The Reduction

What is it?

A reduction is the reduced or distilled essence of a literary work. Upon completion of a work, you will individually create your own reduction, including _all the information you deem is necessary in order to fully understand the work. It is a way to condense and organize important information and thoughts regarding a particular work. It is not meant to represent all you know about a work; rather, each item is a link or spark meant to elicit further chains of thought. Your reduction will manifest how you have internalized the work.

How do I construct one?

A reduction is created on a sidle horizontal sheet of 81/2 x 11" paper. Individual selection is key to the final product-- no two reductions are alike. Organize information on the page in whatever way that makes sense to you. Your reduction may contain groups of lists of important facts and insights. You might use dashes, bullets, arrows, boxes, brackets, underlining or shading in creating a graphic organizer to highlight items and make connections. You might use acts or chapters as organizingtools. The format is open-ended and creative. You will draw on many sources: reading class discussion, other writing assignments, or working with other classmates at times. Literary terms will probably play an important role in your reduction. For example, you might include a phrase that suggests foreshadowing, a note about an object that seems to be symbolic, or specific examples of figurative language or irony and their significance. You might include a list of adjectives frequently used to describe a particular character, analysis of the setting and its effect, quotations from or about differen^t characters that reveal their motivations, a list of themes or images, or any detail that is important to understanding the work.

Why would I want to construct one?

Reductions help you organize your thoughts about a work, not only summarizing them, but synthesizing them. They thus allow fora deeper understanding and the ability to see relationships and patterns in works. They aid in seeing the work as a whole rather than just focusing on its parts. They also serve as excellent study tools, helping you to remember salient aspects of a work and emphasizing its patterns and connections.

I look for thoughtfulness, synthesis, completeness, and creativity.

Sample Student Reduction for Song of Solomon