introduction to literature

INTRODUCTION TO LITERATUREA Beginner’s Guide

Chapter 1: Reading Literature

Reading to Connect to

OthersShared and Communal

Source of ideas, challenges, and meanings

Invitation to understanding, empathy, sympathy,

judgment, compassion

Active Reading

Sense-Making Activity

Personal knowledge & experience

Prior knowledge, attitudes & assumptions to text

Engaging with Texts

Need to be competed by the reader’s mind

Readers bring text alive

Responding Individually

Meaning comes from interaction between text and reader

Re-read a second time

Constantly changes

Active Reading (2)

Reading HolisticallyEntire being is involved in reading

Anticipate. Make judgments.

“Not a spectator sport.”

Responding AttentivelyPay attention to the way things are written as well as what is said

Techniques used

Image characters, form mental images, visualize locations and the series of actions

Asking Questions

Chapter 2: Writing in Response to Literature

Writing in the Margins

Mark Up the Text

Underline sentences/phrases

Flag Key Sentences

Talk Back to the Text

Comments in the margin about particular areas of text

Jot Comments on the Text

Agree or Disagree

Write Notes about the Text

Definitions and Explanations

Sample Student Annotation – page 23

Discussing Literature

Preparing

Do reading before class

Think about the reading

Write down questions and points to make

Participating

Honesty, alertness, questioning attitude, willingness to “stick one’s neck out”

QUALITY not Quantity

Taking Notes

Discussing Literature > Using

Discussion Boards

Ask Questions

Answer other people’s questions

Write comments expressing what you would

have said in class

Extend class discussion

Follow online etiquette

How to Write about Literature

Making Connections

Topic

Connection between pieces

Outline

Similarities and Differences (Aside from the

obvious)

Organization

Thesis Statement

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35

Incorporating Text

Follow this formula:

Claim (Thesis Support, Topic Sentence)

Textual Evidence (Usually direct quote or

paraphrase)

Analysis/Discussion as the evidence relates back

to your claim.

Don’t forget to cite your quotes/paraphrase!

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41

Writing the Essay

Use “Literary Present”

In discussion literature, everything continues to happen

in the present

Introduction

Always introduce the author, work and main elements

being discussed.

In Jane Austen’s novel, Pride and Prejudice, she uses

irony to show her true feelings on the idea of arranged

marriages.

Conclusion

Wrap up the essay with a final thought.

A Few More Things..

Titles of essays should NOT be “Essay 2” or

“Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.” Try to be

creative!

MLA Formatting

Short stories and poem titles are written in

quotation marks.

“The Tell-Tale Heart”; “homage to my hips”

Plays and films are written in italics.

Sure Thing; Batman Begins

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Fiction, Poetry, Drama, & FilmCommon Attributes

Commonalities

What elements do they have in common?

Theme

Symbolism

Characters/Personas

Everything is Connected

Fiction > Poetry

Characters, Language

Fiction > Drama

Characters, Plot

Poetry > Drama

Language, Oral