The two charts below are guides to what you should be looking for as you read and what you should be writing in your margins:

Elements of Fiction	Author's Craft	Figurative Language
o    Theme(s) o    Conventions of tragic drama o    Character motivation o    Character flaws o    Setting/ historical period o    Important scenes/plot points o    Symbolism o    Motif(s) o    Point of view / effect o    Narrative pace / time / order of sequence of events o    Tone / mood	o    Explodes a moment o    Creates a snapshot o    Comparison o    Imagery o    Foreshadowing o    effects of word choice (diction) or sentence structure or type (syntax) o    Repetition of words, phrases, actions, events, patterns o    Contrasts / contradictions / juxtapositions / shifts	o    Metaphor / Simile o    Personification o    Asyndeton / Polysyndeton o    Allusion o    Hyperbole o    Understatement o    Alliteration for effect o    Repetition for effect o    Irony o    Imagery

Diction	Find sentences that have SPECIFIC words or phrases that stand out to you. Why does this word or phrase stand out? What are the connotations (emotional connection you have) to these words? Based on what is occurring in the text at the moment in time, why do you think the writer uses a particular word or phrase? BE SURE TO INCLUDE THE ENTIRE SENTENCE, not just the word, IN YOUR JOURNAL ENTRY. In this specific excerpt, how does the writer’s word choice impact your understanding/the meaning of the text? Why did the writer use that specific word or phrase in that context?
Figurative Language	Are there any metaphors, similes, personification, hyperboles, etc. used that add meaning to your understanding of the excerpt? What is the author trying to say by using that particular figurative language? What is the effect or impact he/she is creating with this figurative language choice? In this specific excerpt, how does the writer’s use of figurative language impact your understanding/the meaning of the text?
Symbolism	To help identify symbols, ask yourself the following questions: Are there any names of people, places or things that stick out or make references to important ideas? What concrete objects or people in the story represent more than what it actually is? What abstract idea (e.g. faith, hope, love, isolation, fear) does this object or person represent AND why do you believe this? What is the significance of this object or person being repeated in the story? Why did the author include these specific details, and what is the author trying to tell us? In this specific excerpt, how do the symbolic meanings of these items give us a deeper understanding of the story and author’s overall message?
Imagery	When analyzing imagery, identify what senses are involved. Go beyond just the simple mental image created by the passage: how did this affect the way you feel? How did the author’s details and descriptions connect you to the story? If the author had not created these images or emotions, then how would your understanding of the story have changed? In this specific excerpt, how does the writer’s use of imagery impact your understanding/the meaning of the text?
Character Development	In this specific excerpt of text, what do the character’s dialogue, thoughts, and/or actions reveal about this character? What is the character’s main function in this excerpt? What are his/her motivations, beliefs, or flaws? Based on who he/she is, what can you infer or predict about this character? In this specific excerpt, how does this character development impact your understanding/the meaning of the text?
Setting	How does the setting (time, palce, weayjer) influence the character’s motivations or behaviors? What details of the culture or time period help you understand the events of the story or the character’s actions? Is there a shift in setting? How does the shift help you understand the character’s motivations or behaviors? In this specific excerpt, how does the writer’s use of details in setting  impact your understanding/the meaning of the text?

Final Annotation Considerations: The most common complaint about annotating is that it slows down your reading. Yes, it does. That’s the point. If annotating as you read annoys you, read a chapter, then go back and annotate. Reading a text a second time is preferable anyway. Approach the works with an open mind. Let the literature inspire you and stretch your imagination.

The outside reading assignment must be read and annotated before class begins. It is perfectly okay to add to your markings after you finish the book and are working on an essay, but the whole of the job should be done in conjunction with your reading for class preparations.

Here is the rubric I will use to evaluate your annotations: