This document discusses various methods for assessing comprehension of narrative text, including oral and written story retellings using story grammar elements. It also outlines instructional strategies for teaching narrative comprehension, such as asking generic questions about story elements, using story maps and charts, and engaging students through book clubs, literature circles, and novel studies. Recommended assessment tools include retelling rubrics and story frames to evaluate students' understanding of narrative structure.

1. Chapter 12
Strategic Reading for
Narrative Text
Gipe, J. P. (2010). Multiple paths to literacy: Assessment and differentiated
instruction for diverse learners, k-12. (7th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon, Inc.
DOI: www.pearsonhighered.com
Kaye Kotlarczyk
RDNG 503
Winter 2012

2. Assessment for
Narrative Text:
Retellings- Oral or Written
Story Grammar- The arrangement that outlines the
essential elements of a complete story.
1. Characters
2. Setting
3. Goal
4. Problem
5. Events
6. Solution
Prior knowledge is critical for comprehension.
A story retelling rubric should be used.

3. Assessment for
Narrative Text:
Story Frames
• A listing of key words used to guide
students’ organization of written story
retellings by providing a structure through
enumeration, generalization, comparison
or contrast, sequencing, or question and
answer.
• Useful for assessing knowledge of story
structure and the degree to which the
story is recalled.

4. Instruction for Narrative Text
Five generic questions to ask about any
story…
1. Where and when did the event in the story take place,
and who was involved in it? (Setting)
2. What started the chain of events in the story?
(Initiating event)
3. What was the main character’s reaction to this event?
(Reaction)
4. What did the main character do about the problem?
(Action: goals and attempts)
5. What happened as a result of what the main character
did? (Consequence, outcome)

5. Activities for Comprehension
of Narratives
O Story Maps
O Story Feature Charts
O Character Map
O Venn Diagram
O Story Structure Chart
O Reader Response T-Chart
O Circle Graph
O Plot Relationship Chart
O Double Entry Journal (Text-to-Self, Text-to-Text,
Text-to-World)
O Wacky Want Ads
O Group Story
O Open-Mind Portraits

6. Other Ways to Increase
Comprehension
O Book Clubs (Students choose books.
Discuss, learn, share in groups.)
O Literature Circles (Group reads same book.
Students have jobs.
Discuss, Summarize, Question, Predict.)
O Goldilocks Strategy (Used to Determine “Just
Right” Books)

7. Adolescent Literacy
• Use novels, film scripts, and song lyrics
for literacy instruction.
• Use Novel Study (In-depth reading and
interpretation of a novel.)
• Use Graphic Novels (Book-length
comic books to motivate and promote
comprehension.)
Use the Question, Connect, Transform (QCT)
Strategy

8. Recommended Websites
Booklists for Children’s Literature:
www.reading.org/resources/tools/choices.html
www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/yalsa.cfm
The Read-Aloud Handbook:
www.trelease-on-reading.com/
Literature Circles Resource Center:
www.education-world.com/a_curr/curr259.shtml
Stories on Stage:
www.aaronshep.com