Four Types of Questions

Four Types of Questions use the following four types of questioning:

• Text-explicit or Literal Level: This level involves “reading the lines.” The reader gets the primary, explicit meaning of the text that the writer intended (given that the reader’s background knowledge impinges to some degree on material read).
• Text-implicit or Interpretive Level: This level involves “reading between the lines.” The reader supplies meanings to complete the text; i.e., supplies inferences, makes generalizations, discovers relationships (e.g., cause and effect).
• Critical Level: This level involves “reading beyond the lines.” The reader personally reacts to what the author wrote regarding its quality, value, significance, accuracy, or truthfulness.
• Creative Level: This level involves “reading outside the lines.” The reader seeks out new ideas or gains additional insights by creatively analyzing, interpreting, and applying that information.