Signpost Notes

Good readers are alert to the signposts that authors provide

When they see these signposts in their reading they STOP, take NOTICE, and NOTE

Because of this, they understand what they read better and they understand and appreciate the author's craft as a writer.

When a word, phrase, object, or situation is mentioned over and over again

Ask yourself... Why does this keep showing up again and again?

When a character suddenly realizes something or figures something out. Usually this changes a characters actions.

Ask yourself... How might this change things for the character?

When a character says or does something that contradicts (goes against) what he/she has been doing

A contrast between what we expect and what we observe

When the character experiences something in contrast with what he/she expects

Ask yourself... Why is the character doing or feeling that?

When the author interrupts the action to tell you a memory

Ask yourself... Why is this memory so important?

When a character (usually older or wiser) gives serious advice

Ask yourself... What is the life lesson? How will this affect the main character?