Types of Guided Reading Questions That Should Be Discussed in Every ELA Novel Study

As teachers work to ensure student comprehension of novel studies, it's crucial to implement questions that prompt deep engagement with the literature. In this blog post, we're excited to share a list of types of questions that we believe should be discussed with each book study. We've divided these questions into themes centered around literary elements. 

Questions about characters in the book

• Ask students to identify who the main character is and to share some of the main personality traits of that protagonist 
• Ask the students to make a list of the character's strengths and weaknesses
• Ask students to think critically about the motivations (needs and wants) the character has 
• Ask students to analyze the relationship dynamics between the protagonist and other characters in the book 
• Ask students to reflect on their feelings about the protagonist's choices throughout the book and whether or not they might have made similar choices 
• Ask students to study the protagonist's growth throughout the story 
• Ask students to consider whether any individuals from their personal life are similar to characters in the book 
• Ask students to share which characters they liked and disliked 
• Ask students to explain whether or not the characters felt believable and multidimensional 

Questions about the book's plot

• Ask students to fill in the sections of a plot diagram (exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution) and describe what they wrote in each section
• Ask students to identify the main conflict or issue in the story 
• Ask students to summarize how the main conflict or issue in the book is resolved 
• Ask students to share about any plot details that surprised them 
• Ask students to analyze ways in which the author built tension throughout the book 
• Ask students to share their perspectives on the ending of the story and whether they might have written the ending differently 

Questions about the book's setting 

• Ask students to share a summary of where and when the book takes place
• Ask students to take notes about environmental details that are mentioned in the book 
• Ask students to analyze how the author uses the five senses (sight, smell, hearing, touch, taste) to describe the setting 
• Ask students to reflect on the ways in which the setting shapes the plot of the book 
• Ask students to consider whether the setting creates any challenges for the character (ex. a valley might have frequent floods that destroy parts of a character's home) 
• Ask students to evaluate whether the setting shapes the personality of the characters (ex. living in the wildnerness might give a character opportunities to build resiliency and resourcefulness) 
• Ask students to consider whether any aspects of the book's setting symbolize deeper concepts in the book 
• Ask students to imagine why the author might have picked a particular setting for a story 
• Ask students to consider how the time period may have affected the story 
• Ask students to describe the overall mood or atmosphere in the book 

Questions about the book's theme or purpose

• Ask students to analyze what main idea or message the author might be trying to share through the narrative 
• Ask students to evaluate how the characters' experiences help build the theme 
• Ask students to consider whether the author uses any recurring symbols or motifs to shape the theme 
• Ask students to reflect on how they personally connect with the theme of the book 
• Ask students to share whether or not the book changed their perspective on the theme
• Ask students to summarize any social, political, or cultural issues explored in the book 

Questions about the author's writing style and craft 

• Ask students to consider what makes the author's writing style unique in comparison to other writers (It may be helpful to share excerpts of texts from similar genres) 
• Ask students to evaluate the type of vocabulary words the author uses
• Ask students to consider the lengths of the author's sentences, the structures of the author's sentences (ex. simple, compound, or complex), etc. 
• Ask the students if they noticed any memorable language 
• Ask the students whether they think the author did strong research about the topics in the book 

Questions about students' personal feelings about and engagement with the book 

• Ask the students whether or not they felt interested in the book's plot and why 
• Ask students to share what parts of the book were the most memorable 
• Ask students to explain whether or not they would share the book with others and why 
• Ask students whether the book made them curious about exploring the topic/theme of the book further 
• Ask the students whether there is anything they think the author could have done to improve the book