Signpost Notes
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Transcript Signpost Notes
Signpost Lessons
Stop! Notice and Note Signpost #1:
Contrasts & Contradictions & The Unexpected
When you are reading and you notice…
a character’s actions are contradictory to
(different than) how the character has acted
in the past.
a difference among characters (a way that
one character acts versus another) is
revealed.
a character acts differently than how YOU
would behave in a similar situation.
there are contrasting/unexpected story
elements, such as plot, setting, etc.
Signpost #1 Continued…
Contrasts & Contradictions & The Unexpected
You should stop and ask yourself:
“Why is the character doing
that?” OR “Why are the
characters so different from each
other?” OR “Why would the
author choose to do this?”
The answers could help you make a
prediction or make an inference
about the plot and conflict and
author’s purpose.
Possible
ANCHOR
QUESTIONS
Stop! Notice and Note Signpost #2:
Epiphany
When you are reading and suddenly a
character realizes, understands, or finally
figures something out (an “Ah-ha!”)…
You should stop and ask yourself:
ANCHOR
“How might this realization be
QUESTION
important or change things?”
If the character figured out a problem,
you probably just learned about the
CONFLICT.
If the character understood a life lesson,
you probably just learned the THEME.
Stop! Notice and Note Signpost #3:
Tough Questions
When you are reading and the character is
confused or uncertain and asks him/herself a
difficult question that doesn’t have an easy
answer…(the answer may shape his/her life)…
You should stop and ask yourself:
“What does this question tell me
Possible
about the character?” OR “How might ANCHOR
QUESTIONS
the character answer it?” OR “How
might the answer affect the story?”
The answers will tell you about the CONFLICT
and might foreshadow later events.
Stop! Notice and Note Signpost #4:
Words of the Wiser
When you are reading and a character
takes the main character aside and
gives serious advice that is helpful at
this moment in the story but could also
be helpful throughout life…
You should stop and ask yourself:
“What’s the life lesson, and how
might it affect the character?”
ANCHOR
QUESTION
Whatever the lesson is, you’ve probably
found a
THEME for the story.
Stop! Notice and Note Signpost #5:
Repetition
When you are reading and you notice
a word, phrase, object, situation, or
idea mentioned over and over…
You should stop and ask yourself:
“Why does this keep showing
ANCHOR
QUESTION
up again and again?”
The answers will tell you about the
THEME and CONFLICT, or they might
foreshadow what will happen later.
Stop! Notice and Note Signpost #6:
Flashback
When you are reading and the author
interrupts the action to reveal a
memory…
You should stop and ask yourself:
ANCHOR
“Why or how might this
QUESTION
memory be important?”
The answers will tell you about the
THEME, CONFLICT, or might
foreshadow what will happen later in
the story.