One thing I’ve observed in middle schoolers and early high schoolers is that, smart as they are, they can sometimes struggle to articulate the great thoughts swimming around inside their minds. In literature class, when they are asked to write in response to a prompt or share their ideas in a discussion, they feel sure they just don’t have much to say. However, if the teacher asks the right questions, at some point, the thoughts and words start flowing! It’s clear that those thoughts were always there, but they just needed some help to get themselves organized and find a way out.
One job of a good literature teacher is to help students engage with a story as they read, connect with their own reactions to and feelings about a story, and begin to form ideas that unlock deeper meanings and provide material for a thoughtful discussion or essay.
Now I hope it’s becoming clear where annotation comes in! Annotation – basically just the practice of taking notes on the pages you are reading – is such a helpful tool for students to use as they read.
What are the Main Benefits of Annotation?
There are so many! First, it keeps a reader focused on the story. We’ve all experienced the wandering mind that can happen when we read. This certainly happens to students! Having a tool to keep them focused is such a help.
Annotation also assists in getting the reader more deeply engaged with the story. It can slow her down so that she notices or, better yet, searches for all kinds of things – beautifully expressive language, imagery that leads to a vivid experience of the story’s places or events, literary devices, plot elements, and on and on. Catching all these elements increases the reader’s depth of understanding because she hasn’t just skimmed past these things but really seen and processed them.
Annotation provides a system for recording details the reader might be asked to write about later, such as clues to the story’s setting, traits of characters, instances of symbolism, and much more. All those notations can also help students track developments in the story related to characters, themes, and motifs. By annotating specific instances where character evolve, themes develop, or motifs recur, students can create a visual roadmap that aids in uncovering the author’s underlying messages and intentions.
Notes can offer a canvas for individual interpretations of a story. By marking specific lines or passages that resonate with them, students can develop a unique perspective on the text. These personalized notes lay the groundwork for discussing varying interpretations within homeschooling settings, promoting rich and enlightening discussions.
Annotation also helps with building vocabulary. Literary works often feature complex language, metaphors, and symbolim (which is part of the beauty of reading!). Annotation provides an opportunity for students to look up unfamiliar words, decipher metaphors, and explore the layers of meaning behind symbolic elements. This not only enriches their vocabulary but also deepens their grasp of language nuances.
How, Exactly, Is it Done?
As a student uses annotation, he’ll start to develop a system that works well for him. There certainly isn’t one right way to do this! I don’t recommend requiring students to follow a formula with their annotations. But here are some good ways to direct a student who is just learning to annotate.
1. Read the title and first paragraph. Stop and write down, somewhere near the title, two or three questions you have (about the title itself, the characters, the setting, or whatever comes to mind). These questions should reflect your initial thoughts, expectations, and questions about what the story might be like.
2. Continue reading, and make note of
a. any clues to the setting that you come across
b. definitions of words you don't know
c. literary devices you encounter in the reading (such as allusions, personification,
imagery, foreshadowing, etc.)
d. clues the story reveals about the author’s likely worldview
e. your thoughts about the author’s purpose in writing the story (the theme)
f. any devices the author is using to accomplish his or her purpose
g. elements of the plot (setting, theme, climax, denouement, etc.)
h. important information about characters – what they are like and how they change
i. personal thoughts and experiences of yours that relate to the story
j. particularly beautiful or evocative sentences or sections
k. questions you have about the story (and answers!)
l. anything else that will help you understand and analyze the story!
Here’s something important - although I recommend giving your child a lot of flexibility with how she annotates, I do recommend that you discourage much highlighting without written notes. Highlighting has its place, but without notes about WHY something is highlighted, it’s not likely to have much meaning when the reader returns to it later. The words she writes down will be far more important and helpful than what she highlighted.
Lastly, encourage your child to connect his observations to the theme – the story’s meaning and author’s purpose for writing it – wherever possible. For example, if he identifies a simile, he shouldn’t just label it “simile” but also note why the author included it and how it contributes to the story.
Click here for a free printable you can use to provide guidance to your child as she learns to annotate. There’s also a guide she can use to assess her own annotation and then identify what to work on to make it more useful.
Incorporating annotation into literary analysis is akin to having a dialogue with the author while unraveling the layers of a story. It not only enriches the reading experience and prepares students for thoughtful writing, but also equips them with essential skills that extend far beyond the realm of literature. By embracing annotation as a tool for literary exploration, parents can ignite a lifelong love for reading, thinking, and learning in their students.
Xo,
Christie
Komentarze