Reading Guides

There are several formats of reading guides.

Each format can be adapted according to:

• the reading purpose 

• the type of reading

Character profiles in reading guides are used to note down information about a fictional character.

What is usually found in character profile worksheets:

• Name of the character

• Age

• Role in the story: protagonist, antagonist, sidekick

• Occupation

• Relationships to other characters

• Character-defining quote(s)

• Likes/dislikes

• Psychological traits

• Physical traits

• Character-defining actions

Reading guides can also be used to compare characters.
Here is an example of a Venn diagram used to compare the features of two story characters.

Here are things that can be compared: 

• Physical traits

• Psychological traits

• Background

• Beliefs/Values

• Behaviours/Ways to express themselves

• Relationships

• Dialogue

Timelines* can be used as reading guides to note down the progress of:

• a story by ordering the key events.

• a character’s actions in a story (to illustrate character growth).

Reading guides can be used to understand the main events of a story.
A Plot diagram is an effective tool to visually organize and understand the six main stages of a story:

1. Exposition: introduction

2. Conflict: disturbing element

3. Rising action: events building suspense

4. Climax: point of no return

5. Falling action: results of climax

6. Resolution: conclusion

Reading guides can be used to summarize book chapters or sections.

What is usually found in chapter/section summaries:

• Chapter/section number or title

• Setting: location, time and context of the story

• Characters: protagonist, antagonist, sidekicks 

• Vocabulary: important, learned, searched words

• Events: plot points

• Thoughts: opinion, interrogation and reactions 

• Predictions of what will happen in the next chapter.

Reading guides can be used to visually organize a book’s main information. 
What is usually found in a book report worksheet:

• Title

• Author(s)

• Genre(s): adventure, romance, science fiction…

• Theme(s): central idea or topic of the story

• Setting: location, time and context of the story

• Plot: summary of key plot points

• Characters: protagonist, antagonist, sidekicks

• Thoughts: opinion, interrogation and reactions 

Here is an example of a book report done with a concept map*.
 

Here’s another example of a book report worksheet.

When reading nonfiction, there are several ways to take notes about a topic and organize the information found in the text.

Below are examples of reading guides that can facilitate note-taking.

Using KWL charts is an effective way to take notes about a topic and organize information.

KWL charts are graphic organizers used before, during and after reading.

They contain three sections:

Here’s a template example to organize information when taking notes.

Venn diagrams are effective tools to visually compare two topics/concepts.

Here’s another way to compare concepts.