| Text Connections | |
|---|---|
| Text to Text | Connection that reminds you of something in another book or story |
| Text to Self | Connection that reminds you of something in your life. |
| Text to World | Connection that reminds you of something happening in the world. |
Asking students to make connections to the text is one way to encourage active reading and improve reading comprehension. Text connections can also spark meaningful discussions about a novel and its themes and can act as precursors to some essays. For this activity, have students use three storyboard cells to connect Divergent to themselves, another text (or film), and the world around them. Ask them to explain the connection in the text box below each cell.
TEXT TO SELF
Tris's struggle to decide which faction to join reminds me of my own decision about which sport to play. I have played soccer and done swim for years, but I could only choose one this year. It was a hard decision. I wish I could have taken an aptitude test like in Divergent!
TEXT TO TEXT
Divergent reminds me of the book The Giver. In The Giver, teenagers are given their future occupations at the Ceremony of Twelve. They then have to learn the language and habits of that profession. This is similar to Choosing Day in Divergent, when all the sixteen-year-olds choose a faction and begin training for life in that community.
TEXT TO WORLD
Even though it is a science fiction novel, the underlying problem in Divergent is a real-world one: how can we develop a peaceful society? The community in Divergent created the factions to eliminate civil unrest and allow society to function smoothly. Differences in opinions and lifestyles create conflicts in our world every day, causing riots, crime, and even civil wars.
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that shows connections you have made with Divergent. Include a connection for text to text, text to world, and text to self.
Organize students into small, diverse groups to promote varied perspectives. Smaller groups help all voices be heard and encourage deeper engagement.
Demonstrate your own thinking process by connecting Divergent to your experiences or another story. Modeling shows students exactly how to dig deeper with their connections.
Assign each group to focus on either text-to-self, text-to-text, or text-to-world. This targeted approach builds confidence and clarity as students practice one connection at a time.
Invite students to contribute personal or creative connections related to their assigned type. This fosters ownership and ensures every student participates.
Support groups as they pick key insights or unique connections to present. Sharing out helps the whole class see the range of possible connections and deepens collective understanding.
Text to self is when a reader relates the story to their own life. Text to text connects the story to another book, movie, or text. Text to world links the story to real-world events or issues. These connections help deepen reading comprehension and engagement.
Encourage students to pause and reflect on how moments in Divergent remind them of their own experiences, other stories, or real-world issues. Use activities like storyboards or discussion prompts to guide students in making text to self, text to text, and text to world connections.
Making text connections helps students process and remember information, fosters active reading, and sparks meaningful discussions. This strategy supports critical thinking and makes it easier for students to relate to themes and characters.
A text to world connection for Divergent is comparing the book’s divided society to real-world issues like social groups, civil unrest, or efforts to create peace in communities.
Have students create a simple storyboard with three cells: one for text to self, one for text to text, and one for text to world. In each cell, they draw a scene and write a few sentences explaining their connection.