How to Read Literature

Ms. Kintz7th Grade Language

Arts

How This Works

1. We discuss first to deepen your understanding2. You will have 1 minute after we discuss, to translate the definition into something that makes sense to you3. If you finish early, please read

Logical Thinking

• Thinking that is based on evidence and facts from the text.

• Thinking that makes sense because it is difficult to argue against.

If you turn-in every assignment late in this class, what could you logically say might happen?How do you know this?

Infer•Using clues from the story to figure something out that the author doesn’t tell you directly.Example:

Analyze•To look carefully at something, breaking down its parts to reach a deeper understanding

It’s like putting the pieces of a puzzle together in order to see the big picture.

Investigate•To look at something in detail, gathering facts and evidence that will help you to understand the reason that something has happened.

You already know the outcome, you have to figure out how or why it happened.

Evaluate•To examine something in order to decide on its value or worth.

You can look at the actions of a particular character or event in a story and decide if it’s significant. Why do we do this?

Interpret•Find deeper meaning in what you read•Think about what the author is trying to tell the reader•Consider the meaning behind each eventToby had never played soccer but wanted to go out for

the team in the fall. Everyone said he’d never make it since everyone else had been playing for at least 5 years. Toby decided to practice playing soccer for 3 hours every day after school and 5 hours on the weekends. 6 months later, he tried out for the team and was one of the best players on the field. The other boys didn’t even congratulate him when he made the team, they just ignored him as he walked off the field.

Draw Conclusions•Decide what’s happening based on evidence from the text, then combine your inferences to reach a logical decision about something.

Johnny got 2 hours of sleep, played 2 hours of football and 1 hour of soccer, left his glasses at home, and has only eaten one crouton all day. He has a math test at 3 o’clock today. What conclusion can you draw about how he’s feeling?

Critical Thinking•Thinking that is clear, logical and deep; thinking that uses evidence to help you form opinions or beliefs.

It includes analyzing, evaluating and investigating.