Close Reading by Annotating Text Can Highlighters Really Promote Reading and Writing?

What is close reading? The thoughtful, disciplined reading of text. Also called active reading, critical reading, and others.

Sheridan Blau teaches in the departments of English and education at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he also directs the South Coast Writing Project. His believes that, “Over-instruction or giving predigested interpretations to students results in a limited conception of what competent readers go through to produce meanings from what they read. Most student readers function largely as welfare recipients in the economy of literary and other academic interpretation and instruction. We want to give students the experience of successfully interpreting difficult text, and liberate students from interpretive welfare.” “Highlighting for Understanding of Complex Text” Judy Willis, M.D, M.Ed., Teacher: Santa Barbara Middle School

What is annotating text? Annotating text is the act of taking notes directly on the text you are studying. The notes can be underlining, circling, adding notes in the margin, or even adding symbols.

Annotating Supports Writing Lesson Outline: O Find an article that is content and reading-level appropriate. O Define an annotating protocol for the article. O Have students fill out an anticipation guide. O Have students read the article and mark it according to the protocol. O Have groups design a Collaborative Poster (15 min.). O Have a Gallery Walk to view posters and write any details that you missed during the reading (3 min.). O Begin draft of one-pager.

Your Turn Time to annotate an article on your own.

Works Cited Zywica, Jolene & Gomez, Kimberley. (2008) Annotating to support learning in the content areas: teaching and learning science. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 52(2), pp Porter-O’Donnell, Carol. (2004) Beyond the yellow highlighter: teaching annotation skills to improve reading comprehension. English Journal, 93(5), pp Woolston, Chris. (2012) Sports drinks role often overplayed. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved from Willis, Judy. (2005) Highlighting for understanding of complex text. Retrieved from 9/index.htmlhttp://