Empoword

Appendix B: Engaged Reading Strategies 473 2. At the top of the first page, identify the story’s point of view as fully as possible. (Who is telling the story? What kind of narration is given?) In the margins, identify any sections of text in which the narrator’s position/intrusion becomes significant. 3. Identify your story’s protagonist and highlight sections of text that supply character description or motivation , labeling them in the margins. In a different color, do the same for the antagonist(s) of the story. 4. Highlight (in a different color) sections of the text that describe the story’s setting . Remember, this can include place, time, weather, and atmosphere. Briefly discuss the significance of the setting, where appropriate. 5. With a different color, identify key uses of figurative language— metaphors , similes , and personifications —by [bracketing] that section of text and writing the appropriate term. 6. In the margins, identify two distinctive lexicons (“word themes” or kinds of vocabulary) at work in your story. Highlight (with new colors) instances of those lexicons. 7. Annotate the story with any comments or questions you have. What strikes you as interesting? Odd? Why? What makes you want to talk back? Does any part of the text remind you of something else you’ve read or seen? Why? SQ3R This is far and away the most underrated engaged reading strategy I know: the few students I’ve had who know about it swear by it. The SQ3R (or SQRRR) strategy has five steps: Before Reading: S urvey (or S kim): Get a general idea of the text to prime your brain for new information. Look over the entire text, keeping an eye out for bolded terms, section headings, the “key” thesis or argument, and other elements that jump out at you. An efficient and effective way to skim is by looking at the first and last sentences of each paragraph. While Reading: Q uestion: After a quick overview, bring yourself into curiosity mode by developing a few questions about the text. Developing questions is a good way to keep yourself engaged, and it will guide your reading as you proceed. • What do you anticipate about the ideas contained in the text? • What sort of biases or preoccupations do you think the text will reflect?