What I have Learned from Annotation Studio
When I read chapters five through seven of Herland, I found it to be beneficial to use the annotation studio. I have used Google Docs in the past for group annotations of passages. For me I gain a fuller reading experience in reading other people’s observations. For example, reading others’ comments on the cats’ section made me think more thoroughly about it. And the comment about Eleanor Abernathy from the Simpsons made me smile.
Also we all made annotations about Terry being annoying and close-minded.
Another thing I found interesting was the annotations concerning what may happen as the story progresses. As I read, I noticed hints of darkness within the utopia of Herland. Specifically, there is the strange aspect of some women being allowed to have children and others being forced to suppress this urge and focus on others’ children. Also the way the women of Herland keep such a close watch on the three men seems strange. Colleen was noticing some of these things as well.
When it comes to this type of communal reading, I find this format to be very helpful. With a limited amount of time in class discussion, only so many passages and subjects can be covered. So using annotations helps me to follow other students’ thoughts beyond discussion comments. Also I struggle with having the courage to make comments about the reading. Then by the time I go to say something the moment is over. While speaking up in class is important and beneficial, I find that writing annotations helps me to think through what I am reading and articulate my thoughts. The one downside of reading on annotation studio is that I love the feel of a physical book over scrolling through a document. There is something so satisfying about turning pages and seeing how far I have progressed with one glance.
Now that we have started reading, I have a better grasp on the context of this book. With Voyant I could figure out key terms and correlations, but I was missing context. Now I know about the personalities of Terry, Jeff, and the narrator within the novel. Also I have a better understanding of the women of Herland and what their personalities are like. In reading I have been able to understand the plot of the story as well as the historical context of when this book was written and published. In beginning research on making a timeline I have a better understanding of the suffragist movement and how that impacted what Charlotte Perkins Gilman wrote. With all of these additions to my knowledge my reading experience has been rich.
Voyant provided textual evidence that I would not have gained as a reader. For example I realize how much Terry is mentioned throughout the story, but I would not have known that his name is the most used word within the text. Also I have found it beneficial to read the text and look back at the trend tool. This way I can see the increase and decrease of the most popular words and relate that to the context of the story. I feel that both Voyant and annotation studio have enhanced my reading experience and provided tools of analysis that I did not know about before.
5 Comments
cmorone
Laura,
First of all, I like your use of visualizations in this post! I actually didn’t know Google had a feature to annotate – although I have a Google account, I am not the most well-rounded in it as I typically only use it for email. As you mentioned with one of your screenshots, I definitely find hints of darkness in Herland. The book, with what we’ve read of it so far, seems too simple and innocent. Such a society surely must have some evil in it, right? I just feel like something sketchy is going on in Herland which we have yet to read about. I’m really liking Annotation Studio so far as well, and hope we continue to use it throughout the semester.
laujack
I don’t think it is technically an “annotation tool” in Google, but one of my professors assigned us to type quotes from a text that stood out to us and write about them. This was in a Google Doc then after class we were assigned to go back and write comments on other’s quotes, but it’s a similar concept. She also assigned us “journal entries” where we would reflect on assigned reading and highlight specific passages. That reminds me of our blog posts in this class. I have similar feelings of Herland being too good to be true. I don’t know if it is because there are so many dystopian novels that I have read (Hunger Games, Divergent, etc.) but I can’t deny there are some strange rationalizations from the women in Herland. It will be interesting to see how that plays out in the remainder of the novel.
kcookso
It is so true when you mention that as soon as you build up the courage to comment on something in class the moment is over. I have always been more of a listener in class, I pay great attention but I would much rather listen than add my commentary on things. And when I do decide to comment then I feel like it is too late! That is something I would like to work on and I think since we have a smaller class it should be a little easier for me adjust and be more vocal.
wschmid
I’ve only used Google Docs for group projects, never annotating a book. I do know that with ebooks purchased on Google Play you can have annotations saved to Google Docs. You mention lacking courage to make comments in class. That’s usually a big problem for me. I think I’ve said more in the couple weeks so far than I have in entire semesters of some classes. I’m sure it’s because I’m comfortable with technology. If I talk too much in class throw a book at me. A small book. I think with how the men are being watched and treated that they’re only allowed to stay – or survive – because they’re going to be used in some nefarious way. I haven’t seen any real emotional bonds developing between them and the ladies, at least not that seem genuine on the women’s part.
gaellis
I agree that we all seem to have come to the conclusion that Terry is a close-minded person. I think by having this communal space to annotate and place our thoughts, it’s easier to see the similarities we all share in how we perceive the story. Like you said, I also find the theories for the future of the novel interesting. Soon enough we will be finished with Herland and now if our predictions were correct, but it’s also nice to theorize and see of your ideas match up with those everyone else has out forward. I also thought that Voyant was helpful in terms of demonstrating how often Terry came up in the text.