1. Reading & Annotating Text for Better Understanding
Mapping a Passage
Reading & Annotating Text for Better Understanding

2. Step 1: Previewing the text
Look at the title of the text.
Ask yourself “What does the title tell me about this text?”
Make a prediction about the text based on personal connections or prior knowledge.
Look at any text features.
Ask yourself, “What do the subheadings, bold or italicized words, graphic aids, and captions tell me about the text?”

3. Let’s Practice Step 1
Preview the text “Noise Can Interfere with Learning to Read.”
Make sure to analyze the title and make a prediction.
Make sure to skim the text and examine the text features.
You have 2 minutes.
What did you notice as you previewed the text?

4. Step 2: Reading and Annotating
What are annotations?
Annotations are a record of your thinking.
As you read and think, make a record of it by writing down what is running through your brain ABOUT THE TEXT!!!
Why should I annotate?
Annotations make remembering your thoughts much easier.
The act of annotating is a physical interaction with the text.
When should I annotate?
Annotations are appropriate for any subject! It is not just an English class skill; it is a reading skill and a life skill!

5. Step 2: Reading and Annotating
Annotations are NOT just highlighting the entire text or making comments such as “cool,” “wow,” “I like this,” or “IDK” out to the side.
Good annotations are made up of two things:
Symbols
These might include highlighting, boxing/circling words, underlining, stars, arrows, or question marks
Writing in the Margins
These are the words you write next to the text in the margins that record your thoughts.
Refer to the example during this time.

6. Step 2: Reading and Annotating
Examples of good annotations are:
Questions
Our minds constantly ask questions about things we can’t understand. Record your questions as you read.
Connections
The more you can connect with what you read, the more it will make sense. Make personal connections or connections to other texts or media.
Inferences
The meaning of a passage may not be directly stated. It is important that you start putting the puzzle pieces together as you read. Make an educated guess!
Summaries and Paraphrases
Putting something in your own words helps to clarify it. Writing paraphrases of information at the end of paragraphs or in the margins helps your understanding.

7. Let’s Practice Step 2!
Read the first page of “Noise Can Interfere with Learning to Read” and annotate it as you go.
You must complete 5 total annotations, 3 of which must be summaries/paraphrases.
Be prepared to share your annotations with the class.
You have 10 minutes.

8. POP QUIZ! Why is it important to annotate?
True or False : I will be graded on my annotations this year.
Write 3 key facts you learned from this article.