This is the fact-finding stage. The primary emphasis here is on recognition of textual elements rather than strictly text comprehension. Keeping your information organized will be important.

Strategy 1. Analyze First and Final Segments

Task 1. Complete Fact Sheet for First Segment. Again using your segmented working copy of the text, examine the first segment. Does it relate to the title? How? What kind of tone does it set? What kind of information does it offer? What information does it not offer? Complete the following fact sheet with the verb tenses, the type of vocabulary, and other general information.

The fact sheet is a .pdf file; you will need the Adobe Acrobat reader to view it and print it out.

1.			Fact Sheet (85.0K)

Task 2. Complete Fact Sheet for Final Segment.

2.			Using your working copy of the text and a new fact sheet (see Appendix for a blank copy that you can reproduce), analyze the final segment. How does it relate or not relate to the first segment? What kind of closure does it offer or not offer? Note any changes of observations, whether in terms of the lexicon (vocabulary), syntax (grammar), or semantics (meaning), no matter how unimportant they may seem at this point.

Strategy 2. Scan Each Segment for Information

Task 1. Scan for Information.

3.			Using your segmented working copy of the text and additional fact sheets, work through the remaining segments. Scan each one for vocabulary and verbs that contribute to the main idea of the text. Determine which verbs represent the main action and which verbs provide important state-of-being information. Document this information on the fact sheet. What observations can you make about the verbs? Do you see any patterns (for example, changes in the tense and/or mood of the verb)?

Strategy 3. Create Word Wheel for Each Character

Task 1. Create Word Wheels.

4.			Based on the work you have done so far, you should have already extracted the names of any characters in the selection. Create a word wheel for each character that describes what the character is like. Be sure to include textual references and page numbers.

Strategy 4. Complete Star Diagram with Answers to the "Five W’s"

Task 1. Scan for Information. Scan the text and mark the words or phrases that answer the following questions.

5.			Who? The teller of the story (el emisor / el autor / el narrador), and the hearer of the story (el receptor / el lector)
6.			What? The topic or message of the text (el mensaje / el texto / la historia)
7.			Where? The historical and/or geographical context, or space, of the text (or the absence thereof)
8.			When? The time frame of the text
9.			Why? The purpose or meaning of the text (el tema)

Task 2. Complete Star Diagram.

10.			Organize the answers to the above questions on a star diagram such as the following (there is also a blank copy in the Appendix). Each "point" of the star corresponds to one of the five W's. For each point, cite the words or phrases from the text that substantiate your answer. Document all of your observations. Remember that the more observations you make of the specific elements of the text, the more likely you will be to perceive patterns, redundancies, and dominant images. <a onClick="window.open('/olcweb/cgi/pluginpop.cgi?it=jpg::::/sites/dl/free/0072558466/96838/star_diagram2.jpg','popWin', 'width=691,height=479,resizable,scrollbars');" href="#"><img valign="absmiddle" height="16" width="16" border="0" src="/olcweb/styles/shared/linkicons/image.gif"> (17.0K)</a>

Strategy 5. Identify Information Gaps

Task 1. Review. Review what you learned about the narrative in the first part of this chapter so that you know what it is you need to know in order to understand and discuss this particular literary form.

Task 2. Identify Information Gaps. Make note of the information that you did not uncover during Stages II and III. The information that you do not have is just as important as the information that you do. It is fine to not know something at this point, as long as you are aware of what you do know and what you still need to know.

11.			I know:
12.			I need to know:

Task 3. Identify Vocabulary Gaps.

13.			List any vocabulary or concept that you do not understand. It is important to begin by trying to clarify confusion on your own. Try to guess at meaning based on root words, context, and prior knowledge about story formats and similar situations. Then consult the textbook, a dictionary, and/or another classmate. Finally, ask your instructor. Write down what you learn about each vocabulary item or concept.