Question-Only


 * Question-Only**
 * Question-Only is designed for nonfiction materials and does not work particularly well with fiction or poetry.
 * It can be used for a selection to be read in class or as preparation for an outside reading assignment.
 * Question-Only activities address inhibitions that students may have when it comes to forming and asking questions.
 * Whenever students read or listen in school, questions are being answered. The problem is that students often don't know what those questions are and hence cannot read or listen actively.
 * Students tend to be inexperienced in framing their questions in such a way as to allow focused reading OR to ask for appropriate help from the teacher when they are listening.

**Preparing a Question-Only Activity:**
 * 1) Review the reading selection you plan to use to write several quiz questions covering important information and including at least 2 questions that students are not likely to ask about before they read.
 * 2) Decide whether to use the title of the selection to introduce the lesson or a more general statement of the topic.
 * Steps to Using the Question-Only Method:**
 * 1) The teacher announces the title or topic of the reading assignment and explains that //before reading// the selction, they will have a chance to learn about it by asking questions. Then, still //before reading// the assignment, they will be given a quiz over the content of the selection. Students are told that the quiz will cover all the information the teacher considers important, whether or not the students actually acquire the information with their questions. (After the 1st time this method is used, students will understand that the questions they ask in this step will provide them with the answers to most of the test questions.)
 * 2) The class asks questions and the teacher answers fully but without going beyond the answer to the question as asked. The teacher records, in brief form, on the board, all infomation acquired during the question-asking step.
 * 3) The teacher gives the quiz, selecting from preprepared questions all but one or two that students have acquired answers for by questioning.
 * 4) Do NOT "grade" the quiz yet. Instead, ask students to raise their hands if they think they got most of the questions right. Ask which questions(s) they had trouble with (probably the questions they didn't ask). These become the the purpose questions for reading the assignment.
 * 5) Have studetns read silently to double check their answers to the quiz questions and to find the answer(s) to the question(s) they did not ask. If the selection is to be read as a homework assignment, write the prupose question(s) on the board for students to copy.
 * 6) After students have read, begin discussion or other follow-up with their answers to the purpose question(s).

**Tips for Using Question-Only Activites:**
 * **Always give the quiz orally.** If you prepare the quiz on a handout ahead of time, obviously you can't adjust it based on the questions students asked. Remember, the objective is to have as many students as possible get the correct answers! Therefore, you should prepare more quiz questions than you will probably use.
 * **Make students' questions/answers available during the "test."** When answering student questions during Step 2, write a //brief form// of each question and a //brief form// of the answer on the board and leave it in view during the quiz. If students ask why you're doing this, let them know that the point of the activity is to ask good questions, not necessarily to pass the quiz. All the information students got from questioning, therefore, is theirs to use during the quiz. Make sure you use //abbreviated forms// and //write quickly// so the lesson doesn't get bogged down.
 * **Encourage shy students.** Question-Only gives them an excellent opportunity to participate. They don't have to answer a question, only to ask one.
 * **Keep the questioning on track.** If questions are asked about information not covered in the selection simply say something like, "That's not included in this selection, but you're using good logical thinking processes to eliminate possibilities." Try to answer in ways that subtly direct students toward important questions and follow-up questions.
 * **Be prepared to move quickly.** Be prepared to cover a good deal of information quicly and inconsiderable depth.

**Benefits from Using Question-Only:**
 * Question-Only helps students at all levels raise incisive and systematic questions.
 * Students show enthusiasm for this method probably due to its upbeat and ego-protective atmosphere.
 * Question-Only illustrates the power of asking purposeful questions before reading.