QAR - Question Answer Relationship

Definition

QAR, or Question Answer Relationship, is a reading comprehension strategy that helps readers understand how to approach different types of questions about a text. This concept categorizes questions into four types: Right There, Think and Search, Author and You, and On Your Own. By identifying the type of question being asked, readers can better locate answers and enhance their understanding of the material.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. QAR encourages readers to engage with a text by recognizing the relationship between questions and answers, promoting deeper comprehension.
2. The four categories of QAR help differentiate between questions that require direct answers from the text and those that involve personal interpretation or opinion.
3. Using QAR can improve critical thinking skills by prompting readers to analyze how questions are constructed and where to find information.
4. Teachers often integrate QAR into reading instruction to foster student independence in answering comprehension questions.
5. Mastering QAR not only aids in answering questions effectively but also enhances overall reading skills by encouraging active engagement with texts.

Review Questions

• How does the QAR strategy enhance a reader's ability to locate information within a text?
  • The QAR strategy enhances a reader's ability to locate information by categorizing questions into specific types, which helps the reader determine where to look for answers. For example, 'Right There' questions have answers found directly in the text, while 'Think and Search' questions require pulling together information from different parts of the text. By understanding these relationships, readers can navigate texts more effectively and respond accurately to comprehension questions.
• In what ways can educators implement QAR in their teaching practices to support student learning?
  • Educators can implement QAR by introducing the four question types to students and modeling how to use them while reading. They might create activities where students practice identifying question types before finding answers in texts. Additionally, teachers can design assessments that require students to justify their answers based on the question type, reinforcing the strategy's application in various contexts and enhancing critical thinking skills.
• Evaluate the impact of using QAR on students' overall reading comprehension and critical thinking abilities.
  • Using QAR can significantly impact students' overall reading comprehension and critical thinking abilities by fostering a deeper understanding of how different questions function within texts. By categorizing questions, students learn to approach reading more strategically, recognizing when they need to infer or directly quote from the text. This strategy promotes engagement with the material and helps students become more independent readers who can analyze and interpret information effectively, ultimately preparing them for more complex reading tasks.

Related terms

Comprehension Strategies: Techniques used to improve understanding of a text, including predicting, summarizing, and questioning.

Inference: The process of drawing conclusions or making interpretations based on evidence from the text rather than explicit statements.

Text Features: Elements like headings, subheadings, captions, and graphs that help readers navigate and understand the content of a text.