Annotating Books...

I figure this is the best place to ask this on 4chan, but it still probably won't do very well.  Anyway, here goes.

I've just started taking Eng 102 over the summer because I can't avoid it any longer. Don't get me wrong, I love reading, but I'm not very good at what the the course calls "Active Reading;" constantly challenging and commenting on what the author is saying. I guess I'm a better passive reader, since I read for pleasure.

Well, the teacher highly recommends highlighting and annotating the literature to become a better active reader. I've got a vague idea on how to do this, so I've started marking a number whenever I see some imagery, irony or other literary devices I think are important and commenting on them in my notebook.

Does anybody have any further advice on doing this?

That "active reading" crap really-really sounds horrible. The whole process of percepting art is based on trust between the artist and his audience. Half the job on any work is spent on making it believable (not unquestionable, just believable, because that's all that matters), and reader only does himself a horrible, masochistic disservice in trying to undo everything that is needed for his own person in order to properly enjoy the work.

There, I'll tell you how you _properly_ read books:
1. You pick something expecting, or at least hoping, that it's a good book;
2. You read it and believe it until you just can't do that anymore;
3. Did the book end before "2"? If yes, then it was a good one, wasn't it, ole chap. No? Too bad.

Anyway; reading with sole purpose of arguing with the author is an excercise in missing the point of literature entirely, while also self-mutilatingly spoiling yourself a good story. Tell your teacher to stop fucking up your reading habits with their faggotry.

Oh, and I've got an idea: you might show or retell her this post and ask to "active read" it for you and see how well that goes.