Text Annotation & Text Coding

Learning Target I can determine a central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or judgments. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.2 I can read non-fictional text while using text annotations to record my thoughts.

What are Annotations Annotations are a record of your thinking. If you’re thinking, make a record of it by writing down what rushed through your brain. Annotations make remembering your thoughts much easier. In fact, you don’t even have to remember what you thought -- the paper will remember for you! The act of annotating is a physical interaction with the text. Because you’re interacting with the text with both your hands and your eyes, the multisensory experience makes a much stronger imprint on your mind. Annotation is appropriate for ANY subject. It’s not just an English class skill, it’s a reading skill – and reading happens in every course. Also, “annotations” means much more than merely highlighting.  It is a dynamic way of interacting with the text. In general, annotation refers to two related things: Symbols = These are the physical interactions on the text itself. These might include highlighting, boxing and circling words/phrases, underlining, stars, arrows, question marks, numbers and bullets. Marginalia = These are the words a reader writes next to the text in the margins that record thoughts.

Appropriate Annotation IS: Questions = Our minds constantly asks questions about things we don’t understand, things we are predicting, things we are trying to make sense out of. Recording these questions while reading will help your minds automatically search for answers. Connections = The more you can connect the information you read to what you already know about yourselves, your world, or other readings, the more the passages in front of you will make sense. Interpretations = The meaning or depth of a passage may not be stated at the surface level of the text, but after thinking and reflecting, it is important that you identify the “puzzle pieces” and start putting them together. Summaries = Even just putting something into your own words helps to clarify and solidify its meaning in your mind. Writing paraphrases of information in the margins and at the end of sections/chapters helps enormously to enhance understanding. Words = Individual words often hold a great deal of meaning (Look for vocabulary words).

Appropriate Annotation IS NOT: Notes without thoughts = It’s easy to write an inane comment but not have an actual thought attached to it. Simply identifying a “simile” serves little purpose; instead, students should record a thought about why that simile is there. Personal reactions = If a student is shocked or confused, writing “Wow!” or “Boring!” doesn’t warrant taking up space. Annotations are for thoughts worth remembering. One-word comments = Like notes without thoughts, usually a one-word margin note just doesn’t depict enough thinking to justify the space it takes up. Notes without symbols or symbols without notes = It’s important to use marginalia and symbols in conjunction with one another. They tag team to bring the passage to life. Too much of anything = Too much chocolate makes you sick. The same is true with annotations: Although they are an extremely good tool, when you highlight an entire page or paraphrases every sentence, the exercise becomes self- defeating.

Example

Practice Read article “If dress code doesn’t suit teens, school district will” -Houston Chronicle, Aug. 1, 2008 Annotate while you read

Turn and Talk Get with the partner sitting across from you and have a quick discussion of this article. Compare what you’ve annotated and your thoughts connected to those underlines. Also, be sure to discuss and answer any questions you posed.

Group Share Any pair volunteer pairs to read aloud and discuss the annotations that produced particularly interesting conversations?

Text Coding

Homework Read article “Empathy for one’s fellow chimp” -Chicago Tribune, March 23, 2007 Annotate the article using text annotation and text coding. Also, please fill in your resource sheet that we created Monday that is full of strategies we can use while reading.