Reading Strategies

Authorial Choice

What is Authorial Choice?

• In all stories, authors make strategic choices in their writing
• With good writers, nothing happens by accident. They make these decisions with ALL pieces of their stories to create an intended effect on their readers
• Where can we see these strategic decisions?:
1. The structure and organization of their story
2. Effective use of literary devices - irony, flashbacks, foreshadowing, metaphors, symbolism, etc.
3. Themes and/or morals of the story
4. The implied meanings and inferences behind writing

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A. Structure and Organization (Day 1)

Key Terms

Structure: The way a story is put together

• Pay attention to how a story begins and how it progresses
• Exposition: The introductions or beginning of a story
• Rising Action: The build up events before the main conflict
• Climax: The main event. The turning point in the story.
• Falling Action: Winding down of story. When conflicts begin to resolve
• Resolution: The end of the story (not always happy)

REMEMBER: A story does not ALWAYS have to be told in this order, but these are key pieces to be aware of

Effects of Structure

What kinds of decisions can an author make about STRUCTURE?

• Plot can be told out of order to create a startling or confusing effect for the reader
• Example: A story could begin with the climax and give the reader a glimpse into a major event, and then go back to beginning
• An author could change pacing of these events. He/she may spend more time on one part of the plot they feel is more important for the reader
• Authors can use pacing techniques such as flashbacks and foreshadowing to add more meaning to the plot

B. Theme

(Day 1)

What is a THEME?

A THEME is the author’s message and/or moral behind a story

Rules for THEMES:

1. A theme can always be applied to outside world - not JUST this story
2. It should not include title or character names
3. A theme is never one word. That is a topic (see next slide)

WHY DO AUTHORS HAVE A THEME? They want their work to convey a deeper meaning or message behind it

Theme Vs Topic

• A TOPIC is a singular, general idea brought up in the text (family, love, acceptance, coming of age, etc.)
• A THEME is the author’s MESSAGE about that TOPIC
• Connects to outside world – not just the text

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• Topic: Acceptance
• Theme: A person’s acceptance of themselves is far more important than the acceptance by others.

Activity Break

Nemo Clip

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7bNhYr3ves

C. Literary Devices:

Flashback, Foreshadowing, Symbolism and Irony

(day 2)

Flashback

• An interruption of the present plot to go back in time to show the reader events that happened before the current plot
• Used to share significant events that happened at some point in the character’s life

WHY AUTHORS USE IT: Flashbacks give the reader insight and deeper understanding of a character

• Example: In A Christmas Carol the reader understands why Mr. Scrooge is so cranky after flashbacks from his troubled childhood

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Foreshadowing

Sometimes, authors give hints to events that have yet to occur in the story.

Foreshadowing is these hints and clues.

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WHY AUTHORS USE IT?: Foreshadowing creates SUSPENSE and ANTICIPATION

Activity Break

Flashback/ Foreshadowing Clip

(Skip Ahead to MINUTE 2:54 - Start with Moana)

Symbolism

Definition: Symbolism is anything that represents or stands for something other than its literal meaning� Symbols can be words, sounds, gestures, or visual images

Used to convey ideas or beliefs

Example: Literal Meaning: an organ

Symbolic Meaning: Love,

Passion, romance

How do I determine what they stand for? Strategies

1. Determine if it is universal symbol - a common symbol in literature. If it is, you should already know the meaning!
1. Ex. if the character comes across a fork in the road, it likely is likely symbolic for a big decision or change
2. Determine how the CHARACTER feels about that object. That may lead to determining the symbolic meaning.
• Ex. In V for Vendetta, the characters are terrified of receiving a rose. Traditionally, roses symbolize love and romance, but in this story, they symbolize death.
3. Look for repetition of objects and/or vivid descriptions
• A flower may not seem important at first, but if the author repeats it or goes into great detail, it could be symbolic
4. List qualities of the object and draw connections
• Anchor: heavy, it sinks, it holds things down, etc.

Irony

There are THREE types of Irony

• Verbal Irony
• Situational Irony
• Dramatic Irony

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Click Here for IRONY Notes

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D. Implications and Inferences (Day 3)

Imply vs Infer

To IMPLY means to HINT at something - this is what the AUTHOR does

• Example: A student with his hood up, earbuds in and lack of eye contact IMPLIES they want to be left alone

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To INFER means to take an educated GUESS at something - this is what the READER does (read between the lines)

• Example: If you see your mom’s purse on the table, you might INFER she’s home.

Why use Inferences?

• An author often intentionally leaves parts of their stories unclear
• This is to allow the reader to construct their own meaning in a story
• Allows the reader to be more involved in a story and putting together clue for themselves

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• Why don’t they just come right out and say it?!
• Studies show the reader understands and appreciates a text much more if they discover meaning for themselves

Activity Break