Annotations are a very helpful note-taking system. Annotations support literary analysis and careful reading. When reviewing a book or article, annotations can help you find information and strengthen your memory of relevant information. The annotation system can be customized, but you'll need to define the method before you start reading.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Marking Important Information
Step 1. Read the task guide carefully to find out its priorities
If you annotate everything you read, annotations won't help you find what you need later. Before you start reading, determine what you are looking for. If you're still in school, you can ask your teacher for a list of suggested annotations.
- Annotate the thesis and important parts of the argument in the essay clearly. Underline any evidence that you think is dubious. This will be very useful if you want to argue that the author's thesis is wrong.
- Annotations on literary works usually identify the plot, characters, and themes. However, it can also include setting, vocabulary, and figurative language.
- If you're reading just for fun, mark points that you found particularly interesting and might want to see again. For example, consider annotating a quote you like and might use later. Also, if you come across a big idea that changes your way of thinking, bookmark it so you can study it again.
Step 2. Read carefully
Effective annotations can only be made if you always read actively. Consider reading the shorter piece of paper a few times, circling the parts that were difficult for you to understand the first time you read it.
- Slowly. Read aloud or silently. Do not rush to read the text.
- You can also underline important terms or surround long phrases with square brackets.
Step 3. Mark the theme or thesis
Whatever the task, you must understand the idea of the whole text. Sections that seem to address big ideas should be clearly marked. Consider drawing a large star symbol in the margins so you can find the element.
- In essays, the thesis is usually in the first paragraph, but not always. Thesis is a summary of the main points or ideas of the essay.
- Themes are not sentences. Look for repetitions of certain ideas or significant phrases (usually at the climax of the story).
Step 4. Carry stationery with you everywhere
If you miss something important, it's hard to find it again. Yellow highlighter is great for marking because the text is still easy to read. Pencils are easy to erase if you need to correct something or return the book to its original condition when you're done.
- The pen is not recommended because it cannot be erased if you make a mistake. The condition of the book is also not intact anymore.
- If you're using a pen, consider blue. The ink is different from printed text which is black, but not as prominent as red or purple.
Step 5. Write notes in Post-It if you want to keep the book clean
If you can't bear to cross out a book or it belongs to a library or a friend, use Post-It. Write comments or annotations on the sheets, then paste them at the edges. You will find it easy again.
- Cut the Post-It paper into smaller pieces, and use it to mark terms or key words. Thus, the patch is not too much.
- Use different colors for different types of annotations. For example, use yellow for general annotations, pink for quotes, and orange for themes.
Step 6. Mark the important sections
Highlighting important areas with a marker like Yellow highlighter is a great way to make text less difficult to read. Consider another color for another piece. For example, you could use yellow for long sections, and pink for key terms.
- Most e-book readers allow you to mark up sections of text. In fact, some provide a variety of colors to mark the text.
- If there is no highlighter, enclose the section you want with square brackets. Use colored pencils or pens (eg, pink, purple, blue, red, etc.).
- If you are a visual learner, feel free to annotate artistically with pictures and then write an explanation of the pictures.
Step 7. Use different techniques to identify characters or figurative language
Use circles, squares, colors, and so on. The more techniques you use to annotate, the easier it will be for you to find specific information. For example, circle a vocabulary that is difficult to understand so you can find it again. How you use this type of annotation depends on what you're looking for in the text.
- For example, circle new vocabulary, box figures of speech, underline thematic statements, and enclose background descriptions with parentheses. Most e-readers don't provide many types of annotations, but some, like Clearview, do at least provide different types of annotations.
- You can use different colors to identify text that is relevant to a character, theme, or setting. Different colors can also be used to identify important statements about different characters.
- You can create different symbols to make it easier to identify relevant pages. For example, an asterisk at the edge or top of the page to identify the page that contains the main body of the argument, and an arrow to point to the citation you will use in the essay.
Step 8. Create a list of annotation captions
This list explains the meaning of each annotation you use. If you are annotating a printed document, write the type of annotation on the blank paper attached to the document. You can also list annotations on the front or end of the book.
For e-readers, write a note at the beginning of the text
Step 9. Try to be consistent
Try to create a method that can be used for the next task. After a few tasks, you may not need to use the list of captions again to remember their meaning.
Note that one annotation method may not work for all tasks. In this case, come up with several different methods, and use the one that best suits your needs
Step 10. Mark only the information that will be useful
Don't over-underline or mark-up text so that it's difficult to interpret. Make sure you've defined what you're looking for in the text, and limit annotations to relevant information. If everything is annotated, its effectiveness will be lost.
Try to have an introductory thesis as you read so you know what citations will be useful for the argument. This thesis may change as you read. However, prior knowledge will help you identify important material
Part 2 of 3: Taking Notes
Step 1. Write your own original idea at the edge of the page
When you find a section that might be useful, mark it with square brackets. Then, jot down important observations or ideas at the margins of the page. Be prepared to explain how the passage or quote relates to your argument or thesis.
- A common mistake when annotating is too many underscores and too few notes. Notes will help you make important connections that you can use later. If there are no notes, you may forget how important the marked section is.
- E-readers also provide the facility of taking notes, which can sometimes be exported to a computer. Most also let you search for notes by keyword. Certain types of e-readers, such as Skim, allow you to insert different types of notes in text and automatically create a bibliography with those notes.
Step 2. Make predictions as you read
Write a preview that's visible again so you can remember an estimate of the direction of the text. So, you can think about how the story or argument develops, and uncover the surprises that the author shrouded in at the beginning of the story.
- Predictions are not always necessary, especially for essays.
- Consider writing predictions on Post-It or a separate sheet of paper to leave room at the edges of the page for more important information.
Step 3. Create an index of important information
Write down the page numbers and a brief description of the important parts of the book. Group comments by relevant subject, such as themes, character changes, and figurative language that repeats itself on additional pages. For books, consider putting notes on the front page. Or, write on a separate page or word processor file.
- List important themes and tropes. This is especially useful if you are asked to do a literary analysis or write an essay. This list can be made on a separate sheet of paper or a blank page at the beginning of the book.
- As you read, note when the main character changes or develops.
- Include comments and page numbers under each theme. The more detailed the notes, the easier it will be for you to write an essay or paper and provide evidence.
Step 4. Summarize all chapters
Summarize the key points in each chapter. So, it will be easy for you to find relevant material. In addition, because you have to make a summary, you are forced to digest the reading material. Consider creating your own chapter titles. This helps you think about the main themes and events in each chapter.
- In books, you can write them in the space between chapters. For e-books, write notes at the end of the text in the chapter. Comments can also be written on separate paper or word processor files.
- You can also make a list of reflective questions to think about after reading through all the chapters so that they are easier to summarize.
Part 3 of 3: Using Annotations to Understand Difficult Text
Step 1. Write down the questions that come to your mind
When you find a section of the book that is difficult to understand or requires in-depth analysis, write your question at the margins of the page. Come back after the book is finished and see if you can answer it. Questioning text is a great way to generate an original personal opinion.
- Write on the edge of the page with a pencil or on separate paper.
- Once you find the answer, write it below the question. If it's too long, write a page or paragraph containing the answer.
Step 2. Write a definition
Circle the words that are difficult to understand. Look up the definition as soon as you have time, and write it next to it.
- If there is enough space, you can write a definition under that section. For example, textbooks usually provide several lines between paragraphs. Take advantage of the space.
- Also note the key terms. Bookmark it so you can see how it is used in a sentence.
Step 3. Record the new vocabulary
Make a list of the words that have been circled. Study before the chapter is read again. So it will be easier for you to understand the passage when you reread it.
Step 4. Number the important steps in plot or argument development
When trying to understand a process or storyline, write a number at the edge of the page. Number each part of the process you find. Then, when you look at it again, you can quickly see how things happened.
For example, if you are reading a chemistry book, number each step required to produce a chemical reaction
Tips
- Remember to erase notes with a pencil before returning the book to the library or school.
- When annotating, add your opinion and impression of a particular sentence.
