How to read your text

Do you have a text that your teachers have asked you to read over the holidays? Do you try to read it and end up even more confused as to what’s going on? Do you want to improve your analytical reading skills?

Well…. look no further because we are about to deep dive into ‘how to read your text.’

When I use the word ‘read’ I mean more than just look at words on the paper, or watch the cinematic scenes on a screen. ‘Reading’ in this case means preparation, analysis, synthesis, questioning, annotating and commenting to name a few.

This approach is effortful and very intentional. It won’t be for everyone but for those wanting to go deep into a text and maximise their analysis of a text, this approach is for you.

Grab your text, grab your cat and let’s get to reading

Will Barnett, Woman Reading, 1970.

Important to note

You will be taking notes throughout this whole process, always remember to keep your notes concise and use your own words because a 100 page document of ‘copy and paste’ probably won’t be looked at or digestible for ‘future you’ to come back to.

Step 1: The ‘Recon’

This is where you do all your background checks and your research about the text. Find out the broad pieces of information about it that will help you understand the text better. No need to go into a huge amount of detail just yet. These are the things to look out for and take notes on:

• Overall plot

  • You do not need to know the plot in detail, just the broad arch of the text, beginning middle and end.

• Author/ Director

  • Who created this text? What are they saying about their work? Is there anything in their experiences of life that informed the text?

• Context of the text

  • Think historical and social context - who was this text intended for? If it was made a long time ago, think about the society who would have received this work? Are there any significant events that would have influenced this text?

• Unique or unfamiliar features

  • Are there elements of this text that are quite unique? Or are there elements that are at the core of the text that you are not quite familiar with? (e.g. Magical Realism in ‘Flames’) Research these to make sure you understand the elements and their purpose.

Step 2: The ‘Prioritisation’

Now that you have done your recon work, it is time to decide which areas of your text to focus on. Ideally we analyse everything, in reality, most people in your shoes are not able to or don’t have the time to so let’s be a little picky in what we focus on. These are the things to ask yourself and research:

• Main Characters

  • Who are the main characters and how are they connected to one another?

• Key Themes

  • What are the major themes in this text? Don’t stress if you don’t understand them yet, just be aware of them.

• Text Structures

  • What are some of the key text structures in your text (make sure you also find out what they look like and what they mean)?

Step 3: The ‘Pre Game’

This is when we get ourselves ready for the ‘show’ otherwise known as the actual reading of the text.

• Tidy up your notes

• Make sure your notes make sense to you now and edit them if you think ‘future’ you wouldn’t know what ‘present’ you meant

• Write out chapters/ chapter titles (or whatever divisions your text uses)

• Get your highlighters, your pens, your sticky notes, your tabs etc. ready!!!

Step 4: The ‘Show’

Now we start reading and for each chapter (or section) look out for, annotate and note in your doc the following:

• Chapter summary

  • This is a lifesaver to use when you just need a little refresh that is more detailed than a plot summary. Keep it concise and in enough description that you will know what you mean at a later point

• Analytical thoughts on chapter

  • Thinks about what you are thinking about while reading it. Note down what is standing out to you about it. Did anything surprising happen? Did a character do something unexpected? What do you think the point of this chapter or scene was?

• The stage of development

  • For the main characters, the plot, the setting etc.

    • Where is it at? How does it differ from what it started like? How does it add to our current understanding of the text?

• Text Structures

  • Did any literary devices stand out to you? What was its function? What was the POV of this section? How did it contribute to our understanding of the text?

• Key quotes

  • You can copy larger chunks because of context but differentiate the smaller aspects that you can easily embed in your writing.

  • Note the page number also (trust me unless you are reading digitally, the pain of flicking through for one quote that you semi remember is annoying)

• Themes

  • How did the themes progress in this section? Which themes were present?

Step 5: The ‘Debrief’

You have now finished the text, congratulations! The work is not done yet - sorry! Now is where you sit with the text, mull it over in your mind, sit with your feelings and thoughts for it.

After a little bit of time, a day, a couple of days etc gather your thoughts and write your debrief:

• Final thoughts on themes

• What are your thoughts on the key messages of the text?

• What are your thoughts on the character development?

• Which feelings are you left with now that it is done?

• What would you be thinking if you were a part of the original, intended audience etc?

• Any other analytical conclusions