Question-Answer Relationship is a reading strategy which was developed by Taffy Raphael (1982). This strategy can be used before, during and after reading. It prepares students to answer questions on a given text. Q.A.R. Is a useful tool for helping students balance literal and figurative questioning and reasoning. Without it, students may over-rely on information which is explicitly stated in the text, or solely on their background knowledge.
Raphael (1982) categorized four levels of questions under two main headings: 'In The Book' and 'In My Head'. The word 'book' here is used loosely, as it refers to text in general. 'In The Book' is further sub-divided into two categories: 'Right There' and 'Think and Search'. These form levels one and two respectfully. In My Head' comprises levels three and four-'Author and You' and 'On My Own'.
Level one:'Right Here' questions are those to which the answers are directly stated in the text.
Level two: 'Think and Search' questions are those which require readers to make links among multiple ideas, in order to find answers.
Level three: 'Author and You' questions require deductive reasoning abilities. Readers use information in the text (clues) as well as their background knowledge to generate responses which are not literally stated in the text. Readers must 'read between the lines'.
Level four: 'On My Own' questions require the reader to use mainly their background knowledge to answer questions. Readers may not need to have read the text in order to respond to these types of questions.
For more information on Q.A.R.s see the following links below:
This is a strategy that I used in my classroom but not effectively, as my students still tended to be at the "Right There' stage.The other levels tended to be frustrating for them and as a result they tended to be de motivated to learn the literature.
ReplyDeleteThanks for feedback. Maybe my next entry will provide clarity on how you can make this strategy work for you.
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