Active Reading

1. Active Reading Annotating a Text

2. Purpose Learning Target • Understand what it means to actively read. (annotate a text) • Use the annotation skills you learn today and apply them outside of the classroom. Learning Criteria • Take good notes on how to actively read. • Practice using your active reading skills on the beginning of the short story “The Sniper.” • Use your active reading skills and apply them on a homework assignment outside of the classroom.

3. What is active reading? • Active reading is reading with a pen in your hand, it’s like “talking” back to the text!

4. What’s in it for you? • When you respond to a text by writing in the margins you will: • Become stronger readers because you will be paying more attention to what you read. • Become stronger writers because you will have great notes to look back at when you go back to write about something.

5. What’s in it for you? • Become a stronger speaker – by annotating a text you will be able to contribute intelligently to class discussions. • Become stronger quiz and test takers. Annotating a text is a great way to learn more about what you are reading. Plus you will have great notes to study from!

6. How Do I Actively Read? • To actively read you will write notes in the margins of the text as you read. (if you can’t write IN the text you can use sticky notes) • Go Slow! Pay attention to details! • Remember, annotating a text means “talking” to it. If you think of a comment or want to remember to ask a question write it down!

7. What Kinds of Notes Should I Write? • Write any questions you might have about the text. • Write any insights or connections you make or have to the text. • Underline/circle any vocabulary words you want to look up. • Underline/circle any important ideas or concepts you want to remember. • If you see any literary terms underline them and write to the side what you think they are and what you think they might mean • Always write a short summary to make sure you can remember what you have read!

8. Let’s See Some Examples! • Look at the following examples of how to actively read a text!

9. What is the Copacabana? Maybe a Place? Like in Las Vegas! “her” = 3rd Person POV “Copacabana” • Her name was Lola, she was a showgirlWith yellow feathers in her hair and a dress cut down to thereShe would merengue and do the cha-chaAnd while she tried to be a star, Tony always tended barAcross a crowded floor, they worked from 8 till 4They were young and they had each otherWho could ask for more? Setting = Bar Summary – Lola is a dancer at a bar where she is trying to rise to fame. Tony works at the bar as well. He and Lola are in love. Lola and Tony are in love

10. A Sniper is a soldier/person who kills people secretively. Setting Dublin is in Ireland The Sniper The long June Twilight faded into night. Dublin lay enveloped in darkness, but for the dim light of the moon, that shone through fleecy clouds, casting a pale light as of approaching dawn over the city street and the dark waters of the Liffey. Around the beleaguered Four Courts the heavy guns roared. Here and there through the city machine guns and rifles broke the silence of the night, spasmodically, like dogs barking on lone farms. Republicans and free Staters were waging civil war. Is the Liffey a river/Ocean/Lake I want to look this word up Simile: The guns were loud an annoying like the annoying dog barking in my neighborhood Summary = It is nighttime in Dublin, Ireland. Two sides are in a civil war. There is a lot of gunfire and chaos going on.

11. Main character is on Republican side Setting – the main character is on a rooftop On a rooftop near O’Connel Bridge, a Republican sniper lay watching. Beside him lay his rifle and over his shoulders were slung a pair of field-glasses. His face was the face of a student- thin and ascetic, but his eyes had the cold gleam of the fanatic. They were deep and thoughtful, they eyes of a man who is used to looking at death. Binoculars? I want to look this word up When I think of a student I think of somebody young This man is characterized as being intense and perhaps a killer This man has killed or seen a lot of people killed Maybe he is looking for someone?

12. Things to remember • Remember annotating a text is how YOU “talk” to the text. What you underline/highlight/circle is up to YOU. • This is a skill that takes TIME and PATIENCE • PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE • When you read something (newspaper, book, article, etc.) start annotating EVERYTHING YOU READ. This will help you get into the habit and make you a better reader writer and speaker.

13. Check for Understanding Please turn in when you are done • On a half sheet of notebook paper answer the following questions. • 1.) What is active reading? Define in your OWN words. • 2.) Where could you or will you use active reading skills? (in school? Which classes? At home?) • 3.) What do you think is the easiest part of active reading? • 4.) What do you think is the hardest part of active reading? • 5.) What are of language arts do you need to improve the most? (Reading, Writing, Speaking, etc.). How can active reading help improve those skills?

14. Homework – Due Monday • Active Reading (Annotating a Text) • Due Date: Tuesday September 2nd • Purpose: • To actively read you must be able to “talk” to a text. Annotating a text will help you to become a better reader, writer, speaker, etc. • Assignment: • Choose an article from the internet or newspaper OR you may choose a paragraph out of a book you are currently reading. Print the article from the internet, cut it out of a newspaper or, use the library copy machine to copy a page out of a book. • Use the active reading (annotating) skills you learned today in class to “talk” to the text. If you need help look back to your notes! • Come prepared to share what you read and the notes you wrote in the margin. • This will be a “homework” grade.