrases based on grade
chose this word? 6 reading and content, choose flexibly from a range
of strategies.
a. Use context as a clue to the meaning of a word or
phrase.
The text begins with: There once was a RL.6.5
Analyze how a particular sentence, chapter, scene,
curious bird who wondered, What can a or stanza fits into the overall structure of a text and
small bird be? Why do you think the contributes to the development of the theme, setting,
authors chose to begin the text with this or plot.
question?
What is the meaning of courage? How RL.6.4
Determine the meaning of words and phrases as
does Tortoise demonstrate courage in they are used in a text, including figurative and
this text? connotative meanings; analyze the impact of specific
word choices on meaning and tone.
RL.6.2
Determine a theme or central idea of a text and how
it is conveyed through particular details; provide a
summary of the text distinct from personal opinions
or judgments.

20. Question Standard(s) Addressed
What evidence is there that shows Bird RL.6.3
is wondering, “What can a small bird Describe how a particular story’s or
be?” and working on a solution? dramas plot unfolds in a series of
episodes as well as how the characters
respond or change as the plot moves
toward a resolution.
What evidence shows that the crows are RL.6.1
bullying the Tortoise? What is Bird’s Cite textual evidence to support analysis
response? of what the text says explicitly as well as
inferences drawn from the text.
What words or phrases does the author RL.6.5
choose to persuade you that the crows Analyze how a particular sentence,
are bullies? chapter, scene, or stanza fits into the
overall structure of a text and contributes
to the development of the theme, setting,
or plot.

21. Let’s Practice
Creating Text-Dependent
Questions
How will we know they
learned it?

22. A Guide to Creating Text-Dependent
Questions for Close Analytic Reading
This resource is on the wiki. Use it to guide
your thinking as you write questions.
http://si2012ela.ncdpi.wikispaces.net/file/view/Guide-to-Creating-
Questions-for-Close-Analytic-Reading.pdf