Hints for Interactive Reading
If you are having trouble understanding
a complicated story, these hints should help!
1) Read summaries and character explanations (such as those found in Dickens Made Simple BEFORE you read the book, and review them at the end of each book. I know this ruins the suspense, but if you think you are going to have trouble understanding the book, this will help you enjoy it better in the long run. You can also buy SparkNotes or Cliff's Notes.
For example, go to Amazon.com and type in the book
title and notes, such as : Great Expectations Notes.
2) Take notes. Each time you come to a new character, write down the name on a card or in a notebook and the page number. If you are in an essay class, write down important quotes- or at least page numbers- as you read.
3) Write down questions that come to your mind as you read the book, or words you do not understand. The answer may come later, or you can ask someone for help.
4) Write down events that seem important to you, or symbols or metaphors that you think the author might return to. Be sure to note page numbers.
5) Write down themes as you come across them. Make sure you know beforehand what the themes are, from research on the Internet or discussion in class. Also keep track of other important literary devices.
6) After you have finished the book, reread the summaries and characters while the events of the novel are still fresh in your mind. This will help you relate events from the beginning of the book and understand how the plot progressed.
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