Socratic Reading Prompts: Turn Any Text into Questions

Why Questions Improve Comprehension

There’s a reason teachers ask questions instead of just lecturing. Questions create what psychologists call a “desirable difficulty” — a productive struggle that strengthens learning. When you read with questions in mind, your brain shifts from passive reception to active search mode.

Research consistently shows that question-based reading improves comprehension by 30-50% compared to passive reading. The mechanism is simple: questions give your brain a filter. Instead of trying to absorb everything equally, you prioritize information that answers your questions — and that selective attention is what builds understanding.

The Socratic method — learning through questioning — has survived 2,400 years because it works. Socratic reading prompts bring this ancient technique to modern AI tools, letting you generate the kinds of questions that transform any text from something you read into something you understand.

The Question Generator: Before You Read

The first prompt (PR002) generates questions from an introduction or abstract — the part of text that previews what’s coming. This timing matters. You want questions before deep reading, not after, so they can guide your attention as you go.

The prompt asks for questions at three cognitive levels:

Factual questions (what, when, who) test basic comprehension. These are the building blocks — you can’t analyze what you don’t understand at surface level. Examples: “What year did this happen?” “Who proposed this theory?” “What are the main components?”

Analytical questions (why, how) push deeper. They force you to understand mechanisms, causes, and relationships. Examples: “Why does this process work?” “How does A lead to B?” “What explains this pattern?”

Evaluative questions (so what, is this valid) build critical thinking. They ask you to judge significance and quality. Examples: “Is the evidence convincing?” “What are the limitations?” “Does this matter for [related topic]?”

Connection questions link new knowledge to existing knowledge. This is where learning sticks. Examples: “How does this relate to [something I already know]?” “What does this remind me of?”

The Comprehension Check-In: While You Read

The second prompt (PR035) is for mid-reading verification. It’s the “am I actually getting this?” moment. Most readers skip this step — and most readers forget most of what they read.

The key is including your current understanding in the prompt. This forces you to articulate what you think the text means, which is itself a comprehension exercise. AI then compares your understanding against the source and identifies gaps.

Fix-up strategies are specific techniques for when comprehension breaks down: re-reading, looking up terms, adjusting reading speed, activating prior knowledge. The prompt suggests which strategy fits your specific confusion.

Three Difficulty Modes

You can adjust question difficulty based on your purpose:

Quick Skim Mode

Generate only 3 factual questions. Use when you just need the gist. Questions like “What’s the main claim?” and “What evidence is given?” keep you focused without over-investing in casual reading.

Standard Learning Mode

Use the full 7-question template (2 factual + 2 analytical + 2 evaluative + 1 connection). This is the sweet spot for most reading where you want to understand and remember.

Deep Study Mode

Add a request: “Also generate 3 questions I should be able to answer after reading, and 2 questions the text probably won’t answer but I should research independently.” This mode is for material you’re studying seriously — textbooks, research papers, professional development.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake 1: Generating questions but not using them. Questions only work if you actively try to answer them while reading. Write them down. Check back. This is the step that makes the difference.

Mistake 2: All factual questions. Easy questions feel productive but don’t build deep understanding. Make sure you include analytical and evaluative levels, even if they’re harder to answer.

Mistake 3: Skipping the comprehension check-in. Your brain is very good at feeling like it understands something it doesn’t. Mid-reading verification catches these illusions before they compound.

Mistake 4: Not stating your current understanding. When using PR035, include what you think the passage means. Vague “I’m confused” statements get vague help. Specific “I think it means X” gets specific correction.

The AI for Reading hub has more techniques for active reading. But question generation is where it all starts — the skill that turns reading from passive consumption into active learning.