This document provides an overview of effective reading and annotation strategies. It defines reading as identifying words, comprehending their meaning, and achieving fluency. There are two approaches to reading: leisurely reading for pleasure and scholarly reading for deeper meaning. Annotation involves writing notes and markings to trace understanding, develop analysis of literary elements like plot and themes, and ask questions. Good annotations balance personal thoughts with understanding the author's intentions.

1. The Art of
Reading &
Annotating

2. Reading is making meaning from
What is reading? printed words. It requires that the
reader:
• Identify the words
– a process called word recognition
• Construct an understanding from them
– a process called comprehension
• Coordinate identifying words and
making meaning so that reading is
automatic and accurate
– an achievement called fluency

3. 2 Approaches to Reading
Leisurely approach
– Reading for pleasure
Scholarly approach
– Reading for deeper meaning

4. What does “annotate” mean?
Annotation is a method of writing down
notes and marking an article, essay, or novel
to do the following:
To trace your reading To develop your
(understanding the understanding of
purpose, asking literary analysis
questions, connecting, (plot, figurative,
summarizing, inferring) thematic)

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

6. 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.

8. The
Profile of
the
Good
Reader

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

10. Evaluate and Judge
• What is the author ‘s thematic purpose?
• How relevant are these ideas to you?
• What previous ideas of yours has this
writing changed or amplified?

11. The Levels of a Literary Text
Figurative Level (analysis)
PLOT LEVEL (detail) Things that can be answered with the
question “Why?” or “How?”
Things that can be answered with the Things that consider characters in the
question “What?” narrative as both dynamic people and also
the result of artistic choices:
Things that concern events and
setting and character descriptions.  People with goals, passions, ambitions,
fears and desires.
Things character does
When the reader INFERS things about
the “hidden” life of a character and what
Plot-level outcome of character’s
motivates him/her
actions
When the reader considers literary
Other characters’ reactions to devices and techniques that an author
uses to connect certain emotions or ideas
events/other characters
with a character, place, or event.
Setting details

12. And the last and most sophisticated level:
THEMATIC Level
When the reader can make thematic
evaluations and statements.
When the reader says a character/
represents a CONCEPT or an IDEA
by design; these take on a deeper
message, or overall point that the
author is conveying.
When the reader considers
universal themes that the author
has asked to consider

13. 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

14. Comment on a Make a general comment
about an entire line or
specific image
whole quotation
Mention literary Just discuss “words”
devices/elements or “images”
Just mention your own
Mention authorial intent/or opinion about the text
at least try to speculate
authorial intention