Annotations

1. Annotations

2. Reading with Purpose • The goal of annotating should not be to merely identify information of assignments. • The purpose should be to engage the material. Finding both needed information and gaining further insight into the book. • Asking questions and writing reactions helps the reader to remember and easily identify parts of the story at a later time.

3. What not to do – • Do not use a highlighter - highlighting without addition annotation only makes your book confusing and difficult to locate key information • Do not mark long sections of text – Large volumes of text does not help you locate specific passages and takes away from your ability to contribute to a conversation as you have to reread. • Do not mark the obvious – Isn’t it obvious?

4. But DO this - • Use pencils, pens, or colored pens • Use CODE – Using a ! to emphasize an important point or “T” to point out themes, makes the process quicker and it will be easier to locate later. • Write questions in the margins • Circle unfamiliar words – Understanding terms can change how you look at the text. • Making personal comments in the margins – They might help you remember what you were thinking when you first read it. • Condense ideas – Write the main point of a section down with a couple word in the margin.

5. Annotations to Conversation • In class – Annotations are to help you to quickly find passages and YOUR thoughts about the book. This will allow you to partake in better class discussion. • For projects and tests – It is easy to forget all the passages that you might find in your novel that could help you with projects and the test. Annotation helps save time and remember the novel when studying. • This is also true for later in life when doing projects for work.