2. predictions
THE GOOD THE BAD
• In-depth, thoughtful, meaningful predictions
supported by text clues which explain and defend
• Not giving basis for prediction
o Must explain the text clue you’re using.
o Need to be able to defend your prediction!
• Surface-level/basic statements which lacked a
prediction
• “I predict Calvin’s project will not be very good
because things that are done rushed and last-
minute typically aren’t your best work.”
(Calvin and Hobbes comic)
• Macklemore wanted to confront homosexual
stereotypes based on the first few lyrics and the
specific line “Bunch of sterotypes all in my head/
A preconceived idea of what it all meant”
(“Same Love”)
• “An ad for a tablet.”
(Windows magazine ad)
• “He likes trees.”
(Tree of Life painting)
3. questions
THE GOOD THE BAD
• Meaningful questions that would require
both text clues and schema to develop an
inference
• Questions that would promote great
discussion and deeper understanding of
the text
• Asking what is already answered within
the text
• Asking irrelevant or unimportant
questions
• Why did the director choose happy music
while the scenes seem dramatic and
negative?
(Shawshank Redemption trailer)
• What do the fighting stuffed animals
represent?
(“Radioactive” music video)
• “Will this comic be funny?”
(Calvin and Hobbes comic)
• “How does the movie end?”
(Shawshank Redemption trailer)
4. connections
THE GOOD THE BAD
• Specific, thoughtful connections which clearly
state how they helped better understanding of the
text
• Simply writing “text-to-______”. Explain!
• Unimportant connections; ones that do not add to
understanding of the text
• Connections that lack explanation; how does the
connection help your understanding?
• “I’ve seen men on Lockup Raw who describe how
miserable jail is. It’s understandable why the man is
trying to escape the harsh life behind bars.”
(Shawshank Redemption trailer)
• “I have a gay friend. It is sad to see the harsh
words some people say to him. He is definitely
stereotyped by others.”
(“Same Love” lyrics)
• “I’ve watched a show about jail before.”
(Shawshank Redemption trailer)
• “Everyone at East is prejudice.”
(“Same Love” lyrics)
5. tone
THE GOOD THE BAD
• Tone should be an adjective which
describes the author’s attitude toward the
subject of his/her piece.
• Tone is not about us as readers; it is all
about the author and his/her attitude!
• “I think Macklemore’s attitude is
passionate. He clearly feels strongly about
this topic and is passionate about getting
his message out there.”
(Macklemore’s “Same Love”)
• “He is very sarcastic. Like his line about
torturing a confession out of it. He’s
making fun of people who take poetry too
seriously in a sarcastic way.”
(Billy Collins’s poem)
• “To make the audience sad.”
(Tree of Life painting)
• “He wants us to feel guilty and stop hating
one another.”
(Macklemore’s “Same Love”)
6. theme
THE GOOD THE BAD
• Complete statements which state the
topic of the message as well as the opinion
presented in the text
• One-word topics
• Cliché statements
• “Everyone deserves a life free of
stereotypes and with equal rights.”
(Macklemore’s “Same Love”)
• “Take time to explore and simply enjoy
poetry.”
(Billy Collins’s poem)
• “Equality.”
(Macklemore’s “Same Love”)
• “Don’t judge a book by it’s cover.”
(Billy Collins’s poem)
