1. Reading a Story A method for reading with comprehension

2. Reading a Story Read the story at least twice. The first time through, read to enjoy. The second time, notice details.

3. Reading a Story Annotate the text. Reread the story making notes in the margins and highlighting important passages.

4. Thinking about a Story Identify the protagonist and the conflict. Whose story is being told? What does the character desire? What stands in the character’s way?

5. Thinking about a Story Consider the story’s point of view. How might the tale change if told from a different point of view?

6. Thinking about a Story Think about the setting. Does the setting play a significant role in the story? How does the setting affect the story’s tone?

7. Thinking about a Story Notice key symbols. Not every image is a symbol—usually symbols are recurrent persons, places, or things that seem to suggest more than their literal meaning.

8. Thinking about a Story Look for the theme. Is the central meaning stated directly? If not, how does it reveal itself?

9. Thinking about a Story Think about tone and style. How would you characterize the style of the story? Think about the sentence structure, the diction, and organization. How do these elements contribute to the tone?