2nd Semester Ind Rdg

You need to choose a book.  Again, it has to be high-quality, great literature as determined by critics and scholars (in the canon, in other words).  In addition, I recommend not choosing something TOO new.  Go with something that was published at least 20 years ago, but it can be world literature, British, American, or even a play.  Eventually you'll be writing a literary research paper over this book so it is important that you choose something that you'll be able to find credible sources on (hence the "20 years old" guideline).

Very Important Guidelines for Reading this Book:

1.  Do NOT--I repeat--DO NOT read any criticism or "interpretations" of this book WHATSOEVER while you are reading.  I know many of you make use of various critical resources to help you understand what you're reading BUT for this independent reading book and the paper you will write afterward, it is SUPER important that you do not do that this time.  This will come later but you MUST NOT read any sources on this book BEFORE we begin the writing process of this paper.  So don't read stuff even after you finish the book.

2.  You SHOULD, however, take excellent notes while you read.  I'll recommend the same structure for you that I did with your summer reading--take it or leave it:

Two pages in your journal for each of these headings, left available for notes on your book:

• Characterization (development and function)
• Setting Significance
• Plot/Form/Structure
• Motifs
• Word Choice/Literary Devices

Many of you found your summer notes lacking in helpfulness.  Learn from that mistake and don't do it again. Take copious notes, carve out adequate time for reading, and include page numbers as references so you find your evidence when you get to the writing stage.

3.  Use your critical reading skills--pay attention to details, read with the spine, consider WHY the author writes the way he/she does, reread where you need to, and make note of anything significant (even if you don't know why) so you can consider it further and access it again later, and ignore what other people tell you about the book or its theme.  You are all capable of figuring out theme for yourself at this point but you have to read in a way that will allow you to do that.

4.  Write a 1-pg informal response to the book AS SOON AS YOU FINISH IT!  I cannot stress enough the importance of this timing.  Stop and reflect on what you've read, what you're thinking, what you think the author is getting at, questions you have about what it means or what the author intended by x, y, or z.  Record those thoughts before they are gone.  It is impossible to recover them a week or a month after finishing the book and those thoughts are the best resource you have for beginning your essay later on.

Your first in-class reading day is Tuesday so have your book by then if at all possible!