Probable Passage 2

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Reading Skills

• Establishing a purpose for reading
• Making predictions

Overview of the "Probable Passage" Strategy

Students with little reading experience often want merely to read a passage in order to say that they're finished. They loathe taking the time necessary truly to comprehend a specific text. Moreover, they don't think about what will happen in the text based on what they already know about it. The "Probable Passage" strategy enables students to stop and make predictions prior to reading as well as encourages students to reflect on what they have read.

Students will discuss the meanings of words, arrange these words in categories according to their functions in the excerpt, fill in the blanks of a probable passage, and then read the actual story to compare and contrast similarities and differences. 

Activity for the "Probable Passage" Strategy

1. Tell students that they will use a strategy called "Probable Passage" to help them make predictions about selected texts.
2. Give students the blackline master with a list of words and phrases. Read each word or phrase aloud and discuss the meaning of each. 
3. Have students characterize these words or phrases by listing them on a chart containing four categories: setting, characters, problem, and resolution. Once the students are finished, discuss this chart to see where differences exist.
4. Provide a probable passage to the students. Students should use the words from their charts to complete a probable passage, as shown in #3 of the blackline master.
5. Finally, have the students read chapter 27 of Wish You Well and compare it to the probable passage. Discuss the differences between the prediction and the actual text.

Blackline Master 
Probable Passage 2 - Wish You Well, Chapter 27
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1. Read and discuss the following list of key words and phrases:
   

2. Categorize each of these words in one of the columns in the chart below:
   

3. Probable Passage: Place the key words from your chart in the probable passage below. Change word categories at this point if you wish.

   The chapter begins on a __________. __________ is one of the characters who arrives at __________ stating that his mother is about to give birth, but there is __________. Louisa agrees to go and Eugene encourages her to __________. When Louisa insists on going alone, Lou refuses to stay. Upon arrival, George Davis is __________, tending to the __________. Louisa instructs Lou and the Davis children to gather __________. While Louisa is with Sally Davis, the climax of the chapter occurs - Lou __________ to Billy Davis. Yet, just when they begin to resolve their conflict, George Davis offers __________, telling Louisa he wants her off his land. When Louisa __________, he demands that the baby __________. When the baby is born, Sally names him after __________. The chapter ends with Louisa and Lou's discussing George Davis' __________. They describe him as a __________.

4. After reading chapter 27 of Wish You Well, discuss below the differences between your predictions in the probable passage and what actually happened in the chapter. 

Assessment

Use the following rubric to assess the students' work:

• ACCOMPLISHED: (Score 3): Can predict exactly what will happen in the actual text.
• DEVELOPING (Score 2): Can predict some of the events that will occur in the actual text.
• BEGINNING (Score 1): Cannot predict, based on the context clues, what will happen in the actual text.

Answer Key for the Preceding Probable Passage

This chapter begins on a warm, summer night. Billy Davis is one of the characters who arrives at Louisa's farm, stating that his mother is about to give birth, but there is no midwife. Louisa agrees to go and Eugene encourages her to take a rifle. When Louisa insists on going alone, Lou refuses to stay. Upon arrival, George Davis is in the barn, tending to the pregnant mare. Louisa instructs Lou and the Davis children to gather hot water and sheets. While Louisa is with Sally Davis, the climax of the chapter occurs - Lou apologizes to Billy Davis. Yet, just when they begin to resolve their conflict, George Davis offers angry threats, telling Louisa he wants her off his land. When Louisa refuses, he demands that the baby be a boy. When the baby is born, Sally names him after Lou. The chapter ends with Louisa and Lou's discussing George Davis' greedy actions. They describe him as a most miserable soul.