Reading a Story

A method for reading with comprehension

Reading a Story

Read the story at least twice.

The first time through, read to enjoy. The second time, notice details.

Reading a Story

Annotate the text. Reread the story making notes in the

margins and highlighting important passages.

Thinking about a Story

Identify the protagonist and the conflict. Whose story is being told? What does

the character desire? What stands in the character’s way?

Thinking about a Story

Consider the story’s point of view. How might the tale change if told

from a different point of view?

Thinking about a Story

Think about the setting. Does the setting play a significant

role in the story? How does the setting affect the

story’s tone?

Thinking about a Story

Notice key symbols. Not every image is a symbol—usually

symbols are recurrent persons, places, or things that seem to suggest more than their literal meaning.

Thinking about a Story

Look for the theme. Is the central meaning stated

directly? If not, how does it reveal itself?

Thinking about a Story

Think about tone and style. How would you characterize the style

of the story? Think about the sentence structure,

the diction, and organization. How do these elements contribute to the tone?