Synthesis of Course Material #2 - Close Reading and Annotation

We started the year learning about close reading and I would say it's been one of the most important parts of the class so far. We started out slow, learning about DIDLS - detail, imagery, diction, language, and syntax - and learning what each part meant. We did a lot of activities to help us get the hang of each of them. The packets weren't the most interesting thing we've done but they were probably one of the most helpful. The hardest to get the hang of was syntax. We read bits of Virginia Tufte's Syntax as Style, which helped us a lot and now I think the way that author's use syntax to emphasize a point or draw our attention to something is incredibly fascinating. Applying these techniques to the text was difficult but with practice we got the hang of it. Once we understood close reading, we could start annotating texts. We started with Albee's The American Dream, annotating mostly in groups to help each other out. It was confusing at first but now, it makes all the difference in recognizing certain techniques and effects and understanding the author's meaning. Even more helpful than annotation, though, in understanding a text, is discussing it with other people. As much as I can notice in the text when I annotate, other people catch things that I miss and when we put our observations together we get a clearer understanding.