1. The Pathway to Analytical Reading
The Art of Annotating
The Pathway to Analytical Reading

2. The Profile of a Good Reader

3. Set a purpose vs
Reading is like shopping. In English class, you aren’t cruising the mall, window shopping with no specific purpose. This isn’t a bad thing; it can be fun just to peruse the mall and wander around a store to see what catches your eye. This is what you do when you read on your own. It doesn’t matter if you notice that sweater or not. Who cares? You don’t have any specific item you need to buy so you’re just wandering in and out and if you miss a store, it doesn’t matter.
On the other hand, sometimes you are shopping for a specific thing, where you think ahead of time what item you need and thinking about the stores that will possibly have this item. While you might get occasionally sidetracked (and buy something that wasn’t on the list), you ultimately have to purchase something. This is the way it is in English class; you should have a mental “list” of what you are seeking to know. This list can change from chapter to chapter. Some things we want to know in English class are: Is this the bad guy? What are his intentions? Will he be rescued? Is this girl important to the storyline? What will he do next? How will he come to terms with this experience? Your purposes for reading should evolve as the narrative progresses.

4. Connect what you are reading to…
How does this relate to me?
What is the author really trying to say?
How does this relate to something else I’ve read?
How does this relate to something else in my life – family, community, etc.?
World
Text
Self
Author

5. Ask QUESTIONS About the characters About the plot and
how the author will
unfold the narrative
to you
About information
you don’t understand

6. Make an Inference
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 or imply (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 infer them.

7. From this
To this
Summarize

8. Evaluate and Judge
What is the author ‘s thematic purpose? What ideas does 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?

9. Annotations
Trace
all of these

10. Annotations also trace
But wait! There’s More!
Annotations also trace
LITERARY ANALYSIS

11. 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 character’s actions
Other characters’ reactions to events/other characters
Setting details

12. Figurative Level
Things 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, or event.

13. And the last and most sophisticated Level:
THEMATIC Level
When we can make thematic evaluations and statements.
When we say that a particular 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 or universal themes that the author has asked us to consider

14. What does “annotate” mean?
Annotation is a method of writing down your ideas of a text:
To develop your understanding of literary analysis
(plot, figurative, thematic)
To trace your reading
(setting purpose, asking questions, connecting, summarizing, inferring)

15. Good annotations will have a balance of written ideas of
Your own thoughts, connections and ideas
With
Your understanding of the author’s ideas and intentions

16. Only Gatsby, the man who gives his name to this book, was exempt from my reaction—Gatsby—who 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.
Reader Connections
Text to SELF: I’ve met people who seem to be part of a group 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

17. Gatsby—who represented everything for which I have an unaffected scorn
Gatsby—who 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).
The Figurative Level
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 is more 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

18. Unproductive Annotations
Gatsby—who 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).
Unproductive Annotations
So Gatsby represents what he doesn’t like. What does this annotation mean?
He’s good looking. Really? Why is this important? Adding unproductive annotations makes the text seem daunting.
I don’t get what this means.
Instead, write yourself a note to find out what this means or try to infer the meaning.

19. Do Don’t Comment on a specific image
Make a general comment about an entire line or whole quotation
Comment on a specific image
Mention literary devices/elements
Just discuss “words” or “images”
Mention authorial intent/ or at least try to speculate authorial intention
Just mention your own opinion about the text