ANNOTATION

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ANNOTATION

• An annotation of a literary work is a detailed
  analysis of its language and ideas. A thorough
  annotation should be the first step in preparing
  to write about a piece of literature. Annotation
  can be especially useful for identifying patterns
  of words and ideas upon which one may structure
  interpretive claims.

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Steps in Annotation

• The Twelve Step Program of Literary Annotation
• The core of Annotation is to get to the meaning
  of a reading selection to break down material
  that the reader does not know. (The purpose is
  not to discuss that which the reader already
  knows) Annotation is a process of Reading,
  Deconstruction, Investigation and Analysis and
  Extracting Meaning.

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Annotating helps readers reach a deeper level of
engagement and promotes active reading. It
creates a readers dialogue with the text A
visible record of the thoughts that emerge while
making sense of the reading.
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The best way to annotate is to be able to write
directly on the text itself (forget what your
parents always told you in kindergarten about
coloring in your books). 1 Purchase the text
so that you can mark it up with your annotations,
OR2 Make a copy of the passage to be closely
analyzedIf you cannot write directly on the
text to be analyzed, then making notations on
sticky notes is an alternative. The most
effective way of using sticky notes is to1
cut the square sticky note into strips2 place
the strip under the word or phrase to be notated
OR3 use sticky notes that have the little
pointing arrow, and point it to the part of the
text you want to notate.
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• Step Two
• Authors Diction.
• Why does he/she use the words they do, to what
  effect? . If you do not understand each word,
  you have no chance to fully understand the
  selection. So, identify (make a list) all
  unfamiliar words in the selection

• Step One
• Read the selection
• Initial Reaction
• Record a brief reaction statement between two
  sentences and a paragraph that explains your
  first thoughts of the selection.

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• Step Four
• Character Identification
• Identify all characters in the selection, the
  time setting, location and imagery

• Step Three
• Vocabulary Definitions
• Denotation
• -Connotations
• Look up each word in a good dictionary and find
  the definition of each word. Be sure to have the
  correct definition for the context in which the
  word is found.

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• Step Six
• Number the lines of a poem or the sentences of
  prose.

• Step Five
• ReReading
• Reread the selection a second time now with an
  understanding of all with words.
• Repeat until all words are understood.
• This is a very important step

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• Step Eight
• Identify any unusual syntax and rephrase the
  passage so that it is clearly and firmly in mind.
  Consider what poetic effect might be achieved by
  disrupting conventional syntax, (word order).
  Identify references of nouns and pronouns that
  have been left ambiguous.

• Step Seven
• Identify unfamiliar historical, geographical
  references, or allusions to and the Bible or
  other literary. Define and research the allusions
  for full understanding of the allusions in the
  context of the selection. Apply this to anything
  including the title of the selection.

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• Step Ten
• Rhythm and Beat
• Is there a rhythm or meter that is important and
  helpful to understand the selection. This is most
  often discovered through Reading the work out
  loud.

• Step Nine
• Peel the onion layers
• Identify and explain the meaning and purpose of
  the figures of speech used by the author in the
  selection. Consider the selections literary
  expressions like similes, metaphors,
  personification, symbols etc. Explain the levels
  of the language that means something beyond the
  literal.

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• Step Twelve
• What have you learned by doing this annotation?
• And most importantly

• Step Eleven
• What is the overall meaning, is there an extended
  metaphor or allegory that is important. What is
  the theme. What is the message, what does the
  Author want the reader to understand?

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Step Twelve

• What does it say?
• What does it mean?
• Why does it matter?