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

What does “annotate” mean? Annotation is a method of writing down your ideas of a text: To help you analyze a novel and its literary elements To trace your reading (setting purpose, asking questions, connecting, summarizing, inferring)

Connect what you are reading to… How does this relate to something else in my life—family, community, etc? How does this relate to something else I’ve read? How does this relate to me?

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

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.

Evaluate and Judge What is the author’s overall purpose? What does the author want you to learn? What ideas does the writer present that you agree with? Disagree with? Has this work changed any ideas you’ve previously thought about?

Annotations: Trace all of these

But wait! There’s More! Annotations also help a reader analyze the parts (elements) of literature.

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

Reader Connections Setting – Canada; modern day The first I ever heard of the Nahanni River and Deadmen Valley was from the bush pilot who met my flight at Fort Nelson, way up at the top of British Columbia. Clint worked for an air charter service that was trading out a favor for my father by flying me up to Yellowknife, the capital of Canada’s Northwest Territories. “Gabe Rogers?” he asked doubtfully as I stepped off the plane. “Clint? I asked just as doubtfully. “You’re the bush pilot?” This guy was about twenty-two, that’s the oldest I’d give him. Big grin, friendly a a puppy dog, big head of curly blond hair, and a square jaw with a dimple in it. He said, “You talk just like your dad – Texas accent and all. I was expecting you to be tall like your dad, too, eh?” “Nobody’s as tall as my dad,” I said. “That’s why they call him Tree.” “A mischievous grin spread across the young busy pilot’s face. “Anybody ever call you Stump?” I had to laugh. “Not until now, but there’s a first time for everything.” Far North by Will Hobbs Setting – Canada; modern day Direct characterization of both Clint and Gabe Indirect characterization – author is showing that Clint is playful and likes to kid around. Gabe appears easy to get along with.

Circle new/unknown words Reader Connections Rivka put her hands up to her mouth as if shouting, but instead made a penetrating clucking noise by placing her tongue against the roof of her mouth. From all over the camp came the same clicking, as if crazed crickets had invaded the place. The small children, alerted by the sound, came scrambling from everywhere. They raced toward the midden heap behind the barracks. Even the camp guards joined in, alternately clucking and laughing, waving the children on toward the garbage pile. The largest children carried the littlest ones in their arm. There were about thirty in all. -The Devil’s Arithmetic by Jane Yolen Metaphor – compares kids to “crazed crickets” Image of chaos – everyone running in a panic Circle new/unknown words

Unproductive Annotations Do not restate what is obvious in the text . Jack Roosevelt Robinson was born on a farm near Cairo, Georgia, on January 31, 1919. The Robinsons lived on a part of a farm owned by somebody else. The owner of the farm gave Mallie Robinson and her husband a horse, a plow, feed for animals, and some other equipment. They had to repay him by giving him half of whatever they grew. Mallie’s father had been a slave, and although this wasn’t slavery, it wasn’t far from it. It was called sharecropping and was a lot of work for little reward. Stealing Home: The Story of Jackie Robinson by Barry Denenberg Jackie was born in Georgia. Do not underline or highlight sentences that don’t add to the meaning/purpose of the story. Sharecropping was like slavery. Avoid writing personal opinions for now. This is boring.

Do Don’t Mark literary devices/elements Bellwork for 9/9: Write this down in your annotation notes from yesterday! Do Don’t Comment on a specific image the author creates Highlight the whole page Underline sentences that aren’t focused on the understanding of the story. Mark literary devices/elements While it’s okay to mark your opinions, for now, you should focus on literary elements and figurative language. Mention author’s purpose or at least try to guess at the author’s intent