Read, read, and read some more. Always have a book in your hand, and read it during every spare moment: between classes, while you're on line for food, as you eat, on the bus, etc. Read some of the English classics and, if you're feeling ambitious, read poetry (especially Shakespeare). Read what other people, particularly literary critics, are saying about the books you've been reading. Compare their views, and decide where you stand. Share your opinions. When people, whether it's a teacher or a peer, ask you about a book that you're reading, explain whether you like the book or not, and why. Be specific. Instead of saying "Yeah, it's awesome," say something like "I like the way the author creates characters that seem to be polar opposites of each other..." Compare the situations you read about in books to situations in real life. What statement is the author making about society? Was he or she describing society at the time the book was written? If so, does the description still apply, and to what extent?
Belinda