NOTE-TAKING TREE

Purpose:  The On the Surface/Under the Surface tree is a metaphor.  It helps you think about what a text "says" or what is written on the surface of the page and what it means or what is written between the lines or under the surface.

Directions:

Divide your paper in half horizontally and draw a line at that half-mark.  That is the ground.   Next draw a tree with branches and  roots, so that the trunk its branches take up the top half of the paper and the roots take up the bottom half of the paper.  Label the top half with the trunk and branches "On the Surface."  Label the bottom half with the roots "Under the Surface." 

ON THE SURFACE

On the  Surface details are things that are on the surface of the text.  What does the text (poem, chapter, novel, article, essay, etc.) say?  Write down on the branches of the tree facts from what you read.

• Plot details-- who did what to whom? what is the main conflict?  what are the small problems characters encounter?  how are the problems being resolved?
• Character details-- who are the protagonists (the good guys)?  who is the main protagonist?  what are they like? who are the antagonists (the bad guys)?  what are they like?
• Setting details-- where and when does it take place?

UNDER THE SURFACE

Under the Surface details are the things that aren't exactly written on the page.  What's going on that isn't exactly said in the text? What inferences can you make?  What questions do you have?  How can you connect the text to your life or other things you've read or heard?  Under the surface is where you make meaning out of the text, where you get to think about it and talk back to the author and connect it to what you know about life.

• Questions:  Why would so-and-so do that?  How come this didn't happen?  What if this had occurred instead?  What does this word or phrase mean?
• Predictions:  I think this will happen next
• Connections: This reminds me of a) a book,  b) movie, c) song, d) comic strip,  e) family member, f) friend, g) current event, h) idea from another subject like science or history, i) if I were in that situation I would ____________....
• Literary devices:  I notice the author uses foreshadowing, imagery, parallelism, dialogue, word choice in these ways....
• I think the theme or message or argument of the text is....
• Challenge the text:  I disagree/agree with the text about ___________ because.... __________ 
• Evaluate or judgment: I appreciate/dislike ___________ because....

If you want to look at a rubric created by students and Mrs. Clark-Burnell to help you understand what an excellent On/Under the Surface Tree looks like, click here.

PAGE CREATED BY L. CLARK-BURNELL, 2003

ON THE SURFACE / UNDER THE SURFACE TREES WERE DEVELOPED AS PART OF RECIPROCAL TEACHING BY GARY SHAPIRO