1. Activating Prior Knowledge:
* Who: Identify the main characters or figures involved. This helps you connect with the text and make predictions about their roles.
* What: Think about the general topic or theme of the text. What do you already know about it? This helps you establish a framework for understanding the material.
* Where: Consider the setting or location. Does it influence the events or characters in any way?
* When: Think about the time period or historical context. How might this influence the text?
* Why: Try to understand the author's purpose for writing the text. What message are they trying to convey?
2. Generating Questions:
* Use the five Ws to formulate questions you want answered while reading. For example:
* Who are the main characters and what are their motivations?
* What are the key events and conflicts in the story?
* When and where does the story take place and how does this influence the plot?
* Why is this story important and what message is the author trying to convey?
3. Making Predictions:
* Based on your prior knowledge and the five Ws, make predictions about what the text might be about.
* This helps you stay engaged and actively participate in the reading process.
4. Setting a Purpose for Reading:
* Knowing the five Ws helps you define your purpose for reading. Are you looking for specific information, trying to understand a particular concept, or simply enjoying a story?
Example:
Let's say you're about to read a biography about Marie Curie.
* Who: Marie Curie, a pioneering scientist.
* What: Her life story and scientific contributions.
* When: Late 19th and early 20th centuries.
* Where: Poland and France.
* Why: To understand her achievements and her impact on science.
Using the five Ws, you can generate questions like:
* What were the major challenges she faced as a woman scientist?
* What scientific breakthroughs did she make?
* How did her life change after her husband's death?
By engaging with the five Ws before reading, you can make the reading experience more meaningful and engaging. It helps you approach the text with purpose and a set of questions to guide your understanding.