Essential Question: Why are close reading and annotating useful tools for understanding the deeper meaning of a text?

What is Close Reading?  Close Reading means annotating and analyzing a text to construct meaning  Focus only on the words that are there – NOT your prior knowledge of the topic

Read the Text More Than Once  First read: summarize plot events (the “WHAT?”)  Second read: look at author’s craft (the “HOW?”)  Final read: determine meaning of text (the “SO WHAT?”)

What are Annotations?  Brief notes you make while independently reading to help you engage with the text.  Use a highlighter and pen/pencil (or Post-It notes, if you can’t write in the book)  Annotations are NOT just a summary of the text

Why Should I Annotate?  Rather than have a teacher tell you what to take notes on, you make observations, ask questions, and create connections while reading.  Annotating is a personal, effective way to increase your understanding. Your annotations will not be the same as someone else’s.  It will help to guide class discussions and activities.

Types of Annotations  Predictions about the story (using textual evidence for support)  Observations about characters/situations  Confusing, surprising, or interesting moments  Open-ended questions  Important quotations  Inferences (reading between the lines)  Connections that help you better understand the text  Text-to-text  Text-to-self  Text-to-world  Author’s craft: tone, mood, figurative language, structure, diction, etc.

Annotating During Anthem  During our reading of the novel, you will be writing two sticky notes per chapter,  Stickies will be checked on the day each chapter is due  At the end of the unit, I will collect, read, and grade all stickies as a summative.  I will provide a sticky note rubric in class tomorrow.

Advice for Writing Sticky Notes  Predicting: You may not predict more than once per chapter!  Questioning: Ask open-ended questions, rather than closed (yes/no) questions.  Connecting: Text to Self, World, Author, Another Text  Observing: “Wow, that was surprising because…” (always explain yourself!)  Inferring: This is when you are making educated guesses and “reading between the lines.”

Evaluate these sample stickies. - Are these good or poor examples? Why? - Which strategy is being used?

Check for Understanding  Let’s do a sample annotation practice together, using the first page of Anthem.

Summarizer  Use the last part of class to read Chapter 1.  Complete two sticky notes for Chapter 1: 1. Prediction – be sure to refer to information you already know 2. One confusing/interesting moment and why you thought so

Using Sticky Notes During Lit Circles

What are the benefits of Literature Circles?  student-centered  critical thinking and reflection  construct meaning with other students  promotes deeper understanding of the text

What are the expectations? 1. You will create sticky notes with thoughts/questions for discussion as you are reading. 2. You will think about what you read & be ready to discuss it when you arrive to class. 3. You will bring your novel ( with sticky notes inside ) to the beginning of every class. 4. You will verbally participate in every discussion.

What they look like…

Looks Like/Sounds Like Sitting in groups of 4 (based on your table #) with open books & sticky notes ready. Always answer with “because…” Text-based support! Stay focused & on-task. Disagreements are OKAY, as long as we are treating the members of our discussion with respect. Demonstrate positive body language. Everyone participates. Dig deep in discussion  critique, analyze, evaluate!

How will I be held accountable? If you are missing your book and/or sticky notes, then… -your homework grade for the day will be affected. -your reading check quiz grade will be affected. -you will be unable to participate in discussion. If you did not read, then… -you will be unable to participate in discussion. -your homework grade for the day will be affected.

“A good book should leave you with many experiences and slightly exhausted. You should live several lives while reading it.” -William Styron

Should Partner Discussion 1. What are 4 things you need to do/have in order to be prepared for lit circles? 2. What are 4 reading strategies I want to see used on our sticky notes?