Strategies for Reading Notes

1. Strategies for Reading Notes As you read, take notes, make comments, write questions, and explanations for each of the six strategies here to help you focus your reading.

2. Strategies for Reading Predict –Try to figure out what will happen next and how the selection might end. Then read on to see how accurate your guesses were. What do you think will happen next and/or later? Visualize – Picture the story as a movie scene. Visualize characters, events, and setting to help you understand what’s happening. When you read nonfiction, pay attention to the images that form in your mind as you read. Which actors would you cast in the character roles? Where have you been (or seen on television) that you might shoot the film version of this story?

3. Strategies for Reading Connect– Compare story to your experiences. Connect personally with what you’re reading. Think of similarities between the descriptions in the selection and what you have personally experienced, heard about, and read about. What does the story or character(s) remind you of in your experience? Question – Ask why and how about plot & characters. Question what happens while you read. Searching for reasons behind events and characters’ feelings can help you feel closer to what you are reading. “Why” and “How” questions will ensure you are focusing on analyzing, not just explaining or reiterating.

4. Strategies for Reading Clarify – Review, reread; answer your own questions. Stop occasionally to review what you understand, and expect to have your understanding change and develop as you read on. Reread and use resources to help you clarify your understanding. Also watch for answers to questions you had earlier. Evaluate – Form your own opinions and explain WHY you think/feel what you think/feel. Form opinions about what you read, both while you’re reading and after you’ve finished. Develop your own ideas about characters and events. What is your opinion of the character(s)’ decisions, of the ending, etc.?

5. PRACTICE: Answer the following questions about the photo. Predict– What do you think will happen next or later in his and/or her life? Visualize – Who might you cast in a movie about these two? Connect – What does this remind you of from your life? Question – Pose a question about the photo. Clarify–What might you say is likely the answer to your question? Do some research to find the actual answer if you can. Evaluate – What is your opinion of this picture? Why?

6. PRACTICE: “The Interlopers” SFR Notes Answer the following questions as you read “The Interlopers” Which actors would you cast in the two roles? What do you think will happen next? (answer after reading only half of the story) What does this situation remind you of? What is your opinion of the story’s ending? Pose a “Why” or “How” question for discussion. Answer your question, using common sense.

7. PRACTICE: “The Interlopers” Cornell Notes Arrange your answers to the 6 “The Interlopers” SFR Notes questions into Cornell Notes, as follows: Key Points are direct quotes, paraphrases, and/or other important details that warrant notation and comment. Notes About Key Points are YOUR comments, observations, questions, elaborations, etc. Use SFR notes to complete this column. The Summary is NOT a summary of the story or article, but a summary of what YOU have written HERE (“This information shows…”).

8. ASSESSMENT: “Harrison Bergeron” SFR Notes • Create Cornell Notes for the story as you read. • Each of the six Strategies for Reading must be represented in your notes • (Predict, Visualize, Connect, • Question, Clarify, Evaluate). • Remember, write SFR notes • your “Notes” section and • use direct quotes and • paraphrases for “Key Points.” • Cite page numbers! • Watch grammar, usage, etc.!