Transcript The Metaphor of the Elephant

The Analogy of the Car
A Way to Remember
Seven Reading Comprehension Strategies
By Judi Moreillon
Coteaching Reading Comprehension Strategies in Secondary School Libraries:
Maximizing Your Impact (Chicago: American Library Association, 2012)
Why an analogy?
Researchers who have studied intelligence
and those who have studied achievement
on standardized tests agree that people
who can recognize and create analogies
have more pathways in their brains that can
help them understand new information.
Marzano, Robert J., Debra J. Pickering, and Jane E. Pollock. Classroom Instruction That
Works: Research-based Strategies for Increasing Student Achievement. Alexandria,
VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, 2001. 26.
What is an analogy?
People (speakers and writers) use analogies to
express relationships among things. Like similes
and metaphors, analogies show similarities and
differences.
Analogy: Michael Jackson was to 1980s popular culture as
Elvis Presley was to 1950s Rock ’n’ Roll.
How were they similar? They both were influential singers
and both were called “The King.”
How were they different? Let me count the ways!
Why a car?
Connecting the parts of the car with reading
comprehension strategies can help readers remember
the various options that can help them gain or regain
comprehension.


The parts of a car have functions that parallel the way
readers use reading comprehension strategies.
Just as new drivers must learn to use all the parts of the
car to drive safely, readers must learn to use fix-up
options to be effective, strategic readers.
How do you know when
you’ve lost comprehension?
What are the symptoms? Share your ideas. Then,
consider mine…
The reader
 feels bored or confused

starts to daydream
How do you know when
you’ve lost comprehension?
The reader
 starts to mentally do other tasks (think about afterschool activities or next weekend)

starts to physically do something else (tap pen,
shake foot, doodle, reach for phone, bother
neighbor)
Reading Comprehension Strategy
Activating or Building
Background Knowledge
Make connections with the text:
• Text-to-self
• Text-to-text
• Text-to-world
Analogy
Activating or Building
Background Knowledge
Rearview mirrors are to drivers as background knowledge
is to readers. Drivers should always look in their rearview
mirrors before setting out on a journey; they have to know
what is behind them before they go forward. Building and
activating background knowledge supports comprehension
just as knowing what is behind the car helps drivers safely
and competently navigate roads.
Reading Comprehension Strategy
Using Sensory Images
Engage all five senses in
creating mental images or
visualizing.
Analogy
Using Sensory Images
Headlights are to nighttime drivers as sensory images are
to readers. When driving at night, drivers turn on their
headlights so they can see where they are going. Using
sensory images to support comprehension is best when it
involves sight as well as the other four senses: hearing,
taste, touch, and smell.
Reading Comprehension Strategy
Questioning
Ask questions before, during,
and after reading.
• Does this make sense?
• Question the text and the author.
Analogy
Questioning
The steering wheel is used by drivers the way
questioning is used by readers. Drivers use the steering
wheel to take charge and direct their journey. Readers
use questioning to be active participants in meaning
making. They use questions to determine the direction of
their inquiry.
Reading Comprehension Strategy
Drawing Inferences
Evidence in the Text +
Background Knowledge = Inference
Analogy
Drawing Inferences
Accelerators are to drivers as inferences are to readers.
When readers make inferences and are able to read
between the lines, they can derive more meaning from the
texts they read. Inferences, like accelerators, help readers
move faster and more confidently through texts.
Reading Comprehension Strategy
Determining Main Ideas
Another way to say this is
to determine the relative
importance of ideas and
information. Which are the
main ideas? Which are the
supporting details?
Analogy
Determining Main Ideas
Tires are to cars as main ideas are to readers. Drivers should
always make sure a car’s tires are inflated; without tires, the
car cannot go anywhere. Readers must know their purpose
for reading and must be able to determine importance, the
main ideas, so they can “get somewhere” in their reading.
Reading Comprehension Strategy
Using Fix-up Options
Readers can use
these 16 ways
to regain comprehension
once they have lost it…
Analogy
Using Fix-up Options
Brakes are to driving as fix-up options are to readers.
When drivers realize they are going too fast or in the
wrong direction, they apply the brakes to get the car under
control or get back on track. Readers regain control of
meaning making, they get back on track, by applying fix-up
options.
Reading Comprehension Strategy
Synthesizing
Synthesizing involves
combining information
and ideas from various parts
of a text or from multiple texts
with the reader’s own
interpretation.
Analogy
Synthesizing
The car is to drivers as synthesis is to readers. When
readers use all of the reading comprehension strategies
effectively, they can synthesize ideas and information from
many parts of a text and from multiple texts. Just as it takes
all of the parts to make a functioning car, readers can put all
the pieces together to deeply comprehend what they read,
view, and hear.
Strategic Readers Use Reading Comprehension Strategies

They practice using all the strategies.

They learn to pick the strategy or strategies that
will work best for that text and for their purpose
for reading.

If one strategy doesn’t work, they try another.

Sometimes it takes more than one strategy to
regain comprehension.
Review the Seven Strategies and the Analogy
Analogy by Judi Moreillon
Car images by Jonathan Thompson
2012