Name: ___________________________________
Date: __________________
Maus Chapter One Reading/Thinking Guide
A Note from Mrs. Shannon:
You will have to infer information as you read. This means that you will have to take information presented to
you in the novel, combine it with your own background knowledge (schema), and then draw a conclusion
about what is being presented to you by the author. This means that you must actively engage in thinking as
you read. While reading you should conjure pictures in your mind, ask questions of the text when you are
confused, periodically stop to summarize information to make sure that you understand, reread a portion
when you realize that you don’t understand, etc. Reading is more about what’s happening in your mind rather
than what’s happening on the page.
1. Summary
Step 1: Write a topic sentence using the three-part topic sentence method (the burrito fold)
Identify the Item
Select a Verb
Finish your Thought
Chapter one, “The Sheik”, of
the graphic novel Maus
Summary Verbs: Acknowledges, adds, asks, clarifies, confirms, confronts, compares, critiques, demonstrates, describes,
encourages, endorses, entertains, enumerates, explains, explores, features, furnishes, gives, identifies, illustrates, invites, lists,
names, offers, praises, presents, provides, proposes, recommends, shows, suggests, supports, teaches, tells, traces
Step 2: Copy the sentence to look like a real sentence. Edit to fix spelling and capitalization errors.
Step 3: Create a fact outline. Make a short outline or list of the facts you will include in the summary.
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2. Connections
Make a personal connection (text to self, text to text, or text to world). What does this chapter remind you
of?
3. Visualization
Draw an image from what you just read. Do not simply copy one of the images from the graphic novel.
4. Questions/Clarification
What is not clear to you? What questions do you have? Since this is Chapter One, you are required to ask ten
questions.
Questions/clarifications con’t.
5. Predictions
What do you believe will happen next? Why? Answer using complete sentences.