A Close Reading Comprehension and Writing Strategy Annotating A Close Reading Comprehension and Writing Strategy

Why should we be annotating? We annotate to help us: Understand and learn from the text while reading. Apply our knowledge to a task after reading. To help us find information to help us answer questions. To find evidence to cite in our written responses.

How do we annotate? We chunk and number the paragraphs of the text. We underline key information and details needed to answer questions or write responses. We write short comments or summaries in the margins for each paragraph. We circle unknown vocabulary and use strategies to determine the meaning of the word. We draw a star next to information that helps us determine the main idea and central idea. We write down questions we may have about the text. We make connections to the text we reading to other texts, to ourselves, and to the world.

Annotate with a purpose! Read the questions first! Use annotation marks to find information needed for the question or task. Vocabulary questions → Circle the word and use context clues or prefixes/suffixes to determine the meaning. Literary Elements/Techniques questions (e.g., characterization, conflict, imagery, etc.) → Underline information related to the character, problem, images created by a sensory description, etc. Compare and Contrast → Underline signal words and information that makes two items similar and that makes them different. Make a note of this in the margin. Cause and Effect → Underline signal words and information that identifies what makes something happen and what actually happened as a result. Make a note of this in the margin. Problem and Solution → Underline signal words and information that identifies a conflict or issue and information that may fix this issue. Make a note of this in the margin.

Compare and Contrast Signal Words

Cause and Effect Signal Words

Problem and Solution Signal Words

Let’s Annotate! Read the short texts provided. Annotate for the specific information needed to answer questions and to complete the short answer writing task. Be sure to answer questions in complete sentences: Restate the question and provide your answer

Let’s Annotate: Question 1 What evidence does the author provide to prove that Della is upset and disappointed? Della finished her cry and attended to her cheeks with the powder rag. She stood by the window and looked out dully at a gray cat walking a gray fence in a gray backyard. Tomorrow would be Christmas Day, and she had only $1.87 with which to buy Jim a present. She had been saving every penny she could for months, with this result. Twenty dollars a week doesn't go far.

Let’s Annotate: Question 2 What were two effects of the NYC bus strike in 2013? In January 2013, the four-week school bus drivers’ strike in New York City affected many people, especially students with serious disabilities. These children weren’t able to get to school without buses. Since many disabled students could not make it to school, the contract therapists who worked with them didn’t have enough students to work with and were being sent home early. As a result, they had to scramble to make up for lost pay.

Let’s Annotate: Question 3 What are two ways that Athens and Sparta are similar? Athens and Sparta were both ancient Greek city-states who were bitter rivals. Sparta is located on the Southern coast of Greece, whereas Athens is located further north. Both city-states had a mountainous terrain in common, which served to isolate them from surrounding city-states. Geographically, these two city-states were close to one another, though they had very different governments, values, and lifestyles. Spartan and Athenian lifestyles were unique. The Athenian city-state valued education and was home to historians, scientists, mathematicians, and other great thinkers. Wealthy families had sons who were taught to read, write, and quote literature. However, Spartan life was focused on obedience and war. Young boys were trained to become warriors and were expected to enter the military at seven years of age. The role of women in Athens and Sparta were alike, in that young girls in both city-states were expected to become mothers.