What is Annotation?
Annotation is not simply underlining or highlighting a text. It is a conversation you are having with the text you are reading. This involves writing notes, making comments, circling important information, and noting patterns and recurring ideas. When you are done annotating, you should be able to look back at what you've done and get a clearer picture of what a text means, and how it achieved its purpose.
Why Annotate?
Annotating is a powerful way to engage with, focus on, and remember what you read. It requires that you carefully spend time digesting a text instead of rushing your way through it like a dog eating a bowl of Pedigree. Becoming a more powerful reader has many benefits, least of all being successful in class.
How To Annotate?
There are many ways to annotate a text, so work on a system that helps you. In the "Downloads" section, you will find a handout to assist you, as well as in the AP Survival Guide. Here's a link to an article that goes more in-depth (on page 3, there's an example).
Take a look at "annotation examples" on Google, and select the Images feature; you'll discover lots of images showing you a variety of annotation styles.
Here are some basic tips:
1. Underline any passages you feel sound thematically important. These are usually very well-written, often profound-sounding statements.
2. Summarize important pieces of information in the margins.
3. Write connections to other stories, films, music, and art that the text reminds you of.
4. Note important uses of symbol, metaphor, or irony.
Lastly, you won't be able to write in every book that you get in school, so consider using Post-It notes. They are remarkably helpful and can be removed when you no longer need them. Also use a pencil, because your ideas might change or shift focus through the reading, making the ability to erase quite valuable.
Alright, time to get reading with those pencils out!
