Anticipation Guides

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Purpose:  To elicit students’ prior knowledge of the topic of the text and to set a purpose for reading

 How to use an anticipation guides:

• Choose a text (This strategy works well with expository text, or with text that are controversial to the readers)
• Write several statements that focus on the topic of the text

Tips for writing statements:

• Write statements that focus on the information in the text that you want your students to think about
• Write statements that students can react to without having read the text
• Write statements that the text can support or oppose
• Write statement that challenge students’ beliefs
• Write general rather than specific statements

Students should:

• complete the guide before reading
• have a class discussion before reading
• read the text
• have a class discussion after reading

Example:

            Read each statement.  If you believe that a statement is true, place a check in the Agree column.  If you believe the statement is false, place a check in the Disagree column.  Be ready to explain your choices.

Directions:  Read each statement.  If you believe that a statement is true, place a check in the Agree column.  If you believe the statement is false, place a check in the Disagree column.  Be ready to explain your choices.