Chapter 12

Tips for Annotating Text

1. Pick up a pencil, a pen, and sticky notes if you need them.

2. Read everything at least twice.

The first time, read quickly to get a sense of what the text is about.

The second and subsequent times read carefully.

Mark anything that you think is the following:

A. confusing

B. interesting

C. surprising

D. important

Mark anything that is unfamiliar and keep going.

3. Begin to annotate.

A. Circle, underline, or stick on a post-it for important ideas and explain their significance.

B. Mark repetitions and other rhetorical devices

C. Circle confusing words or phrases. Define from context or dictionary, if possible.

D. Note passages that seem inconsistent

E. Note passages that generate a strong positive or negative response.

4. Write questions where you made annotations. These questions can be for the instructor to answer, for the class to discuss, for you to use in future writing assignments, or for you to keep as a reminder of what you were thinking.

5. Think about the connections between this text and other texts you have read, information from other classes, and personal experiences.

ANNOTATION HELPS THE READER BY…(1) Engaging with the text when one’s mind is wandering. (2) Gather and remember important details from the text. (3) Notice matters, synthesize new ideas, and ask questions. (4) Clarify the author’s purpose & render understanding. (5) Recall thoughts to share with others.