Annotating a text for literary analysis

​Huh?

​Read the text first without annotating. Read for enjoyment. You may think you don't have time for this, but it makes it easier to understand and will make it easier to know what to annotate now that you know where the text goes.

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​Make sure you know - why you reading this?

​What are you going to do with the text after reading?

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​This will help you be on the look out for specific features in the text.

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​For example, if your learning target is to identify textual details that reveal character changes, you will highlight and annotate those changes as you go through.

​Always mark literary devices. It is good to get in the habit of 'seeing' the literary devices and noticing how the author uses these to advance a theme, describe a setting, or develop characterization.

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​Some people will want to highlight literary devices in different colors. Or, you use symbols in the margins; such as,

​WC or D - Word Choice, Diction Th - Theme

​F - figurative language P - Key plot elements

​S - Symbols C - Conflict

​I - Imagery T - Tone

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For characters, I will usually write their name in the margin underline/highlight important descriptions, dialogue, or actions in the text. Then summarize under the name.