Anticipation Guides

Anticipation Guides (Tierney & Readance, 1999) activate a student’s prior knowledge and also set a purpose for reading and/or viewing. Both of these things are critical for readers to do. Anticipation Guides work best if the reading/film contains controversial issues, problems, or opinions that don’t have an easy answer or solution. Note: This activity does take a little prep time to prepare the series of statements.
So here's how it works:
Students are given a series of these controversial statements, and—before reading or discussing—are asked to agree or disagree (or agree strongly, agree somewhat, disagree somewhat, disagree strongly). These statements can be used as some discussion starters after students complete the “guide.”
Once the reading has started (or is completed), students should revisit their marks of agreement/disagreement and make changes, if necessary. These before/after results and the reasons for changes can be the focus of discussions.

Below are a few of the statements I used in an Anticipation Guide for the Greek tragedy Antigone, but Anticipation Guides can be written for both fiction and nonfiction (in fact, they work well for science and social studies readings).
Some are thematic ideas from the play that I worked into antithetical statements. These were ideas that I knew we would be discussing later, as the students read the play, worked on some improvisations and group activities, and did some independent writing:
1. Nothing is worth dying for.
2. Youth should submit to elders; inexperience should submit to experience.
3. No one is above the law.
4. Let your conscience be your guide.
5. There is no happiness where there is no wisdom.

If you have any questions or comments about this or any of the ideas, please leave a comment on the blog.