Fiction Signpost

Anchor questions & text clues

Contrasts and Contradictions Text Clues

What are the text clues? When a character does or says something that is opposite than what they have been doing/saying all along.

Contrasts and Contradictions Anchor Question

What question do you answer? Why is the character doing that?

Aha! Moment Text Clues

What are the text clues? When a character has a sudden realization.

Aha! Moment Anchor Question

What question do you answer? How might this change things?

Tough Questions Text clues

Text clues- When a character asks himself a really difficult question.

Tough Questions Anchor Question

What question do you answer? What does this make me wonder about?

Words of the Wiser Text Clues

What are the text clues? When a character (who's usually older and wiser) gives the main character serious advice.

Words of the Wiser Anchor Question

What question do you answer? What's the life lesson, and how might it affect the character?

Again and Again Text Clues

What are the text clues? When a word, object, phrase, or situation keeps popping up.

Again and Again Anchor Question

What question do you answer? Why does this keep popping up?

Memory Moment Text Clues

What are the text clues? When the author interrupts the action to share a memory.

Memory Moment Anchor Question

What question do you answer? Why is this memory important?

Name the 6 Fiction Signposts

1. Contrasts and Contradictions, 2. Aha! Moment, 3. Tough Questions, 4. Words of the Wiser, 5. Again and Again, 6. Memory Moment (These are key elements that help readers understand the deeper meanings in a story.)