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It's all about interpretation ....
The kind of question one asks determines the kind of discussion one can have, and even the kind of thinking that will happen. In Shared Inquiry we distinguish three kinds of questions.
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To explore the three kinds of questions, click on a menu item. Details will appear to the right.
Shared Inquiry Discussion focuses on Interpretive Questions
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About Evaluative Questions
An evaluative question asks the reader to decide whether he or she agrees with the author's ideas or point of view in light of his or her own knowledge, values, and experience.
Is it necessary to take risks -- as Jack does -- in order to grow up?
Like an interpretive question, this one can be validly answered in more than one way. Exploring answers to it, however, will lead not to the text as much as it will to the values, beliefs and experience of the reader.
This sort of exploration of one's own point of view and how it compares to that of the story is most worthwhile and valuable only after carefully interpreting. Only after a reader comes to an understanding of why Jack takes the risks he does and what the story is trying to say about that risk-taking will he or she be able to profitably explore evaluative questions.
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No one curls up at night in front of a fire to decode. No one goes to the library just to exercise the intricate perceptual operations involved in reading. No one’s life has been changed just because they can orient themselves to a variety of print media. Readers enjoy, learn and live fuller, more enriched lives because they can make sense of what they read.
To interpret is to make sense. It is perhaps the most human and most important activity of the mind.
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Copyright 2005 - The Great Books Foundation
Getting Started with Great Books in the Classroom
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What is Shared Inquiry Discussion (SID)?
Shared Inquiry is the heart of Junior Great Books activities.
More about SID...
How do students benefit from Shared Inquiry Discussion?
Shared Inquiry helps students develop ideas and share them with others.
Features of Shared Inquiry...
JGB learning objectives...
The best introduction to Shared Inquiry and using Junior Great Books is the Basic Leader Training Course.
More on JGB training...
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