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How to Read Well

For the bibliophile in all of us.

  • Course Length: 2 weeks
  • Course Type: Short Course
  • Category:
    • English
    • Humanities
    • Life Skills
    • High School

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Okay, so you know how to read. But do you know how to read well?

Being a good reader is just as important as being a good writer, and we here at Shmoop think you need to be the first in order to be the second. This course will turn you from a lover of literature into a student of literature.

But don't worry: you won't lose any love along the way.

Unit Breakdown

1 How to Read Well - Baby Steps; or, The Road to Analysis

If there's one takeaway from this unit, it should be this: everything matters. From the title of the book to the way an author describes his protagonist (and everything in between), reading well means looking at a text from all angles. Once you've got the basics under your belt (what's a metaphor? how do I prep my book for reading?), you'll be ready to get to analyzing (what's that metaphor doing? why do all my marginal notes matter?). You'll dig deep into symbols and themes, titles and endings, content and form. And by the end of the unit, you'll be analyzing everything you see.

2 How to Read Well - Special Topics in Shmoopology

Now that you're an analysis pro, it's time to put those skillz into action. In this unit, you'll take a look at some specific genres: novels, short stories, drama, poetry, and bestsellers (if you can call that last one a genre—more on that later). You'll be using the tools you got in the previous unit to tackle each type of literature.


Sample Lesson - Introduction

Lesson 1.08: The Final Showdown: Summary vs. Analysis

           
                  You think this is weird?
         Try summarizing a corset. (Source)

So you've decided to try your hand at literary analysis. You write what you think is a brilliant interpretation of the end of Shakespeare's great tragedy Hamlet, thinking you're a shoo-in for an A. But then, to your utter dismay, your teacher returns your paper with a giant D on top. Not even a + for good measure.

What gives?

"I asked for a close reading," your teacher says. "You gave me a book report."

Oh.

You've just made a Classic Mistake (yes, that comes with capitals): too much summary, not enough analysis.

It's an important distinction to make. A book report might summarize, but an interpretation analyzes. Your teacher might call it an analysis, a close reading, an explication—but whatever you call it, it's about critical thinking.

Each Shmoop literature module features a section for summary and a section for analysis—but analysis is really all over the place on our guides. And it should be all over the place in your brains, too.

Sample Lesson - Reading

Reading 1.1.08: Slow Reading: Why the Tortoise Wins the Race

Before we get too deep into the analysis, we want to be sure you're ready to analyze. The first step? Pace yourself.

Ever feel like you have the attention span of a gnat? With Facebook feeds and Twitter trends, it's no wonder we want our information hot and fast. Think about it: when's the last time you actually read an online article from start to finish? Shmoop is a little embarrassed to answer that question, we won't lie.

Unfortunately—or fortunately, as the case may be—literary analysis doesn't reward skimming. It's all about quality reading, not quantity. Back in the day, Ray Bradbury worried that we'd become a "QUICK reading people". Well, it looks like he was right.

But fear not. Academics, teachers, and bibliophiles everywhere are calling for a return to slow reading. Shmoop seconds that call.

Here are a few tips to help you slow down and think about what you're reading. You don't have to do this kind of thing all the time (your friends' Tweets are best read quickly, we'd argue), but it can't hurt to try:

  • Put the kibosh on multitasking. Close your laptop. Turn off the TV (once ANTM is over, obviously). Silence your phone. Actually, put your phone in the other room. 
  • Try to read somewhere you won't be interrupted. Think peace and quiet—i.e., not the food court at the mall. 
  • Keep a running list of important characters in the front of your book. 
  • Write down all your prize-worthy observations (about form, content, confusion) in the margins.  
  • Stop after every chapter and summarize the events of the novel. In your head. Or out loud, if you like the sound of your own voice.  
  • You might also write down at least one question at the end of every chapter. Remember, questions are the bread and butter of literary analysis. 
  • Which reminds us… read with a pencil in your hand.  
  • Underline words that you don't know, and make a note to look them up later. 
  • If you have to pee, pee. Not in your pants, ideally. But holding it in can only distract you. (And yes, we're giving you advice on your bathroom habits.) 
  • Last but not least, enjoy yourself. Savor the words. Relish what your reading.

Sample Lesson - Activity

Activity 1.08a: Pass the Scalpel: How to Prep Your Text for Active Interpretation

Ready to turn yourself into a professional analyzer of literature? It's time to roll up your sleeves and get hands on with the text. We'll let the activity speak for itself.

Let's start easy. Pick a passage from a novel, poem, play—whatever you can get your hands on. If you found it online, print it out—or get your erasable computer-monitor pen. If you have the book, and it's not a loaner, grab it off the bookshelf. Now, get your trusty notebook and a sharpened pencil. (Or a quill pen and inkwell if that's how you roll.)

Read the passage for content, and get physical. Underline words you don't know. Circle phrases don't understand. You can even draw question marks for good measure.

Done? Good.

  1. Now, those words you circled? Look them up. We're big fans of Merriam-Webster's Word Central.

    After you've had some cuddle time with the dictionary, read the passage again. Now write a sentence or two that summarizes what you think the passage is about. It's okay if you're not entirely sure—just write whatever you've got in your noggin.

  2. Return to the passage and read it out loud—this is especially important if you're reading poetry. Circle any figures of speech that jump out at you. If you hear anything cool, underline it. Notice metaphors? Tag them. Repetition? Mark it. Any snags at all? Put your pen on the page.

    Looking over your notes, write a few sentences on the elements of form. How do they work with the passage's content?

Participation Only Rubric - 20 Points

OutstandingNeeds Improvement
Quality of Participation

Student did the assignment as instructed. 

(20)

Student only did part of the activity or assignment.

(10)

Sample Lesson - Activity

Activity 1.08b: Got Questions?

One way to be sure you're analyzing and not summarizing is to look at the questions you're answering. If your questions all sound eerily like "and then what happens?" you're probably on the summary track. Instead, remember to open up your questions. We may not be able to know why an 18th-century author did what they did, but we sure can try to understand the effect it has on the text.

For this activity, we just want you to come up with a list of questions. Pick a book or poem that you'd like to analyze (anything from Roald Dahl to James Joyce) and ask yourself some questions about it. No need to answer, just ask. Come up with at least 10 questions, and write 'em below.

If you're stuck, check out the Questions section of any of our guides for help.

Once you get the hang of asking the right questions, coming up with answers will be easy as pie.

Participation Only Rubric - 10 Points

OutstandingNeeds Improvement
Quality of Participation

Student did the assignment as instructed. 

(10)

Student only did part of the activity or assignment.

(5)

Sample Lesson - Activity

Activity 1.08c: Plot Summary v. Analysis

Pick one of your favorite Shmoop-featured works of literature. One whose ending you already know—we don't want any accidental spoilers here.

Let's say you chose "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." We did. First things first, read the summary of the end of the story.

We'll wait.

Now, read the analysis of the ending.

What's the difference? What makes the summary a summary and the analysis an analysis?

Really, tell us—in about 100 words. And don't forget to tell us which book you're writing about, too.

Expository Writing Rubric - 15 Points

OutstandingProficientDevelopingNeeds Improvement
Evidence / Support

All support is clearly and logically connected to the topic. Examples, evidence, and details are thorough and relevant with effective explanation.

(6)

All support about the main topic is relevant. Examples, evidence, and details are explained.

(5)

Most support is related to the topic. Examples, evidence, or details are given.

(5)

Insufficient examples, evidence, or details. Support may be irrelevant.

(4)
Content Understanding

All content is accurate and analysis is interesting and sophisticated.

(6)

All content is accurate.

(5)

May contain minor errors.

(5)

Major errors.

(4)
Style

Language is clear and interesting. Enhances presentation of information. No errors.

(3)

Language is clear and appropriate to topic. Minor spelling or grammatical errors.

(3)

Language is occasionally unclear, but meaning is generally understandable. Frequent spelling/grammar errors that do not impede comprehension.

(2)

Language use makes writing very difficult to understand. Frequent spelling or grammar errors that impede comprehension.

(2)