Need Help With Reading for English Essays? I'm Your Girl.

After doing really, really well in my AP Language class last year, I figured I would share my tips for how to successfully read and annotate books for class so you can write essays from your analytical perspective. The key is that Sparknotes is your friend to understanding what is going on in the book, but NOT a crutch for analyzing it (but I do admit it is really helpful for getting my creative juices flowing). The best stuff (symbols, motifs, themes) you'll pull out of a book to use in class are the things that come from your own viewpoint and experiences.

Things you will need:
Said book and assignment
Highlighter(s) and pen/ pencil
Color Psychology, Mood, Symbolism and Associations: Color tells a lot about a story and its characters- all you have to do is figure out if its in the negative or positive spectrum.
Sparknotes
*******Post-It Flags*******: I used a different color to mark each character's annotations and it made essay-writing a breeze (it also thoroughly impressed my teacher sophomore year). You can also use them to mark really, really important sections and scenes.
Extra Credit: How To Read Literature Like a Professor (It explains what to look for and why in books.) Here's a good, basic run-down I found!

Archetypes
Common Allusions and References

Step 1) Read up on the book's characters. Find out their names and a little bit about who they are as people and in relation to each other. This helps to prevent you from getting lost in a sea of names early on.
Step 2) Read chapter, annotating as you go along- note settings (season, place, weather), symbols, characterization, and whatever else your teacher or professor wants you to note. Try to find common threads and imagery throughout the book.
Step 3) Read the Sparknotes chapter summary to make sure you have a grasp on what actually happened versus what you think did.
Step 4) Repeat steps 2 & 3 until you've finished the book.

Sparknotes is a good tool to get a feel for the book, and a great guide for essays, but make sure to use it to form your own opinion of the essay prompt.
I hoped this helped!