Annotation is like having a conversation with the text. You will know the play or novel better, your critical reading skills will improve, and you will decrease study time when you make notes in the book as you read. If you are not able to write in the book, use post its to leave annotations.
Be sure to look deeper than the basic facts of the text. If you are used to “spark noting” through material, you will need to train your mind to go deeper and make significant connections on your own. Look for key ideas such as character identification and characterization, theme work, setting relationship, symbols, motifs, examples the author uses to illustrate points made. Your own analysis is needed and identification of close-reading elements is expected. Avoid the temptation to just make the novel “pretty”; be purposeful and intentional.
A book is put in your hand. You touch the cover of it and can feel the texture. You determine whether it is an old book or a new book by smelling it and turning it over in your hands. Now what? Before reading any book, break up the experience into 4 parts:
Before Reading
During Reading
After Reading
Evaluation
Within each of these parts of your reading journey, intentionally pause. Intentionally ask questions. Books are meant to be savored like a good meal, allowing the mind to puzzle through ideas. Intentionally decode language and appreciate sentencing and carefully crafted wording. Intentionally interact in the literary conversation, arguing against and for ideas and diving into the action.
Look for quotes that seem significant, powerful, thought provoking or puzzling. These types of quotes or passages may include...
Effective &/or creative use of stylistic or literary devices
Passages that remind you of your own life or something you’ve seen before
Structural shifts or turns in the plot
A passage that makes you realize something you hadn’t seen before
Examples of patterns: recurring images, ideas, colors, symbols or motifs.
Passages with confusing language or unfamiliar vocabulary
Events you find surprising or confusing
Passages that illustrate a particular bible or setting
To the right are ways that you can respond to literary passages and quotes.
As you are reading, look for ways that you can connect, analyze, reflect, and evaluate to the text. Being mindful while reading will feel more natural as you practice active reading.
Some sentence starters that may trigger mindful and active reading are...
I really don’t understand this because…
I really dislike/like this idea because…
I think the author is trying to say that…
This passage reminds me of a time in my life when…
If I were (name of character) at this point I would…
This part doesn’t make sense because…
This character reminds me of (name of person) because…