Question Types

Comprehension questions are important! But not all questions are created equal. Some teachers and tutors limit themselves to literal questions (generally who, what, when where.) While literal questions are valuable, it is important to also ask more complex questions. Below are three question types that tutors can ask to work towards understanding.

•Literal (Right There) Questions: Literal questions whose answers can be found in the text. Often the words used in the question are the same words found in the text. ("What color did Courtney paint her kitchen?" "How much does job A pay?")

•Inferential Questions: Questions where the reader will need to pull information from various parts of the text or from their own experiences to find the answer. (Why do you think Courtney painted her kitchen that color?" Why do you think job A pays less than job B?")

•Interpretive Questions: Questions where the reader is asked to interact with the content by tying it to their own experiences or viewpoints. (What is your favorite color? Would your prefer job A or job B?")