A Powerful Reading Tool Annotating Texts A Powerful Reading Tool

Annotation is a note of any form made while reading text Annotation is a note of any form made while reading text. *It simply means to mark up a text that you are reading. “Reading with a pencil.”

Quote “I contend, quite bluntly, that marking up a book is not an act of mutilation but of love. You shouldn’t mark up a book which isn’t yours. Mortimer J. Adler

Quote “You know you have to read ‘between the lines’ … I want to persuade you to write between the lines. Unless you do, you are not likely to do the most efficient kind of reading.” Mortimer J. Adler

Quote “You just don’t know anything unless you can write it.” S. I. Hayakawa

Good Reading Background Most reading is skimmed When you need to learn, reading requires close attention Good reading is hard work Good reading makes good writing

More rationale for annotation helps teach reading as a process changes comprehension slows down the reading promotes more active reading helps improve writing

HOW DO I ANNOTATE? Good readers pay attention to their thoughts while they are reading Scientists call this being “metacognitive,” which means “thinking about our thoughts.” While reading, if we pay attention to: Questions we have Things we find strange or confusing Things we connect with Things we like We will be able to understand the text and better understand how and why we get confused.

Annotation A strategy that readers use to be metacognitive. Annotation means writing down your thoughts of what you’re reading as you read Short comments in the margins of the book/text, not long paragraphs

Ways Good Readers Respond to a text Make Connections Ask Questions Make Predictions Interpret Ideas Identify important information Draw Conclusions using Evidence Formulate Opinions Summarize Analyze the way the author writes Reflect on the Content Reflect on the Reading Process Study of the author’s craft Look for Patterns/Repetitions Write Reflections/Reactions/Comments

ANNOTATING BEFORE READING Examine the front and back covers (books) Read the title and subtitles Examine the illustrations Examine the print (bold, italics, etc.) Examine the way the text is set up (book, short story diary, dialogue, articles, etc)

DURING READING Mark in the text: ANNOTATING DURING READING Mark in the text:

During Reading continued ANNOTATING During Reading continued Write in the margins or use sticky notes: Make Connections Ask Questions Make Predictions Interpret Ideas Identify important information Draw Conclusions using Evidence Formulate Opinions Summarize Analyze the way the author writes Reflect on the Content Reflect on the Reading Process Study of the author’s craft Look for Patterns/Repetitions Write Reflections/Reactions/Comments

ANNOTATING AFTER READING Reread annotations – draw conclusions Reread introduction and conclusion – try to figure out something new Examine patterns/repetitions – determine possible meanings Determine what the title might mean

What if I can’t write in the book? You should NOT write in a book/handout borrowed from the school, library, or a friend. BUT …. You can make your marks and write your thoughts on sticky notes, and then stick it on the correct page!

No matter what type of annotation you use, remember … You are being metacognitive; you are thinking about your thoughts By keeping track of your thoughts while you read, you will have a clearer picture in your mind of what is happening in the story and who the characters are. Because annotating slows your reading down, you will discover and uncover ideas you would not have discovered otherwise. However, the time it takes to read a piece once and annotate is less than the time it take to reread it several times.

Example: Annotation in Grades 9-12 Underline the major points. Circle keywords or phrases that are confusing or unknown to you. Use a question mark (?) for questions that you have during the reading. Be sure to write your question. Use an exclamation mark (!) for things that surprise you, and briefly note what it was that caught your attention. Draw an arrow (↵) when you make a connection to something inside the text, or to an idea or experience outside the text. Briefly note your connections. Mark EX when the author provides an example. Numerate arguments, important ideas, or key details and write words or phrases that restate them.

Modeling in 9th Grade English