Annotations and Taking Notes
Annotating a text is all about slowing down to really understand the material; it forces you to take the text apart and digest it into consumable pieces. Plan accordingly to give yourself the time and space to breakdown the text.
While it might go against everything you've been taught up until now, the easiest way to make notes while reading is to write directly on the text. Yes, this includes books. (But still not library books. Those don’t belong to you. Respect the property of others' by not defacing them.) If you feel uncomfortable writing in a book, invest in some sticky notes; they are a great way to keep track of your thoughts while not scribbling on the text itself. Sticky notes also come in a wide variety of shapes and colors that can add a bit of personality to note-taking.
Below are a few things you might want to have on hand/keep in mind when annotating:
Supple List (Optional)
Sticky Notes
Post-It Flags
Highlighters (assorted colors)
Pens (assorted colors)
Pencil
Notebook/Paper
Chart Key (Optional)
Mark sentences or passages that are confusing with a question mark
Bracket information you might want to get clarification on in class or from the professor
Circle words that are new to you and need to be looked up. (Don’t be afraid to pull out your phone for a quick Google search.)
Highlight or underline passages you think are important. (If you want, you can use different colors for different pieces of information.)
Marginal Notations
(These could also be taken on a separate piece of paper or in a notebook.)
Write down if something:
Reminds you of a different text
Interests, impresses, surprises, disturbs, confuses etc.
Is historically significant or references a specific date
Is a literary device or significant to the author’s use of language
The important thing to remember is that these are your personal notes to help you decipher what information you might utilize when writing your essay. You can organize them any way you see fit; these notes are for you.
Additional Resources
Reading Actively: How to Annotate a Text
How to Annotate Text While Reading
Katie Cranfill’s Annotating Text video
Annotation Apps
7 of the best apps for annotating pdfs from Educator's Technology
Perkins e-Learning's Using an Annotation App in the Classroom: Low Vision Students
