1. add notes to (a text or diagram) giving explanation or comment.
Annotate
anəˌtāt
verb
add notes to (a text or diagram) giving explanation or comment.

2. Purpose
The purpose of annotating is to help readers become more active and critical readers.
As readers annotate, they consider all of the ways they connect with a text.
Annotating helps students become more critical thinkers and writers.
Highlighters or pens/pencils are needed to annotate a text. However, pens/pencils are more helpful because they are easier to write notes with.

3. How to Annotate: Before Reading
Examine the title; make inferences about the text.
Examine any illustrations, including book covers.
Examine the author and time period the text was published.
All of these provide insight regarding the text’s contents.

4. How to Annotate: During Reading
Annotating during reading is the most important type of annotating
Mark the text for:
Unfamiliar vocabulary
Strong word choices/diction
Craft choices including imagery, characterization, point of view, etc.
Significant quotes
Anything that helps you better understand the author’s purpose
Write in the margins:
Questions
Connections
Summaries
Inferences
Analysis

5. How to Annotate: After Reading
Review your annotations
Add insight, conclusions, analysis
Form opinions
Determine the author’s overall purpose for writing.