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"Noticings" Approach to Homework


How to do “Noticings” Homework in Foundations I:

         Common Core State Standards Addressed in this Assignment:

CC.9-10.R.L.1 Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.




CC.9-10.W.1Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.


CC.9-10.W.2.b Develop the topic with well-chosen, relevant, and sufficient facts, extended definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples appropriate to the audience’s knowledge of the topic

 Directions:  When I tell you to read and take notes on a piece of literature, I do so to empower classroom discussion (=good class participation grades for you).  In order to help you remember what you’ve read, here are some prompts to focus your attention on topics that will help your class participation and also aid you in your up-coming Research Paper, which needs primary sources quotations to be successful.  It can also help you choose your research paper topic as what we "notice" is often what you relate to or are interested in. This always makes the best papers because you are interested in the topic.

         Different Ways to Notice (Don’t do them all.  Pick what you are more interested in):

1.  What words/phrases/slang puzzled you or caused you to look them up?

2.  What repetitions did you notice?  Where do they occur (record page numbers and quotes)  When an author repeats a word or phrase throughout a piece of work, they are called “motifs.”  For example, the word “crazy” and “mad man” are motifs throughout the novel Catcher in the Rye.   Why would Salinger repeat these words?  How would they hint at a theme?

3.  What point of view is used by the author?  Who is the protagonist (lead character)?  What is his tone (attitude).?  Write down specific quotes that show this and analyze them (=parsing) to explore why the author is using this tone and/or language in his/her novel.  What is going on in society that he/she might be making fun of or rebelling against?

4.  What behavior of the protagonist surprises you?   What does the protagonist do that confuses you or contradicts what you expect?  Note it with a quote and page number.  What do you think the quote means?5,  How do the flat characters help you understand different parts (multi-dimensionality) of main character?  Pick a particular character and explore via quotes and parsing how the author is using these characters to develop the main character or a theme of the novel.  

6.  What appears to be wrong with the character?  Do you see signs of perfectionism, depression, teenage angst, bi-polar disorder, PTSD, grief, or any other “diagnosis?”  Focus on one diagnosis and copy down quotes and page numbers from the novel.  This could lead to a very effective research paper.

7.  Syntax (Sentence and Paragraph structures):  Authors often use fragments, run-on's,  and other non-grammatical sentence patterns to create a certain style (=“stream of     consciousness”).  How does this work and how does it show the author’s manipulation of time, parallel plots, or other purposeful plotting of events?   Be specific.

 8.  Several symbols appear early in the book and are constantly mentioned throughout          it.  Pick one and trace its appearance and reappearances throughout the novel.  What might the symbol mean in terms of theme?

 9.  Anything that you don’t understand….anything.  And then bring it up at the         beginning of class in order to discuss it with your peers and teacher.