Reading Techniques and Literary Genres

Study Notes

Reading Approach

Reading can help students learn about different cultures
Inferencing, guessing, and predicting are important reading skills

Skimming

The main idea of a text can be quickly identified
Skimming is three to four times faster than regular reading
Headings, summaries, and other organizers can help with skimming

Scanning

Scanning is reading quickly to get a summary
Scanning involves moving the eyes quickly down the page to locate certain words and phrases
Dates, names, and places are commonly scanned for

Extensive Reading

Extensive reading is an approach to language learning
Also called Free Voluntary Reading
Reading material should not be too difficult for the reader

21st Century Literature

Refers to new literary works created in the last decade

Major Literary Genres

Poetry: Imaginative awareness of experience expressed through language
Drama: Composition in prose or verse representing a story involving conflict, intended to be acted on stage
Fiction: Literature created from the imagination, not presented as fact
Non-Fiction: Based on facts and the author’s opinion about a subject

21st Century Literature Genres

Illustrated Novel: Uses images to tell a story
- Examples: The Invention of Hugo Cabret and The Arrival
Digi-Fiction: Uses a combination of three media: book, movie/video, and internet website
- Examples: Skeleton Creek and Level 26
Graphic Novels: Narratives told in comic-strip formats
- Examples: Archie Comics and The Death of Captain Marvel
Manga: Japanese word for comics, used as a term for all comic books and graphic novels originally published in Japan
- Examples:
  - Shonen: (Boys) Naruto, Bleach, One Piece
  - Shojo: (Girls) Sailormoon
  - Seinen: (Men) Akira
  - Josei: (Women) Loveless, Paradise Kiss
  - Kodomo: (Children) Doraemon, Hello Kitty
Doodle Fiction: Uses doodle writing and drawings
- Examples: Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Timmy Failure
Text Talk Novel: Told almost entirely in dialogue
- Example: Vince and Kath
Chick Lit: Often lighthearted and addresses issues of modern womanhood
- Examples: The Night Before Christmas and It Started With A Kiss
Flash Fiction: Extremely brief stories that still offer plot and character development
- Examples: For Sale: baby socks, never worn and Longed for him.Got him, Shit.
- Common characteristics:
  - Brevity
  - Complete plot
  - Surprising ending
Creative Nonfiction: Uses literary techniques to tell factually accurate narratives
- Examples: 1000 Gifts and Wind, Sand, and Stars
Science Fiction: Speculative fiction dealing with imaginative concepts
- Examples: Mockingjay and Kingdom of Ash
Blog: Website containing articles called posts that are updated regularly
Hyper Poetry: Digital poetry that uses links and hypertext mark-up

Analyzing Graphic Novels

Art style
Panel composition
Color and shading
Character design
Backgrounds and settings
Symbolism and metaphors
Sequential flow

Conventional Literary Genres

Structure: Follow traditional narrative structures and established forms
Themes: Centered around classic themes like heroism, morality, and the human condition
Characterization: Clear distinction between protagonists and antagonists
Style: Adhere to specific genre conventions

Description

This quiz explores various reading strategies such as skimming, scanning, and extensive reading, as well as the concepts of 21st Century literature and major literary genres like poetry and drama. Test your understanding of how these techniques enhance comprehension and appreciation of literature.