annotate-090629215410-phpapp01

7/31/2019 annotate-090629215410-phpapp01

1/19

The Art of Annotating

The Pathway to Analytical Reading

7/31/2019 annotate-090629215410-phpapp01

2/19

The

Profile ofthe Good

Reader

7/31/2019 annotate-090629215410-phpapp01

3/19

Set a purpose

vs

7/31/2019 annotate-090629215410-phpapp01

4/19

onnect w atyou are reading

to

How does this

relate to

something else

Ive read?

How does this

relate to me?

How does this

relate to

something else

in my lifefamily,

community, etc?

7/31/2019 annotate-090629215410-phpapp01

5/19

Ask QUESTIONS

About the characters

About the plot and

how the author willunfold the narrative

to you

About informationyou dont understand

7/31/2019 annotate-090629215410-phpapp01

6/19

Writers often give you hints or clues that help you "read between

the lines." These clues give you a deeper understanding. When

you infer, you go beyond the surface details to see other

meanings that the details suggest orimply(not stated). When the

meanings of words are not stated clearly in the context of the text,

they may be implied- that is, suggested or hinted at. When

meanings are implied, you may inferthem.

7/31/2019 annotate-090629215410-phpapp01

7/19

From

this

To

this

7/31/2019 annotate-090629215410-phpapp01

8/19

Evaluate and Judge

What is the author s thematic purpose? What ideasdoes the writer present that you agree with? Disagree

with? How relevant are these ideas to you? What

previous ideas of yours has this work changed or

amplified?

7/31/2019 annotate-090629215410-phpapp01

9/19

7/31/2019 annotate-090629215410-phpapp01

10/19

7/31/2019 annotate-090629215410-phpapp01

11/19

The Levels of a Literary Text:

Moving from the

PLOT

to the THEMATIC

PLOT LEVEL

Things that can be answered with the question What?

Things that concern events and setting and character descriptions.Things character does

Plot-level outcome of characters actions

Other characters reactions to events/other characters

Setting details

7/31/2019 annotate-090629215410-phpapp01

12/19

Figurative LevelThings that can be answered with the question Why? or How?Things that consider characters in the narrative as both dynamic people and

also the result of artistic choices:

People with goals, passions, ambitions, fears and desires.

When we INFER things about the hidden life of a character and

what motivates him/her

When we consider literary devices and techniques that an author

uses to connect certain emotions or ideas with a character, place, orevent.

7/31/2019 annotate-090629215410-phpapp01

13/19

And the last and most

sophisticated Level:

THEMATIC Level

when we can make thematic evaluations and statements.

when we say that such and such a character/ represents a

CONCEPT or an IDEA by his very construction; these take on

a greater significance, and become a commentary on a

deeper message, or overall point the author is conveying.

When we consider overarching ideas oruniversal themes that the author has

asked us to consider

7/31/2019 annotate-090629215410-phpapp01

14/19

What does annotate mean?

Annotation is a method of writing down your ideas of a text:

To trace yourreading

(setting purpose,

asking questions,

connecting,summarizing,

inferring)

To develop yourunderstanding of

literary analysis

(plot, figurative,thematic)

7/31/2019 annotate-090629215410-phpapp01

15/19

Good annotations will have a

balance of written ideas of

Your own thoughts, connections

and ideas

With

Your understanding of the

authors ideas and intentions

7/31/2019 annotate-090629215410-phpapp01

16/19

Only Gatsby, the man who gives his name to this book, was exempt from my reaction

Gatsbywho represented everything for which I have an unaffected scorn. If personality

is a series of successful gestures, then there was something gorgeous about him, some

heightened sensitivity to the promises of life, as if he were related to one of those

intricate machines that register earthquakes ten thousand miles away.

Text to SELF: Ive met people who seem to be part of agroup of people you hate but then turn out to be likable for

some reason

Text to World: celebrities often become representative of the

rich, spoiled, American Dream even if they do not

characterize the rest of the celebrity world

The was indicates that he is either

dead or this was written long after he

was gorgeous

Reader Connections

7/31/2019 annotate-090629215410-phpapp01

17/19

Gatsbywho represented everything for which I have an unaffected scorn. If

personality is a series of successful gestures, then there was something gorgeous

about him, some heightened sensitivity to the promises of life, as if he were related to

one of those intricate machines that register earthquakes ten thousand miles away

(Fitzgerald 3).

This metaphor, comparing your personality to a series of

choreographed, physical movements makes it seem like he is

graceful

Why does he evoke both scorn and

gorgeous qualities?

How is he more sensitive to the

promises of life? Does this mean he ismore hopeful or more depressed?

Comparing him to a seismograph makes it seem as if

he is in tune with FATE or Lady Luck and that things

must always go his way, or that is what he must believe

7/31/2019 annotate-090629215410-phpapp01

18/19

Gatsbywho represented everything for which I have an unaffected scorn. If

personality is a series of successful gestures, then there was something gorgeous

about him, some heightened sensitivity to the promises of life, as if he were related to

one of those intricate machines that register earthquakes ten thousand miles away

(Fitzgerald 3).

So Gatsby represents what hedoesnt like

Hes good looking

I dont get what thismeans

Unproductive Annotations

7/31/2019 annotate-090629215410-phpapp01

19/19