ANNOTATIONS FOR HONORS SUMMER READING
If you have purchased your own book, you may mark it up with highlighting, underlining, and notes in the margin. If you are borrowing a copy, your annotations should be listed on other paper. As you are reading, you may want to mark instances of the following topics with post-it notes so that it will not disturb your flow of reading and go back and list them later. Alternately, you may want to create nine sheets of paper where you can list examples as you find them. The first bullet under each category below is for those who have their own books; the second, for those who do not. Refer to the rubric on the reverse for how your annotations will be graded.Work should be done in pen; pencil will not be accepted.
Things go be aware of:
· Every novel on the summer reading list was carefully chosen for its use of thecategories you are asked to annotate, so it is not excuse that a category is not in a particular novel. Always try to attempt every category or sub-category to avoid deductions.
· I gave you credit for what you did, and, if every category was covered, I did not take off for anything you did not do. I did, however, make note of things (as a tip) that others might have found.
· There may be instances where I noted on the rubric something you marked is wrong, but it was just to bring it to your attention, not to take off for it.
· Follow ALL directions in the categories.
· Some annotations were difficult because colors in the key were closely related or too light to show up in the text.
· Questions written on your rubric are not rhetorical. If I wrote, “Did I overlook this?” for a particular category, I want an answer, especially if I over looked something you did.
· All categories should run throughout the text. I made a note if your coverage was sparse. If you remove your coverage of a certain category or sub-category, is what is left in the text annotations still complete? (Ex: if you remove your imagery notes, are you still covering author’s craft consistently? OR If you remove author’s craft or figurative language, are the remaining annotations still covered consistently?)
· Annotations should be specific to particular passages and do not fall into a specific page “count.” Some of you are marking a category and then counting 15-16 pages to find another one. Looking ahead, you should be basing your annotations on the passages that have the most value, possibly with several things in it. Counting pages may keep you consistent but it may cause you to miss a key passage as well because it doesn’t land in the “count.”
· If you color-code your annotations, you need a KEY or at the very least LABEL.
· Make sure you have the right English level. Some of you did the English 3 categories.
· Summaries of categories are not annotations. You still need mark specific quotes on pages.
q Characters Madison did a great job with this!
· This category is specific in what should be included for each character: page, description, motivation, method of characterization, protagonist, antagonist, and conflict. It does not say to include only major characters. It specifically states a list should be kept in the book, not highlighted. A running list is kept inside front cover with character, page number first introduced, and a brief description that includes the character’s motivation; identify the method of characterization as direct or indirect, and identify the novel’s protagonist and antagonist; also, identify the type(s) of conflict(s)in which the character is involved (man vs. man, man vs. nature, man vs. society, man vs. self) If you listed any of these in your description, it should also be a guide for what to label in the conflict section. Some people listed many types of conflict here but only labeled man vs. man in the conflicts section.
· Listed same as above but on separate paper
Things to learn: there is usually only one protagonist; adjectives, alone, do not make a description; motivation alone does not make a description
q Vocabulary MyKenna did a great job with this!
· If you did not highlight any vocabulary because you know it all, I will be more than glad to give you a quiz on vocabulary from the text. If you make a 100 on it, then I will give you credit for the category. Highlight (make sure to have a key) or underline words you are unsure of, writing in the margin the definition Some people did not do this once you’ve looked it up, indicating any suffixes, idioms, euphemisms, and connotations. Only a few people did this!
· List words you’re unsure of with page number, pertinent portion of identifying quote & definition
q Questions
· In the margin write questions regarding character’s motivation (Why is he doing this?), predictions (What will happen as a result of this?), or others examples of exploration or uncertainty. Including in these annotations should be difficult passages (passages you had to reread to understand them or passages you still don’t understand and have questions about.) This should read as a dialogue between you, the characters, narrator, the author.
· List questions as stated above with page numbers & paragraph numbers
Things to Learn: Here is an example of a question that digs deeper into the text: If she loves him, why does she avoid him? Also, you do not have to answer the questions. Typically if you can answer them, then it is a comprehension question anyway (such as Will something happen? Or What will happen next?). Questions that dig deeper often don’t have a “quick” answer—consider the why or how. Also, if you can look up a definition (such as “what is this word?), then it should be in the vocabulary category.
q Examples of Author’s Craft (Point of View, Diction, Syntax, Tone, Imagery, Flashback, Foreshadowing, Irony) These are on every page (and in every sentence if you think about it). This category should NOT have been the same color as Figurative Language.
· Highlight or underline & label in margin
· List with page number and pertinent portion of identifying quote
Things to learn: Everything with a period is a sentence, so marking it “syntax” is not enough. What kind of sentence is it? Why is it important? Likewise, every word is diction. What is important is what kind of word it is or why an author chose that particular word. Ex: Is the diction jargon? Slang? Connotation?. Local color? Vernacular? Tone: means attitude. What kind of attitude is it? Critical? Angry? Joyful? Creepy? Jealous?
q Examples of Figurative Language (Extended Metaphor, Oxymoron, Paradox, Pun, Personification, Hyperbole, Onomatopoeia, and Paradox)Every page should have more than one of these on it. NOTICE SIMILE IS NOT LISTED. If most of the examples annotated were similes, it cost you. This category should not have been the same color as Author’s Craft.
· Highlight or underline & label in margin
· List with page number and pertinent portion of identifying quote
q Connections Anna O. did a great with this!
· Highlight (make sure to have a key) & write in margin the connection you’ve made between the text and your personal life, other things you have read, seen in a movie or on t.v., heard of in a song, or have experienced through any other personal knowledge
· List with page number, pertinent portion of identifying quote & the connection you’ve made
You need to write/explajn the connection in the margin. Connections are personal and I don’t know why you have highlighted it unless you tell me. Connections like “I saw this in a movie;” “That happened to me…” or “this sounds like something I did” are a little vague. Try to be specific and name a title or specific reference. Looking ahead to next year, your connections should be academic and reflective—connect to history, things you’ve read, movies, songs, current events; not to what you like, don’t like, or had for dinner last night. There is a level of difference between “me too” and “Reminds of Antigone’s pride.”
q Symbols
· Highlight (make sure to have a key) each instance you notice & discuss the meaning at some point, or underline, labeling the example as symbol & discuss the meaning at some point Your meaning may change as you progress through the novel and your understanding of the novel broadens. This is okay, and should be noted in the margin. You may mark something as a potential symbol early in your reading of the novel, and then discover later that it is not a symbol or that it means something different from your initial interpretation.
· List with page number, pertinent portion of identifying quote & discussion of meaning
Things to learn: A symbol is a concrete object, or even a person or event that represents an abstract thought/idea. Pride is not a symbol, but a car could be a symbol for pride. Symbols will begin as early as page one and run throughout the novel. Some symbols will be repeated throughout the book.
q Theme Tyler G. did a great job with this!
· Highlight (make sure to have a key) or underline each instance you notice a passage that pertains to a theme or themes of the book, labeling the passage according to theme & discuss the meaning at some point. Include passages to support how character, plot, conflict, and author’s craft help develop the theme. It is okay to identify a possible theme and realize later that your initial interpretation does not develop into the theme as you had anticipated.
· List with page number, pertinent portion of identifying quote & theme
Passages that develop the theme begin on page one and run throughout the novel. One word does not make a theme. A theme is a sentence that explains the lesson a novel teaches about a motif. The theme should be heavily annotated toward the end of the novel, since the resolution is needed to explain what has been learned. One word adjectives are not themes.
A Theme is stated in a sentence with a motif and lesson learned.
q Conflict (Rising Action of Plot) Madison M. and Riley G. did a great job with this!
o Highlight (make sure to have a key) or underline each instance you notice a passage that identifies a conflict, labeling the passage according to the type of conflict (man vs. man, man vs. nature, man vs. society, man vs. self, man vs. the supernatural) Hint: if you listed one of these in your character list, then you should definitely make sure it is covered here.
o List with page number, pertinent portion of identifying quote and the type of conflict
RUBRIC FOR ANNOTATIONS FOR INDEPENDENT READING
100to
93 / You are an expert on this text! / ± Complete.All the topics are covered fully,(This is key. There is no way you could make an A without including everything.)and all passages important to the full understanding of the story have been duly noted.
± Discriminating.To highlight everything is to highlight nothing. The highlighting (or underlining or listing) is NOT excessive and indiscriminate.Some of you highlighted entire paragraphs and wrote “details” without a clear purpose.
± Comprehension.The text has NOT been taken at face value.I am concerned that you thought beyond the text, not that you got a “right” answer. People who came up with their own ideas were rewarded in this category.The annotations reveal an understanding of the nuances and complexities of the text.This means more than one theme and symbols, Author’s Craft and Figurative Language have been given thought beyond the obvious.
± Diverse.The interpretations are varied, not relying on the repetition of a few of the same insights over and over.
92
to
85 / You comprehend the text but have missed some deeper meanings. / ± Has the completeness of the A level above.
± What differentiates the A level from the B level is the depth of comprehension. Here, the comprehension lacks the understanding of the complexities of the text.
± What also differentiates the A level from the B level is the originality of the insights.Students in the A section have more than what is in Spark Notes. The B level relies on insights that are either too obvious or too shallow. While at the A level, you get the idea that there is nothing more to be seen, at the B level, you see slight room for improvement.
The biggest difference between the A and B are found in the level of symbols, themes, and Author’s Craft.
84
to
77 / You show a limited understanding of the text, but you also have some misinterpretations. / ± The selection and density of annotations suggests that the annotator recognized the central, important details of the story—the primary who, what, when, where, how, why, etc.—but the subtle passages that relate to deeper meaning have escaped attention.
± There are instances where thehighlighting has become excessiveand/or indiscriminate—lacking a clear purpose behind them.This is for students who have highlighted entire paragraphs without an explanation of the necessity of the entire paragraph. OR you rely on the same literary device for the majority of the annotations for that category. This is deceptive because it looks like you highlighted many literary devices but a closer looks reveals that many of them go back to one specific device over and over.
± The pattern of annotations creates the impression that the reader’s comprehension does not go beyond the more overt detail.