Annotating a non-literary passage
1. Begin with fundamental details → writer, title, text type, context, topic
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What information is provided about the writer?
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To what extent do the details of when and where the passage was published affect its contents?
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Expressed in as few words as possible, what is the topic?
2. Identify the purpose of the passage
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What is the passage trying to say or achieve regarding its topic?
3. Consider the target audience, whether or not it plays a significant role in the purpose
4. Identify the attitude or perspective of the writer
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How would you describe the tone? → e.g. emotional or neutral; positive or negative; appreciative or critical; light-hearted or serious
5. Consider whether or not the passage has a secondary, or even tertiary, purpose
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If so, how does this additional purpose connect to the primary purpose?
6. Return to the originally identified purpose, and elaborate or clarify as needed
7. Find specific stylistic choices, using the following guidelines
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Repetition: if a word, idea, object, or image appears multiple times, it is likely to be important
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Figurative language: if a word or phrase is not used in its literal definition, you should be able to explain its intended meaning
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Contrast: if two individuals, ideas, objects, or images are shown to be different, that difference may be significant
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Structure: an aspect of the formatting or the use of visual elements may be examined as a stylistic choice
8. Look for additional stylistic choices, aside from the above guidelines; while identifying stylistic choices, constantly remind yourself of the purpose
9. Consider whether or not the passage should be criticized, either for the ambiguity of its contents or for the ineffectiveness of its stylistic choices
10. Organize all the annotations into larger groups to form body paragraphs
11. Create a label for each body paragraph, and finalize the thesis
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