Keywords and Annotation: Close Reading of a Short Story
The first time you read the short stories for this class, you will be doing what is considered passive reading—reading the story with an open mind. Perhaps you will flag things that stood out to you, or that raised questions. You may jot down unfamiliar words to look up later. Mainly, though, you read to locate main ideas that help you follow the story.
One way a reader stays connected to the main idea of the story is through keywords. Authors will purposefully use and repeat keywords throughout their writing to emphasize an important idea or concept. Repetition of a keyword may also occur through use of synonyms, such as using “sightless” or “loss of vision” as synonymous with “blind.”
Annotating keywords can help us understand the literary elements of a short story, such as plot, character, setting, diction, or theme. You were introduced to these literary terms in Week 1.
For this homework assignment, you will reread and annotate the story you chose for Week 2, Discussion 1. You will locate keywords that signal the literary elements of the short story. You should read closely and carefully, noting words or synonyms that repeatedly draw your attention to the literary elements of theme, plot, character, and setting. In a printed book, you may underline or highlight them. You may also write notes to yourself in the margins. In a PDF, you may be using the markup tools or comment features.
There is no exact, “right way” of annotating a particular story; like the writing process, the close reading process is yours to individualize. If you prefer to print out the story on paper, annotate it by hand, and then upload a picture or scan of the paper, that submission would be perfectly fine as well.
In short, by reading the story more than once and annotating it, you are engaging in active reading, which will improve your experience as a reader. You will comprehend more, remember more, react more, and possibly visualize more. The reason to annotate is to become an active reader.
Directions:
Identify three of the following literary elements in the story, and explain how you recognize them:
plot
character
setting
theme
Choose just one of the literary elements that you discussed in Question 1 and list 10 keywords in the story that relate to that element.
Annotate at least one section of the story that elucidates the literary element.
Take a screenshot (or a picture, if you’re using a print version) of your annotated section(s) of the story. Save it as a PDF or JPG, and upload it to the Assignments area of the classroom.
PROPER REFERENCING
MMLA STYLE
This assignment is due by 11:30 p.m. eastern time on the seventh day of Week 2.
Rubric Name: Week 2 Homework: Annotation of Short Story Rubric
Criteria 1
Exemplary
20 points
Proficient
18 points
Developing
16 points
Unsatisfactory
0 points
Criterion Score
Identifies and explains literary elements
Literary elements are identified with thorough and specific explanations.
Literary elements are identified but explanations could be more fully developed.
Some literary elements are identified. Explanations need to be clearer or more accurate.
Literary elements are not identified or not explained.
Score of Identifies and explains literary elements,
/ 20
Criteria 2
Exemplary
15 points
Proficient
13.5 points
Developing
12 points
Unsatisfactory
0 points
Criterion Score
Lists 10 keywords
Ten significant keywords are listed.
Ten keywords are listed but some are not significant.
Fewer than ten keywords are listed.
No keywords are listed.
Score of Lists 10 keywords,
/ 15
Criteria 3
Exemplary
15 points
Proficient
13.5 points
Developing
12 points
Unsatisfactory
0 points
Criterion Score
Annotates story
Annotated screenshot includes keywords and comments.
Annotated screenshot is missing one element.
Annotated screenshot is missing more than one element.
Annotated screenshot is not included.
Score of Annotates story,
/ 15
TotalScore of Week 2 Homework: Annotation of Short Story Rubric,
/ 50
Overall Score
Exemplary 90-100%
45 points minimum
Proficient 80-89%
40 points minimum
Developing 65-79%
32.5 points minimum
Unsatisfactory 0-64%
0 points minimum
