"Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction." ~John F. Kennedy
Color Marking
Overview: Color Marking is an analytical tool that uses color pencils or highlighters to point out important information in literature, music or poetry. It is used to help readers better understand these works by isolating elements and techniques into categories, then determining how these devices individually and collectively impact the story. Highlighting with colors makes it easy to identify patterns. In turn, identifying these patterns can improve your comprehension and analysis of a text's language, author's purpose and style, and the use of literary devices.
It's a very simply technique to use.
Tools
You will need a packet of colored highlighters, colored pens or colored pencils. You will decide on and use the same color each time for the same piece of information.
Let's Get Started!
1. Create a color key (or legend) for each color that you designate for each literary tool you intend to use.
2. Read or listen to the piece at least once before you begin.
3. As you are re-reading and analyzing literature, music or poetry, use a color each to identify:
4. After color marking, write text evidence of the examples you color mark. Then, provide a brief, but impactful explanation of the conclusions you drew. For example:
NOTES:
Make your color marking specific, focusing on individual words or groups of words rather than entire passages (sentences or groups of sentences). It is important that you create a color-key (legend) to help you remember what color you assign to whatever literary tool you're analyzing. For example:
When you have finished, you should be able to answer questions about the following:
See the examples below. (Used with permission by Jan Adkins.)
It's a very simply technique to use.
Tools
You will need a packet of colored highlighters, colored pens or colored pencils. You will decide on and use the same color each time for the same piece of information.
Let's Get Started!
1. Create a color key (or legend) for each color that you designate for each literary tool you intend to use.
2. Read or listen to the piece at least once before you begin.
3. As you are re-reading and analyzing literature, music or poetry, use a color each to identify:
- What patterns begin to emerge: image, text, style, syntax
- Do you notice any motifs and are they significant to the literature
- Architectural patterns (shapes, forms, structure)
- Literary Devices: Techniques and Elements
- Diction: unique dialogue and/or dialect that's repeated or stand out
- What's the POV (point of view) and does it change
- Can you identify the conflict? (Internal or external?)
- What do you notice about dialogue and characterization?
- **Other patterns you identify**
4. After color marking, write text evidence of the examples you color mark. Then, provide a brief, but impactful explanation of the conclusions you drew. For example:
- You discover that the author uses round images, words, etc.
- Write the excerpt from the book that proves your theory
- Provide a brief explanation that justifies your answer
- Put a sticky note on the page and mark "Read this one" on your best entries
NOTES:
Make your color marking specific, focusing on individual words or groups of words rather than entire passages (sentences or groups of sentences). It is important that you create a color-key (legend) to help you remember what color you assign to whatever literary tool you're analyzing. For example:
- Yellow: Motif/Symbol
- Pink: Patterns of smells, color, tastes, textures or sounds, etc.
- Blue: Literary Techniques
- Green: Repetitive shapes, forms, structure
- Orange: Diction
When you have finished, you should be able to answer questions about the following:
- Is one color predominant? Why?
- Is there a logical progression of images, image patterns, and/or motifs from one type to another? Is the progression illogical? Why?
- How do the images, image patterns, and motifs reinforce and/or illustrate the content of
- the passage? In other words, what is the relationship of the scene to the images, image patterns, and motifs used to describe it?
- Is a specific tone or mood created by the color-marked material?
- Is a character's personality, habits or nuances revealed by the patterns identified?
- What impact do these patterns have on the story line?
- Do the color marked patterns help you articulate the author's purpose?
- What does the pattern of language reveal about the author's style?
- How do the patterns reveal the theme of the text?
- How does the imagery reinforce the content?
See the examples below. (Used with permission by Jan Adkins.)
