Fourth Grade

Reading Literature Question Stems

Key Ideas & Details

Standard Question Stem
RL.4.1 • Why did the author write this? What evidence supports your
Refer to details and idea?
examples in a text when • What is the best evidence to show ___________?
explaining what the text • Why did _______? What examples from the story support the
says explicitly and when reason?
drawing inferences from • Why did (event) happen? How do you know?
the text. • What does (character) think about (event)? How do you know?
• What do you think (character) will do differently next time?
• Explain why (character or object) is important to the story.
RL.4.2 • What happened at the beginning, middle, and end of the story?
Determine a theme of a • What is a summary of this story?
story, drama, or poem • What is the lesson you should learn from this story?
from details in the text; • What is this story trying to teach?
summarize the text. • What does ________ represent in the story?

RL.4.3 • How does (character) feel at this part of the story? How do you
Describe in depth a know?
character, setting, or event • How does (character) actions change what happens in the story?
in a story or drama, How would the story be different without them?
drawing on specific details • What problem does (character) have in the story? How does
in the text (e.g., a he/she solve their problem?
character's thoughts, • How is (character) different at the end of the story then at the
words, or actions). beginning?
• How does (character) react when __________? Why does he/
she act this way?
• How does (character) change throughout the story?
• What are (character) personality traits? How does his/
her personality affect what happens in the story?
• Why is the setting important to the story? Why does the author
use this setting?
• How does the character use the features of the setting to help
them?
Craft & Structure
Standard Question Stem
RL.4.4 • What does this word mean? How do you know?
Determine the meaning of • What words in the text tell how (character) feels?
words and phrases as they • What does (phrase) mean? Does it mean exactly what it says
are used in a text, (e.g. hit the road) or does it mean something else (e.g. get
including those that allude going)?
to significant characters • Can you think of another word to use instead of _____?
found in mythology (e.g., • What is the tone of this writing? How do you know?
Herculean). • Why did the author choose (rhyming words, alliteration,
repeated lines)? How does that make the reading different?
• Why did the author choose this word?
• What does _________ mean? Examples from mythology include
having the Achilles’ heel, herculean effort, Pandora’s box, Trojan
horse.
RL.4.5 • How are the parts of the story connected? How does this
Explain major differences section/chapter help the reader understand the setting?
between poems, drama, • How does this scene build suspense?
and prose, and refer to the • How would you retell this story, including important parts from
structural elements of the beginning, middle, and end?
poems (e.g., verse, rhythm, • In poetry what stanza is the most interesting to you? Why?
meter) and drama (e.g., • Why did the author organize the story like this? How would it
casts of characters, be different if the order were changed?
settings, descriptions, • In drama how does this structure help you understand what is
dialogue, stage directions) going on? What helps you picture the story?
when writing or speaking
about a text.

RL.4.6 • Who is telling this story? How do you know?

Compare and contrast the • Are the narrator and the author the same person? How do you
point of view from which know?
different stories are • What point of view is this written from?
narrated, including the • What does (character/narrator) think of (event/action)? What
difference between first- do you think? What would you have done differently?
and third-person
narrations.

Integration of Ideas & Knowledge

Standard Question Stem
RL.4.7 • What does this illustration show?
Make connections • What was different when you read the drama and when you
between the text of a saw the drama (either live or video)?
story or drama and a visual • The story says (insert quote). Where do you see that happening
or oral presentation of the in the illustrations?
text, identifying where • How is the story the same as the film? How is it different?
each version reflects Which do you prefer and why?
specific descriptions and
directions in the text.
RL.4.8
Not applicable for
literature

RL.4.9 • How does (version 1) differ from (version 2) of this story? How
Compare and contrast the are the versions the same?
treatment of similar • How did the theme/setting/plot of the different stories stay the
themes and topics (e.g., same? What is different?
opposition of good and • Which text was better at getting the point/lesson/point of view
evil) and patterns of across? Why did you like it better?
events (e.g., the quest) in • How did the characters solve problems in the same way? How
stories, myths, and were the solutions different?
traditional literature from
different cultures.
 Fourth Grade
Reading Information Question Stems

Key Ideas & Details

Standard Question Stem
RI.4.1 • What evidence can you find to show _______?
Refer to details and • Based on the information, which __________ (action is best, deal
examples in a text when is better, argument is most likely)?
explaining what the text • Who / What / Where / When / Why questions such as:
says explicitly and when o Who (action e.g. first landed on the moon)? Where does
drawing inferences from it tell you that in the book?
the text. o Where (do clown fish live)? Where does it tell you that in
the book?
• How questions such as:
o How do you know whales are mammals?
o How is a lizard like an alligator?
• What evidence in the text proves _______?
RI.4.2 • What is the main idea of the entire passage? What details tell
Determine the main idea more about that idea?
of a text and explain how • What is the main idea of just this paragraph? What details
it is supported by key support the main idea?
details; summarize the • Why is _______ a good title for this article? How do the details
text. support this being a good title?
• If you were going to make a new title, what would it be? What
details gave you the idea for that title?
• What do you think the author wants the readers to know?
• Summarize the information in a few sentences.
RI.4.3 • What are the most important events/ideas/steps to remember?
Explain events, Why are those the most important?
procedures, ideas, or • What caused (event)?
concepts in a historical, • What effect did (event) have?
scientific, or technical text, • What is the effect of ________?
including what happened • How did the (person/animal/item) change?
and why, based on specific • How did (experiences) lead to (achievement)?
information in the text. • What happens right before _______?
• What would happen if you left out this step?
• How are _______ and _______ the same? How are they different?
What text evidence supports your answer?
Craft & Structure
Standard Question Stem
RI.4.4 • How do the words and images show (vocabulary word)?
Determine the meaning of • What does the word ______ mean? How did the other words
general academic and help you figure out the meaning?
domain-specific words or • Are there any words that confuse you?
phrases in a text relevant • What helps you understand the meaning of _________?
to a grade 4 topic or subject • What is a synonym for the word _______? How do you know?
area. • What does ______ mean as it is used here? What other meanings
are there for the same word?
RI.4.5 • How is the text arranged? (time order, compare and contrast,
Describe the overall cause and effect, problem/solution)
structure (e.g., chronology, • Why did the author use this structure? What other way could
comparison, cause/effect, they have organized the information?
problem/solution) of • If you leave out this sentence/section how does it change the
events, ideas, concepts, or text?
information in a text or
part of a text.

RI.4.6 • Why did the author write this?

Compare and contrast a • What does the author want you to learn/think/do?
firsthand and secondhand • How do you know the author’s point of view?
account of the same event • The author describes __________ as ________. What is another
or topic; describe the way to describe the same thing?
differences in focus and • Do you agree with the author? Why or why not?
the information provided. • How could the author convince you that __________?
• How is the firsthand account different from the secondhand
account of the same event? Which account do you think is more
reliable? Why?

Integration of Ideas & Knowledge

Standard Question Stem
RI.4.7 • What does this illustration/photo show?
Interpret information • What does the map try to show or explain?
presented visually, orally, • The text says (insert quote). Where do you see that happening
or quantitatively (e.g., in in the illustrations?
charts, graphs, diagrams, • What does this diagram show? Can you explain how this works?
time lines, animations, or • What information do we get from this photograph?
interactive elements on • How does the picture/photo help you understand the words?
Web pages) and explain • What picture/diagram is missing? What would you like the text
how the information to include?
contributes to an • How does the timeline help the reader’s understanding?
understanding of the text • Where would you find ________ on the web page? How did you
in which it appears. know to look there? Where else could it have been?
RI.4.8 • The author says _________. What evidence/reasons does the
Explain how an author author give to support this idea?
uses reasons and evidence • What does the author claim? What evidence supports this
to support particular claim?
points in a text. • Is the author’s claim supported? What other evidence would you
like the author to include?

RI.4.9 • How is (text 1) like (text 2)? How are they different?
Integrate information from • How is (picture/diagram) like (picture/diagram)? How are they
two texts on the same different?
topic in order to write or • What is the difference between the first-person text and the
speak about the subject article without a first-person point of view?
knowledgeably. • How are the important points in (text 1) the same as the
important points in (text 2)? How are they different?
• What information is added by reading the second text?