This module is for Middle School Activity 4

Activity 4 – Passage 3

Before you try again with a new passage from the story, think back to the steps for generating a text-dependent question. Continue to focus on Step One, which requires students to focus on core understandings. Notice the portions of the standards that are highlighted, and direct your attention to what is most important. Also dig into Step Five, which requires teachers to generate a coherent sequence of questions that keep the reader focused on the author’s message.

  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.6.1
    Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.6.3
    Describe how a particular story's or drama's plot unfolds in a series of episodes as well as how the characters respond or change as the plot moves toward a resolution.

In the next passage from the story, the author describes the intense sadness of the narrator as she describes the humiliation that she feels about her teacher’s insistence that the ugly sweater is hers.  Additionally, we are taken inside the mind of the main character (narrator) and we are able to see the ways in which she thinks about her classmates.

In terms of a question sequence, think about how the narrator’s negative sense-of-self continues to be revealed. Rachel continues to respond with negativity to the unfolding series of episodes that she faces as the story moves toward a resolution.

Passage 3:

Go to HCC Learning Webopens in new window and continue reading just paragraph 19 of the story. 

Begin reading – Paragraph 19 that begins with this sentence: "That's when everything I've been holding in since this morning, since when Mrs. Price put the sweater on my desk."

End reading – Paragraph 19, ending with this sentence: "….only Mrs. Price pretends like everything's okay."

Think about the importance of this scene in revealing the author’s overall message. The following words and phrases describe how Rachel feels as a result of the events in this scene:

  • crying like I'm three in front of everybody
  • hot and spit
  • little animal noises
  • tears
  • stupid
  • dumber

In a Word document or other text editor, based on the guidelines above, create a text-dependent question for the third passage you just read.

Check Your Understanding

Once again, check your understanding about what you just learned and compare your TDQ with the correct response in the interactive below.


When constructing text-dependent questions, you should have a good understanding of the kinds of responses to expect from students and a target response that best demonstrates close reading, use of accurate, relevant text support, and a deeper understanding of the core ideas in the text.