Literature Web “Cheat Sheet”
KEY WORDS: You can include…
Names of characters
Names of places
Information important to the setting, including geographical
Events important to the outcome of the story
Words you did not know
Words/phrases you feel are powerful
Words you thought were interesting or exciting
Words connected to the theme
FEELINGS: You can include…
Feelings that YOU had while reading the selection
Feelings that you think the CHARACTER felt during the story
Multiple feelings that change as you continue reading
ANY strategy you identify by the author to make a connection to the readers
throughout the story
How do you think the author wanted to make you feel while reading this
selection?
IDEAS: You can include…
BIG IDEAS in the story or poem (courage, risk, prejudice, loyalty, friendship,
etc..)
MAIN IDEAS you think are present in the story
Multiple “big ideas” based on the text and support for these ideas
What caused you to identify these ideas?
IMAGES OR SYMBOLS: You can include…
Pictures that come into your mind as you read the words in the text (imagery)
Symbols: things in the story that represent something else (examples: wedding
ring is a symbol of marriage, flags can represent our country or freedom)
Similes or metaphors that create images in your mind
STRUCTURE OF WRITING: You can include…
Important characteristics of this particular text
The genre of this selection (biography, expository text, realistic fiction, science
fiction, speech, play, etc..)
Point of view (first person or third person)
Specific devices used by the author to create complexity or uniqueness
Any dialogue or accents used by the character or narrator
Special designs such as giving unusual chapter titles, numbered chapter titles,
pictures, etc.
Figurative language, such as foreshadowing, similes, metaphors, onomatopoeia
Anything that sets this text apart from others
Stated purpose of the text (inform, explain, entertain, persuade, etc..)
Length of sentences/paragraphs
