Annotating Les Miserables Do you want to be able to recall a book that you read weeks or months later? The best way to do that is to be an active reader by annotating (or making notes in) a text! By annotating effectively, you can review an entire text in 30 minutes and be prepared for any assessment! Follow the instructions below for reading LES MISERABLES, your final novel of the course… Materials Needed: • • • Pencil: You need this to write on a sticky note as you read. Using a pencil is a better choice since even geniuses need to correct mistakes! A Dictionary: It is a good idea to keep a dictionary nearby in order to look up words you may not know so that you can better understand the text. Yes, this can be your phone if you have Internet access… Your Text: If possible, it is best to have your own copy of the text so that you can highlight and write in it. However, if you don’t, you need to get some sticky notes that you can use to put in the book and then take out when you return the book. Before Reading: 1. 2. Read the front and rear jackets of the book, including information about the author. This can give you a more rounded picture of the book while reading. Always read the title page, introductions, table of contents, prefaces and any notes from the author. These will help familiarize yourself with the content of the book and its origins. During Reading: Writing in the book 1. Highlight and label any and all examples of these four themes: LOVE, JUSTICE, REVOLUTION, HONOR. When you find events/examples in the book, highlight them and write in the margin which theme it is, along with any other notations, such as what kind of LOVE (romantic, family, spiritual, friendship, etc .) is present. You should have notations about at least one theme in each chapter of the book (33 chapters) 2. Highlight and label significant quotes, literary terms (such as similes, metaphors, oxymorons, ec.) references to other literary works, or confusing passages as you read. You should write something in the margin to go along with the highlighting—why that quote “spoke to you,” what literary term you are labeling, or what question you have about the passage. You should have at least one of these per chapter (33 notations). 3. At the end of each chapter, summarize the main events in the chapter in one or two sentences by writing these sentences on the last page of the chapter. There should be 33 of these. 4. In each chapter, choose at least one vocabulary word you don’t understand, highlight it, and define it in the margins. You should have a total of 33 words, one per chapter. During Reading: Using Sticky Notes 1. 2. 3. Put sticky notes in the front cover of the book labeled with each of the following themes: LOVE, JUSTICE, REVOLUTION, and HONOR. When you find examples/events in the book of these themes, write down a brief description of the event and page number where you found it. You should have multiple examples on each sticky note. Write significant quotes, literary terms, references to other literary works, or any questions you have as you read on sticky notes and put them at the top of the book. You should have at least one of these observations per chapter, for a total MINIMUM of 33 sticky notes at the top of the book. At the end of each chapter, summarize the main ideas/events in the chapter in one or two sentences. Put these sticky notes to the right of the pages. There should be 33 of these. 4. Use the inside back cover to make a list of key vocabulary words and definitions from the text. Choose words that are unique to the author/story/culture or advanced vocabulary. Put the vocabulary words on sticky notes and stick them to the inside back cover. You must have at least 33 defined words listed from the entire novel when you are done. Important tip: It can be very helpful to have different colored sticky notes to keep yourself organized. YOU MUST HAVE ALL OF YOUR NOTES STUCK IN THE BOOK IN AN ORDERLY FASHION SO THAT IT IS STILL EASY TO READ THE BOOK AND EASY TO UNDERSTAND YOUR SYSTEM. NEATNESS IS PART OF THE GRADE! After Reading: 1. After you have read the book, you may want to re-read it, or skim it again, adding to your notes and highlighting. 2. Keep all of your notes with the book (if you didn’t write in it) so that you can go back and review it. 3. You may also want to make a list of characters and descriptions for the characters to better help you remember them. 4. If there is a confusing timeline in the book, you may want to create your own timeline on paper to help you understand the sequence of events. Choose the top ten events from the book and put them in order. 5. When you are done with the book, don’t put it down for a while! Complete any assignments for it and review your notes before any tests.