There are four levels of questioning:
Level One (Right There Questions): As the name implies, the answer is right there! It's a one word answer and it doesn't require any critical thinking.
Who is George's best friend? Lennie!
Level Two (Think and Search Questions): The answer is right there, but it requires students to search through the text, putting together multiple pieces of information.
What are three types of animals that Lennie loves to pet? Mice, puppies, and rabbits!
He also loves to pet girls, but we'll get to that later.
Level Three (Author an You Questions): The answer is not directly in the text. The student needs to think about what he or she already knows about the story, what the author is telling them, and how it all fits together.
The author implies that people often blame others because they can not stand looking at themselves.
This is George's dilemma.
Level Four (On My Own): Like a level three, the answer is not in the text. In fact, the student doesn't even need to read the book to come up with a question. An "On My Own" deals with the big questions in life.
Why do people ignore others?
(Possible answer): People ignore others because they want to feel superior.
So there you have it. A level four question is designed to get students to think critically. As my students read the book, I ask them to find a quote that jumps out at them. They then write it down and afterwards they come up with a level four question.
Example: In the story, George constantly has to remind Lennie, who is mentally retarded, not to forget things. Unfortunately, Lennie forgets things constantly.
"So you forgot that awready, did you? Jesus Christ, you are a crazy bastard" (4)!
Level Four Question: Why do people take out their anger on others?
Possible answer: People take their anger out on others because they are unhappy with themselves.
Once the student has an answer, I explain to them that they now have a topic sentence which they can use to begin a paragraph.
Got it? Now on to the good stuff.
INT. CLASSROOM - DAY
Teacher - Please read your level four question.
Student - Why do people make up names for others?
Teacher - What's your answer?
Student - People shouldn't call others names because it puts down others.
Okay, so he's got an idea. Now to the kicker.
Teacher - What's your quote?
Student - "How's your bitch" (39)?
The CLASS explodes with LAUGHTER!
Teacher - He's talking about a dog, dude.
More LAUGHS.
END SCENE
Here's the quote: Candy, a run down old man who works on the ranch, has to make a decision whether he wants to have his dog put to sleep. To sweeten the deal, Slim, a foreman of sorts, offers Candy a new pup.
"Meant to ask you, Slim - how's your bitch?" "'She slang her pups last night,' said Slim" (39).
Just a little bit of confusion, right?
And that in a nutshell is why I still like teaching.
Signing off.
Birds-Eye
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