Activity Overview
| 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.
Divergent Text Connections Example
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.
Template and Class Instructions
(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.
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Create an image for each connection using scenes, characters, items, and text boxes.
- Write a description of how the text relates to another text, the world, and you.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Text Connections | Student made and labeled all three text connections correctly. | Student made and labeled two text connections correctly. | Student made and labeled one text connection correctly. |
| Examples of Connections | All examples of connections support understanding of text. | Most examples of connections support understanding of text. | Most examples of connections do not support understanding of text or are difficult to understand. |
| Illustration of Examples | Ideas are well organized. Images clearly show the connections student made with the text. | Ideas are organized. Most images help to show the connections student made with the text. | Ideas are not well organized. Images are difficult to understand. |
Activity Overview
| 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.
Divergent Text Connections Example
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.
Template and Class Instructions
(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.
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Create an image for each connection using scenes, characters, items, and text boxes.
- Write a description of how the text relates to another text, the world, and you.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Text Connections | Student made and labeled all three text connections correctly. | Student made and labeled two text connections correctly. | Student made and labeled one text connection correctly. |
| Examples of Connections | All examples of connections support understanding of text. | Most examples of connections support understanding of text. | Most examples of connections do not support understanding of text or are difficult to understand. |
| Illustration of Examples | Ideas are well organized. Images clearly show the connections student made with the text. | Ideas are organized. Most images help to show the connections student made with the text. | Ideas are not well organized. Images are difficult to understand. |
How Tos about Making Connections in Divergent
How to facilitate meaningful text connection discussions in small groups
Organize students into small, diverse groups to promote varied perspectives. Smaller groups help all voices be heard and encourage deeper engagement.
Model making a thoughtful text connection aloud
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.
Give each group a specific connection type to explore
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.
Encourage every student to share their own example
Invite students to contribute personal or creative connections related to their assigned type. This fosters ownership and ensures every student participates.
Guide the groups to summarize and share highlights with the class
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.
Frequently Asked Questions about Making Connections in Divergent
What are text to self, text to text, and text to world connections in reading?
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.
How can I help students make connections while reading Divergent?
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.
Why is making text connections important for reading comprehension?
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.
What is an example of a text to world connection for Divergent?
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.
What is a quick activity for students to practice text connections with Divergent?
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.
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