Signpost Practice

When a character says/does something opposite of what he/she does normally.

• Words of Wisdom
• Contrasts and Contradictions
• Tough Questions
• Again and Again

When a wise character shares a piece of advice in an effort to help another character.

• Words of Wisdom
• Aha Moment
• Tough Questions
• Again and Again

When an author repeats the same word, phrase, or image over and over.

• Tough Questions
• Aha Moment
• Contrasts and Contradictions
• Again and Again

When a character comes to a sudden realization of something insightful.

• Again and Again
• Tough Questions
• Aha Moment
• Words of Wisdom

When a character faces a hard choice/decision.

• Aha Moment
• Words of Wisdom
• Contrasts and Contradictions
• Tough Questions

Notice and Note Sign Posts can help you learn more about...

• Plot
• Character
• Theme
• All of the above

When Martha hears her teachers arguing about falsifying records for another student to win that could be an example of...

• Again and Again
• Words of Wisdom
• Contrasts and Contradictions
• Aha Moment

Contrasts and Contradictions - What to look for?

• A place where a character behaves/thinks unexpectedly
• Part in the story where things completely stop making sense
• A character asks a difficult question
• A contrast in color of a scene

Tough Questions - What to Look For? (more than one answer is correct, so don't overthink!)

• Character asking a hard question
• Character not being able to solve a hard math problem
• Character facing a difficult decision
• Place where character says things like "I realized..."

Aha Moment - What to Look For?

• "I realized" or "I suddenly knew" or "So that's why..."
• A character is facing a difficult decision
• A moment where the characters are all laughing at something
• When a character behaves/acts in a way that is unexpected