Refer to Details & Examples in an Informational Text
Basics on the topic Refer to Details & Examples in an Informational Text
Do you want to become a better reader? Asking and answering questions is a great reading strategy to do so! With the help of our video, worksheets, and activities, learn to ask and answer questions about the text.
Refer to Details & Examples in Texts – Introduction
Referring to details and examples in an informational text shows that you are savvy in reading comprehension.
Good readers ask and answer questions both before and during reading the text. When you ask and answer questions before and during reading, you pay closer attention to what you are reading, notice and remember more important information, and it’s easier for you to answer questions at the end of a text.
Remember: when answering questions based on the text, you need to refer to details and examples from the text. That way, you’ll have proof or evidence your answer is correct.
Asking and Answering Questions Before Reading
Before you start reading the text, have a look at the title or heading, and at any other text features that can give you an idea about the topic of the text, such as pictures or illustrations. Try to predict the main idea by asking yourself: What is the text going to be about?
Let’s have a look at the example:
The title of the text is “Milo: The Dog Who Helped People” and there is an illustration of a dog next to it. When we ask ourselves: What is the text going to be about?, we can infer that it is about a dog named Milo and his ability to help people.
Asking and Answering Questions During Reading
Now, let’s read the text and ask and answer questions during reading. As you read, ask yourself questions about Who?, What?, When?, Where?, Why?, and How?.
Milo was a famous dog born in the San Francisco shelter in 2004. When Milo was a baby, he was adopted by a woman who worked in a local nursing home. Shirley Putnam worked with elderly people, most of whom could not see very well. Once, Shirley Putnam took her dog for a walk around the nursing home. She noticed that Milo really liked her older residents who were walking in the park. When one of the residents dropped her glasses, Milo picked them up with his teeth and gave them back. Suddenly, Shirley had an idea to teach Milo how to assist people who live in the nursing home. She taught Milo different commands, and soon he became the favorite dog of all the residents. Milo helped older people by guiding them to different locations, bringing their things, and even turning on the TV. It is no surprise that when the residents voted for the worker of the year, they chose Milo.
Now let’s answer the questions Who?, What?, When?, Where?, Why?, and How? using details and examples from the text.
Milo is who the text is about. What he did was help older people in a nursing home. The year 2004 is when and San Francisco shelter is where. Shirley Putnam had an idea to teach Milo how to assist people is why Milo learned how to help them. Shirley taught Milo different commands is how Milo learned to help the nursing home residents.
Now let’s use important details and examples from the text to answer some more questions.
- What made Milo different from other dogs?
We can see from the text that Milo helped older people by guiding them to different locations, bringing their things, and even turning on the TV. This is something that makes Milo very different.
- Why was Milo chosen as the worker of the year?
It is mentioned in the text that Milo became the favorite dog of all the residents. This is why he was named the worker of the year.
Asking and Answering Questions – Summary
Let’s review what we have learned about asking and answering questions.
Good readers ask and answer questions before and during reading the text.
| Before reading | While reading |
|---|---|
| Look at the title, pictures and other text features to guess what the text is about. | Ask yourself “Who? What? When? Where? Why? and How?”. |
Now you know how to ask and answer questions about key details in a text. If you want more practice, check out our video, ask and answer questions activity, and ask and answer questions worksheets for the 3rd grade.
Frequently Asked Questions about Asking and Answering Questions
Transcript Refer to Details & Examples in an Informational Text
"WOOOOW Otis, look at this statue!" "The sign says 'Togo: An Alaskan Hero'... I wonder what heroic act he accomplished?" Let's Refer to Details and Examples in an Informational Text... so we can learn more about Togo. Good readers ask questions BEFORE and DURING reading. Asking questions helps you: pay close attention to what you're reading, so you get more important information... and it helps answer questions at the end of a text. HERE is an informational text about Togo.(...) BEFORE you read, look at the title or heading and any other text features, such as pictures or illustrations. Next ask yourself: What is the text going to be about? (...) THIS title says 'Togo: An Alaskan Hero' and there is an illustration of him so... we can infer the text is about why Togo is named a hero. Now, let's read the text. As you read ask yourself: who,(...) what,(...) when,(...) where,(...) why,(...) and how. The text says: Togo wasn’t always a fearless leader, as a puppy he was known for his misbehavior. However, years of training and dedication helped Togo lead his team two hundred sixty-four miles through the most dangerous stretch of the journey. He even saved his team from getting stranded on a sheet of floating ice. His courageous acts helped get the vaccine to Nome, making Togo a hero. Now that we've read we know... (...)Togo is WHO the text is about. WHAT he did was lead his team of sled dogs to deliver the vaccine. The winter of 1925 is WHEN this happened and... Nome, Alaska is WHERE. Togo had to lead his team because the people of Nome were very sick is WHY he took the dangerous journey. (...)Togo using his training and dedication is HOW he completed the journey. Now, let's use this important information to answer some more questions about the text. WHAT helped Togo change from a puppy who couldn't behave to a fearless leader and hero? Take a moment to find the answer using the text. (...) We know that years of training and dedication helped Togo become a fearless leader and hero because the text says: "years of training and dedication helped Togo lead his team 264 miles through the most dangerous stretch of the journey". Let's answer one more. How would you describe Togo NOW, as misbehaved, (...) or brave? Take a moment to find the answer using the text. (...) We know that Togo is brave because the text says: He even saved his team from getting stranded on a sheet of floating ice... AND the text uses words such as "fearless leader" and "courageous acts" to describe Togo. Even though the text said he used to be misbehaved, this is not how we would describe Togo NOW. Before we see what Otis and Pearl are up to, let's summarize. Remember, (...)good readers ask questions BEFORE and DURING reading. BEFORE you read, look at the title or heading and any other text features, such as pictures or illustrations. Next ask yourself: What is the text going to be about? As you read ask yourself: who,(...) what,(...) when,(...) where,(...) why,(...) and how. Use the important information to answer some questions about the text, referring back to it when you need to. "Togo really was a true hero! I hope I can help people like he did one day..." "Let's go plan how we can be more like Togo over some ice cream!" [realized Pearl isn't in his backpack anymore]"Pearl? (...) PEARL? [Pearl has wrapped all her arms around Togo's statue giving him a hug] "Thanks for being YOU, Togo."
Refer to Details & Examples in an Informational Text exercise
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Identify unnecessary questions.
HintsBefore reading you should always ask yourself, what is the text going to be about? Does the question 'for how long' help you answer this?
Before reading you should always ask yourself, what is the text going to be about? Does the question `why not´ help you answer this?
There are six false choices and two correct choices.
SolutionThe following questions do NOT help you to answer the question, "what will this text be about?" and do NOT need to be considered while reading:
- Why not?
- For how long?
- Who is the text about?
- What does the main character do?
- When does the text take place?
- Where does the text take place?
- Why does the main character do what they do?
- How does the main event happen?
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Answer the questions who, what, where, and when.
HintsSometimes there is more than one person or character mentioned in a text. When asking, who is the text about, choose the character that appears and is described the most often.
Is the Siberian peninsula mentioned in this text?
Solution- Who is the text about? Togo the sled dog
- What did they do? Lead his team of sled dogs to help deliver the diphtheria vaccine
- When did this story take place? The winter of 1925
- Where did the story of this text happen? Nome, Alaska
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Answer the questions how, why, and what.
HintsIf you are on a dangerous journey, will not paying attention or being dishonest help you succeed?
What kind of experience did Togo have that led him to be able to complete this journey?
Solution- Why did Togo lead his team to Alaska? Because the people there were sick with a serious infection.
- How did Togo complete this dangerous journey? By using his dedication and years of training.
- What qualities did Togo have as an adult which helped him act as a hero, that he did not have as a puppy? He had courage and determination.
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Answer the questions who, what, where, and how.
HintsSometimes there is more than one person or character mentioned in a text. When asking, who is the text about, choose the character that appears and is described the most often.
When answering the question where consider if one place is mentioned, or more than one place.
Solution- Who is this text about? Beautiful Jim Key
- What did he do? Solve math equations, recognize letters, and spell names
- How did he do it? By choosing letter and number cards from a frame
- Where does this text take place? Large American cities
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How would you describe Togo now?
HintsThe text describes Togo as a fearless leader and hero.
The text describes Togo as a puppy and now. Only answer the question for now.
There is one correct choice and three false choices.
SolutionTogo now is brave. We know this because the text describes him as a fearless leader and hero. It also describes when Togo saved his team from getting stranded on a sheet of floating ice.
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Answer the questions, who, what, where, when, why, and how.
HintsSometimes there is more than one person or character mentioned in a text. When asking, who is the text about, choose the character that appears and is described the most often.
Sometimes a text describes more than one event. To answer the question what did they do consider what is the most detailed and important event described in the text.
Solution- Who is this text about? Barry the rescue dog
- What did they do? Rescue a lost child
- How did they do it? Carrying the child on his back
- Why did they do it? To save the child's life
- Where does this text take place? Switzerland
- When does this story happen? The early 1800's
