1. Any text is incomplete without the reader.

In pairs, spend a minute or two discussing what this statement means.

*Have the a few pairs share their ideas with the whole class. Discuss why authors might not tell their readers the whole story. Why might an author leave important facts out or even mislead a reader? If a reader has to figure out what an author’s intention is, how do you think this affects a reader’s understanding?

2.  Hand out one of the following short texts to small groups of students and have them answer the three questions:

a)  “I couldn’t see a thing with that snow all over the windshield!” That’s what the driver told the cyclist when he got out of the car.

What do you think has happened?

Why might it have happened?

What might be the conclusion of this story?

b) “A person can only listen to so much bagpipe music if you can call it that!” That’s what the woman told the police when she handed them the knife.

What might be the relationship between the woman and the bagpipe player?

What do you think has happened?

Why might it have happened?

What might be the conclusion of this story?

c) “I thought that it would be ok to run my new generator in the garage. I only wanted to make it warmer for her.” That’s what the man told the emergency crew that responded to the 911 call.

What might be the relationship between the woman and the man?

What might have been the circumstances that led up to this event?

Why might it have happened?

What might be the conclusion of this story?

f) “This guy is always pulling some crazy move. This time the whole grill of his pickup truck came crashing through the window followed by the tree stump.” That’s what the neighbour told the news crew that had just arrived.

What might be the relationship between the eyewitness and the pickup driver?

What do you think has happened?

Why might it have happened?

What might the news crew be on the scene?