Making Meaningful Connections and Unpacking Quotations

Making Meaningful Connections

There is something in every book that we as human beings can connect to and/or appreciate. Look back through your book and think about which parts really moved, changed, or taught you something important. Think about parts that:

1.   Remind you of something or someone in your own life
2.  Make you wonder and question
3. Make you have strong emotions (love, anger, confusion, etc.) 
4. Teach you important life lessons
5. Change you
6.  Impress you with the writing style

Unpacking Meaningful Quotations

After you have chosen your meaningful quotations, practice peeling through the layers of meaning. Choose a quotation; write it down on a sheet of paper and annotate. Repeat for at least 1 more quotation. Here are some strategies to follow:

1. Make general observations: summarize what is happening in the text so far; identify general writing techniques the author is using.
2.  Look up new and powerful words. If there are certain allusions/references you don’t understand, look those up as well.
3.  Unpeel the layers and interpret for deeper meaning. What are some symbols or metaphors? What do you think the author is trying to communicate?
4.  How does it connect to you? What personal feelings, questions, and connections does the quotation inspire? What does it remind you of?
5.  How does it connect to the world? What truths does it reveal about the world?

HOMEWORK: Choose at least 2 meaningful quotations from your book club book. First, write the quotation on a blank sheet of paper and annotate. Include strategies for unpacking meaningful quotations.
Second, write a paragraph about each quotation on loose leaf or typed.