Notice Note Following the signposts for greater understanding

Notice & Note Following the signposts for greater understanding

What does each signpost mean? Why are these signposts used?

Authors provide signposts, too! • For the same reason---to help you find your way as you read. • We are going to learn about 6 signposts authors provide and what we can learn from each of them.

ts & s a r t Con ons i t c i d a Contr “AHA ent m o ”M s n o i t s h Que Toug er s i W f the so d r o W in a g A & n i a g A or m e M t n e m y Mo Signposts These “markers” can help guide you along the path to understanding as you read fiction. When you notice them, and take note!

Contrasts & Contradiction s Stop and Notice and Note When you’re reading and a character says or does something that’s opposite (contradicts) what he has been saying or doing all along, you should stop and ask yourself: “Why is the character doing that? ” The answers could help you make a prediction or make an inference about the plot and conflict.

Contrasts & Contradiction s Example from Romeo and Juliet: “I have no joy of this contract tonight. It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden; Too like the lightning, which doth cease to be ere one can say ‘it lightens’” (2. 2. 118 -120). Did you ask yourself: “Why is the character saying that? I thought she wanted to be with Romeo? ” The answer helped you make a prediction about the plot – that their quick love may not last.

Stop and Notice and Note “AHA” Moment ! When you’re reading and suddenly a character realizes, understands, or finally figures something out, you should stop and ask yourself: “How might this change things? ” If the character figured out a problem, you probably just learned something about the conflict. If the character understood a life lesson, you probably just learned theme.

“AHA” Moment ! Example from “The Most Dangerous Game”: The moment Rainsford figured out what type of “animal” General Zaroff likes to hunt. Did you stop and ask yourself: “How might this change things? ” When the character figured out a problem, you learned something about the conflict and realized that Rainsford was about to be hunted!

Stop and Notice and Note Tough Questions ? When you’re reading and the character asks himself a really difficult question, you should stop and ask yourself: “What does this question make me wonder about? ” The answers will tell about the conflict and might give you ideas about what will happen later in the story.

Example from Of Mice and Men: Tough Questions ? George repeatedly asks himself why he allows Lennie to stay with him and why he always takes care of him. Did you stop and ask yourself: “What does this question make me wonder about? ” The answer told you that there might be a future conflict between George and Lennie and gave you ideas about what will happen later in the story.

Words of the Wiser Stop and Notice and Note When you’re reading and a character (who’s probably older and lots wiser) takes the main character aside and gives serious advice, you should stop and ask yourself: “What’s the life lesson, and how might it affect the character? Whatever the lesson is, you’ve probably found a theme for the story.

Words of the Wiser Example from Romeo and Juliet: “Wisely, and slow. They stumble that run fast” (2. 3. 94). Did you stop and ask yourself: “What’s the life lesson, and how might it affect the character? Friar Laurence is a holy man who is older and wiser, which helped you to realize that his warning for Romeo and Juliet not to rush is an important one!

Stop and Notice and Note Again and Again When you’re reading and you notice a word, phrase, object, or situation mentioned over and over, you should stop and ask yourself: “Why does this keep showing up again and again? ” The answers will tell you about theme and conflict, or they might foreshadow what will happen later.

Example from The Odyssey: Again and Again The Gods repeatedly show up throughout Odysseus’ journey. Did you stop and ask yourself: “Why do they keep showing up again and again? ” The answers told you that the Gods played an important role in the various conflicts Odysseus faced.

Stop and Notice and Note Memory Moment When you’re reading and the author interrupts the action to tell you a memory, you should stop and ask yourself: “Why might this memory be important? ” The answers will tell you about theme, conflict, or might foreshadow what will happen later in the story.

Example from Of Mice and Men: Memory Moment George tells Slim about what Lennie did to the girl in Weed. Did you stop and ask yourself: “Why might this memory be important? ” The answer foreshadowed what happened later in the story! You were able to make a prediction that Lennie might do something bad again.

What do good readers do? • Good readers are alert to the signposts that authors provide. • When they see those signposts in their reading, they STOP, take NOTICE, and make a NOTE. • Because of this, they understand what they read better, AND… • …they understand appreciate the author’s craft as a writer.