ConnectionsConnections““This time its This time its

personal.”personal.”

““What is a Comprehension What is a Comprehension Strategy?”Strategy?”

Reading consists of 2 Reading consists of 2 different activities. different activities. – DecodingDecoding– ComprehensionComprehension

A comprehension strategy A comprehension strategy is an active thinking is an active thinking technique which aids in technique which aids in focusing your mind while focusing your mind while you read as well as aids you read as well as aids you in creating a personal you in creating a personal connection with a text.connection with a text.

Draw on prior knowledge Draw on prior knowledge as a way of furthering as a way of furthering knowledge. knowledge.

ConnectionsConnections“Finding similarities“Finding similarities

““Finding similarities Finding similarities between the text between the text and other aspects of and other aspects of your life.”your life.”

Key Phrases:Key Phrases: ““That reminds me of…”That reminds me of…” ““Its like when…”Its like when…” ““Remember when…”Remember when…”

Types of ConnectionsTypes of Connections

Connections come in Connections come in three varieties. three varieties.

Text To SelfText To SelfA connection between your life and the text. A connection between your life and the text. These connections are easy to make.These connections are easy to make. Make the text extremely personal.Make the text extremely personal.

Others have difficulty following your connection.Others have difficulty following your connection.

Text to TextText to Text

A connection between A connection between another book, movie, another book, movie, song, (any piece of song, (any piece of written material and written material and the text. the text.

Sound sophisticated. Sound sophisticated. Others who have read Others who have read

these texts easily these texts easily understand the understand the connection. connection.

Begin the process of Begin the process of literary analysis. literary analysis.

Text To WorldText To World

A connection between the text and a world event. A connection between the text and a world event. Often powerful. Often powerful. Can easily be understood by others.Can easily be understood by others. Sometimes offers a weak connection for the Sometimes offers a weak connection for the

reader. reader.

Connection Blunders…Connection Blunders…

One problem sometimes faced by One problem sometimes faced by students is that they will make a students is that they will make a connection, but that connection connection, but that connection doesn’t help them understand the doesn’t help them understand the text. Remember that the aim of the text. Remember that the aim of the strategy is to further understanding strategy is to further understanding not just make a connection. not just make a connection.

Connections PracticeConnections PracticeWatch the film clip. Watch the film clip.

Then, when you Then, when you are finish, we will are finish, we will discuss various discuss various connections connections students have students have made to this clip in made to this clip in order to judge order to judge which are useful which are useful connections and connections and which do little to which do little to aid understanding. aid understanding. At the end you will At the end you will be asked to write be asked to write your own your own connection to the connection to the clip. clip.

Pick the Best Connection…Pick the Best Connection…

Justin:Justin:“I remember when a stray “I remember when a stray dog came in to our yard one dog came in to our yard one day…my little sister pretty day…my little sister pretty much adopted him on the much adopted him on the spot, but my parents wanted spot, but my parents wanted to find its owner. It nearly to find its owner. It nearly broke Crystal’s heart.” broke Crystal’s heart.”

Sam:Sam:“Last summer I went down to “Last summer I went down to the Air and Space Museum in the Air and Space Museum in DC. There was a exhibit there DC. There was a exhibit there about Alien Life, it said we about Alien Life, it said we would probably never be able would probably never be able to communicate with it.”to communicate with it.”

Chris:Chris:“I remember, I had crazy this “I remember, I had crazy this crazy Uncle who would take crazy Uncle who would take about aliens and the about aliens and the government cover-ups when government cover-ups when he got bombed. So I think this he got bombed. So I think this show will have to do this that. show will have to do this that. I understand it a lot better I understand it a lot better now.now.””

Bergan:Bergan:“This is like when my “This is like when my parents fight. My dad is parents fight. My dad is really knowledgeable, but really knowledgeable, but somehow my mom always somehow my mom always seems to be the one with the seems to be the one with the common sense.” common sense.”

Places Connections Work Well…Places Connections Work Well…

1.1. Descriptions of situationsDescriptions of situations

2.2. CharactersCharacters