READER’S NOTES. WHY DO THEM?

Textual analysis is at the heart of  English courses. We always need to ask ourselves: “How does one approach a text?” Is there, for example, a right or wrong interpretation of a text? Should we look at texts through various lenses, hunting for a deeper meaning? Is everyone entitled to his or her own interpretation of a text? 

In this course, you are learning to identify the narrative elements (plot, character, point of view, mood, tone, conflict, setting) and literary devices (symbols, metaphors, personification, flashbacks, foreshadowing) of a text. Then you are thinking about how the author uses them along with his or her style choices (diction, sentence length, dialogue) to explore various themes in the text. This information you are gathering in your READER’S NOTES. 

NARRATIVE ELEMENTS + LITERARY DEVICES + YOUR THINKING = READER’S NOTES

We have also taken notes and worked on the vocabulary for various text formats (fiction, nonfiction, poetry, mythology, and visual texts). The goal is for you to use this information when you talk or write about your books. When we use evidence from the text to support our thinking about the text, then we are ANALYZING the text. 

YOUR READER’S NOTES (your thinking + evidence from the text) = ANALYSIS

In order for you to analyze a graphic text, you need to know the elements of the form, so you can create reader’s notes and do the analysis. 

READ and work on Reader’s Notes

Conference with Ms. B re: “Powder” paragraph

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