Reading+Letters


 * Reading Letters **


 * Requirements and Example**


 * [|Reading Letter to Mr. Jeffers Requirements]**


 * [|Reading Letter Format - Friendly Letter]**


 * [|Example of a Reading Letter]**


 * Common Reading Letter Comments**

Visualizations

Predictions

Questions

Inferences

Connections

Direct Quotes

Any time you make one of these, also be certain to provide a direct quote from the text. This will help readers understand what was so visual about the descriptions enough that you were able to actually see it in your imagination. Without the direct quote, it's very difficult for readers to see what you've seen.
 * Visualizations**

Predictions usually come from some sort of clue as to what will happen next. The author will not come out and tell you what is going to happen next until it's actually time for that thing to happen. Therefore, always provide a reason why you have had the prediction. The reason should come from something that happened in the book.
 * Predictions**

Questions are great because they help you to think about a text more than you would without them. The only problem is that many people ask questions during reading, and they don't actually think about what the possible answers are. If we don't think about the possible answers, then there is little purpose in asking the questions initially. Therefore, whenever you ask a question, do your best to infer or predict a possible answer--even if you think you could be wrong. As long as you're making that inference or prediction, you're thinking about your text at a higher level.
 * Questions**

These usually happen when an author has provided clues about things that have happened in the past or things that are currently happening, but the author hasn't come right out and said what he or she is hoping you'll infer on your own. Therefore, always provide a reason why you have made the inference. The reason should come from something that happened or is happening in the book**.**
 * Inferences**

Connections are excellent because they allow us to become closer to a text and relate to it more personally. That personal connection can sometimes help us to understand a connection much deeper. However, certain connections, if they are not explained and there is no evidence provided from the text, can seem too superficial, basic, or surface-level to actually be of any help. In the future, make sure that you always provide a reason for how your book is similar to the connection you've made. In addition, try to answer one of the following questions before writing about your connection in a reading assignment:
 * Connections**
 * How does this thought help me understand __the text__ better?
 * How does this thought help me understand the __author's purpose__?
 * How does this thought help me understand the __bigger ideas__ or __themes__ in the text?
 * How does this thought help me __develop as a reader__?

In your conclusion, be certain that your recommendation is more specific. Try recommending the book based on genre, vocabulary, maturity-level, difficulty-level, or theme. One of the major purposes of the conclusion is to help yourself and other readers figure out what kind of readers would like the book you're reading.
 * Conclusion**

Direct quotes from the text are necessary to help you support an active reading thought. Direct quotes should be selected carefully by readers so that the quotes chosen actually support whatever active reading thoughts are written about in a letter. For instance, you could choose a very descriptive piece of a narrative text to support a visualization you've had; this shows that you have a very valid reason for visualizing the text. On the other hand, A random quote from the text should never be written into a letter just because a letter requires a direct quote. If the quote is not related to anything in the paragraph, or it doesn't support one of the active reading thoughts, then it is worth as much as not having a direct quote at all
 * Direct Quotes**