Sample Annotations

General Guidelines
Annotations are short typed responses (2-3 pages) to readings from your reading list. Several annotations will be included in each packet you prepare during the semester. Annotations can take the form of critical analysis; careful stylistic imitation; or, occasionally, an attentive personal response to literary and craft aspects of the text.

When writing a critical analysis, the most common type of annotation, keep in mind that a good critical analysis must focus on proving a specific and arguable claim about the text. Mere opinion (this poem is great!) is not arguable; neither is a statement of fact (this poem is about war). In between these extremes lies the realm of arguable statement (this poem uses split point of view to convey the uncertainty of life during wartime.) If you could imagine someone saying, "I don't see that--prove it to me!" in response to your statement, you know you have an arguable statement, or thesis.

A typical critical analysis will use 3 supporting statements to back up the thesis (the poem uses a subjective point of view to convey hope; a more objective one to convey despair; and a quick intercut between the two to express times of intense chaos). Each supporting statement is in turn typically backed up by 3 direct quotes or references to the text, so that the overall shape of the annotation is like a pyramid or the roots of a tree, with 9 quotes supporting 3 statements supporting one thesis. As student Elli Meerpol points out, reading the text carefully and circling things that grab your attention, then looking for patterns, is the best way to prepare for writing a critical analysis.

If your mentor agrees, you may also use stylistic imitation for some of your annotations. For stylistic imitation, you mimic the style of the text as closely as possible. If you are imitating Henry James, copy the structure of several of his sentences exactly, verb by verb, adjective by adjective, subordinate clause by subordinate clause, until you get the hang of it, and then continue for 2-3 pages using as much Jamesian diction as possible. If you are imitating Hemingway, do the same and make sure your sentences are as short and simple as his. If you are imitating Alexander Pope, make sure your iambic pentameter scans and your couplets are end-stopped.

Don't forget to type and proofread your annotations carefully. Examples of effective annotations are available here.

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Related Links:

Program Timeline
Important dates and deadlines on the Stonecoast academic calendar.

Thesis Guidelines
University and program policies and requirements for the creative MFA thesis.

Graduation Requirements
Outline of the steps necessary to complete the final semester and graduation residency.

Concentrations
In-depth descriptions of the six possible third-semester concentrations.