This is one of the strategies I recieved from a recent training. I mentioned it briefly at the last networking meeting. It is simply a strategy that makes the students active readers by selecting different stylistic techniques that you want students to identify and assign a color to each.
For every reading, ask students to identify two different kinds of each and describe why they think the author used that technique to convey:
meaning
theme
tone
archetypes
fig lang
syntax
diction
pov
(other, motif)
The students actually mark up the book/reading with the different colors. It makes for good conversation/discussion in the class.
4 comments:
Interesting approach Jackie. So, if reading a passage in class, I would ask students to highlight, like, examples of imagery in yellow and other figurative language techniques in red, have them elaborate on their effect on the whole (theme, POV, tone, etc.) and then address their responses in class discussion?
That is exactly right Joel. It makes the students aware of what they are reading. The examples shown at the conference were of novels and the entire novels were filled with color. It was actually nice to see. The students made notes along the side, as well as any questions they had while reading. For a discussion, I would just ask so-and-so to give me an example of an allusion on page 54. Then go on from there.
One more quick question, Jackie. Sorry for being so dim, but are the students highlighting at home, or in class?
I think it would be interesting. Take Frankenstein for instance. I could have students look for instances of pathetic fallacy and the sublime in nature, and have them highlight them in one color. Another color could be devoted to highlighting another aspect of gothic lit. Methinks me has zie right idear.
You definitely got it! I would start it off in class, obviously. Model it for them. Then have them go home with a list of specific ideas/techniques to look for. Once they have the hang of it, have them do it on their own. I have never tried it before, just learned about it recently...so if you try it out, let me know how it goes :)
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