Summary vs. Analysis

Summary and analysis are essentially opposite. A summary is a basic overview of what happens in the written work, such as the main events, characters and situations within the story in the order they happened. A good summary gives the highlights of what has happened, how and to whom but does not go into the reasons for any of the events. An analysis is an explanation of what the reason, moral or lesson of the story could be. A good analysis is arguable explanation behind the story.

An example of a summary and/or an analysis could be done for any story. I will take one of my favorite children’s stories, Aladdin, as an example.

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500&ei=2J8FUaufL5DlyAGIzICADg&zoom=1&ved=1t:3588,r:1,s:0,i:88&iact=rc&dur=1154&sig=100873869281805928889&page=1&tbnh=190&tbnw=170&start=0&ndsp=22&tx=79&ty=118                                                  

 Summary:    
     Aladdin is a “street thief” that longs to be something better. Jasmine is a princess that wants to be in control of her life. They meet when Jasmine runs away and Aladdin saves her from getting her hand cut off for stealing. Jafar is the bad guy that is trying to take over the kingdom of Agraba. Jafar uses Aladdin to get a “lamp” from the Cave of Wonders, but Aladdin ends up with the lamp. The genie of the lamp gives Aladdin three wishes. Wish one was to be a prince as he has fallen in love with the princess and cannot be with her otherwise. Aladdin and Jasmine fall in love, but Jafar tries to have Aladdin killed and the genie saves him using Aladdin’s second wish. Jafar finds out about the lamp and steals it. Jafar becomes sultan and big bad sorcerer. Aladdin saves the day by tricking Jafar 
into becoming a genie. Aladdin sets the genie free.  Aladdin and Jasmine live happily ever after when the sultan changes the law so she can marry for love. 

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www.auntyanimal.me.uk/DisAladdin.htm&docid=99Xa2VUn5UGcaM&imgurl=http://www.auntyanimal.me.uk/DisAladdin.jpg&w=
480&h=640&ei=2J8FUaufL5DlyAGIzICADg&zoom=1&ved=
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 Analysis:   
     This is a story about class segregation. The severe prejudice of classes causing turmoil between two people in love that are from opposing classes. Lowly Aladdin, the thief, and Jasmine, the princess, fight to find a way to be together. In the end through many obstacles they prove that class is not what matters, but what is inside, truth, honor and courage, that count.

Intro Video

What Makes a Good Reader.

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     Nabokov believes that a good reader is someone who is both emotion and methodical and that there must be a balance between them to read anything. He explains the problems of simplifying works of literary art with too much emotion, or the problems of looking at them without any emotion at all.

     I believe that Nabokov was correct in his explanation of a    good reader, as if you put too much emotion into your reading then the small details and nuances can be missed, but if you do not connect any emotion to your reading, then you only see facts and not the subtleties that are perceived by “reading between the lines.”

     I believe that a good reader must have patience, as there are times something must be re-read, have a connection to what they are reading, be it personal, professional, or educational, and a desire to understand, even if only to a small degree, the teller of the story and what they are trying to portray.

     I consider myself a very good reader. I enjoy reading most anything. I get into the story in almost every book, article, and story that I read. I find that even when reading school books I can and do make a connection to what I am reading.

I found this article interesting and a good resource for people that have a hard time with reading. http://tinarathore84.hubpages.com/hub/readingstrategies