QAR INFO

Question-Answer Relationships or QAR's is a reading/questioning strategy. Using this strategy will help you understand the need to use both information in the text and information from your own background knowledge when answering questions.

Answering questions about books requires you to use both information found in the book and information found in your own background knowledge. There are four types of QAR's. The first two types are "In the Book" QAR's, and the last two types are "In Your Head" QAR's. Take a look below for more information and examples. Take notes to help you better remember this information.

In the Book QAR's

RIGHT THERE
The answer is in the text, usually easy to find. The words used to make up the question, and words used to answer the questions are RIGHT THERE in the same sentence. For example, in the text, "Mother put peas and corn on the table" a "Right There" question would be "What did mother put on the table?"

THINK and SEARCH (Putting it Together)
The answer is in the selection, but you need to put together different pieces of information to find it. Words for the question and words for the answer are not found in the same sentence. They come from different places in the selection.

For example, if the setting of a story was described in three different paragraphs, you would have to identify the parts of those three paragraphs that provided information about the setting.

In Your Head QAR's

AUTHOR and YOU
The answer is NOT in the story. You need to think about what you already know, what the author tells you in the text and how it fits together. For example, in the text, "Mother put peas and corn on the table" an "Author & You" question might be "What meal was the family eating?" and from the details given and your own experience, you can determine that the meal was more than likely dinner or supper.

On My Own

The answer is not in the selection. You can even answer the question without reading the selection. You need to use your own experience.
On My Own," represent information that results primarily from your own background knowledge. "On My Own" questions are generally used to help you think about what you already know and how it relates to the text. This type is especially useful in activating background knowledge prior to reading and assisting you in applying new information to your own life. For example, if you read a passage about electricity, an "On My Own" question might be "How do you use electricity in your life?"

Here are some examples:

QAR Examples from “Masque of the Red Death”

In the Book QAR’s
Right There Question: What color was the 2nd chamber?
Think and Search Question: (Putting it Together) Why did Prince Prospero decide to confront the masked figure?

In Your Head QAR’s
Author and You Question: Which word best describes the author’s tone in the story?
On My Own Question: Explain how you think your peers would react to news that a deadly disease was quickly spreading through our school?

Still need more help? Visit ReadingQuest Strategies to see another explanation and examples of Question-Answer Relationships.

After reading the above information and completing your notes, review Masque of the Red Death and Hop Frog. Write four test questions from each story being sure to use each type of QAR.

Then go to the message boards and post your questions with the correct answers on the correct message board for others to view.