1. Annotating Text Short Stories The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
Tangerine by Edward Bloor

2. What is annotating?
It is writing in a book to show your interaction with the text.
It is ACTIVE reading.
It makes the invisible visible.
It supports understanding of text and critical thinking.

3. What is annotating? It’s having a conversation with the text.
It’s questions, comments, opinions, and ideas inspired by the text.
It represents your personal interaction with the story.
It helps you focus on required aspects of the story such as literary devices and author’s craft.

4. Annotating Techniques: COMMENTS
Writing comments in the margins—use any white space available.
Writing comments in between or within lines of the text.
FOCUS ON:
Literary devices and author’s craft
Themes
Important realizations/thoughts
Writing questions or wonderings.
Writing predictions as you read.
Recording personal connections with the story.

5. Annotating Techniques: COMMENTS
Expressing agreement or disagreement with text.
Commenting on the actions or development of a character.
Noting a realization or epiphany.
Recording discussion points to clarify with others.

6. Annotating Techniques: HIGHLIGHTING
Use this method sparingly (not a lot!)
Highlight only a few words or short phrases.
Always combine with another technique such as a comment or symbol.

7. Annotating Techniques: UNDERLINING
Use this method sparingly (not a lot!)
Underline only a few words or short phrases.
Always combine with another technique such as a comment or symbol.

8. WARNING!
Remember that highlighting or underlining full passages or pages is the same as highlighting or underlining NOTHING because you can’t tell what’s important.
Instead use [brackets] to encapsulate important passages AND combine with comments or symbols.

9. Annotating
Write your name, class period, and teacher on the inside cover.
Use a RED pen to annotate for literary devices and author’s craft.
Use a different color to annotate theme and/or unique, important realizations.

10. Annotating
Annotate multiple times while you read and be prepared to share and discuss your annotations in class.
Focus specifically on the elements of Author’s Craft to which you have been introduced.
Be aware of how author’s craft is used to create meaning and affects mood and theme.

11. TERMS REVIEW
Author’s Craft - Language and literary devices the author purposely uses to craft (or create) and enhance a story
Mood – A feeling created by the author through his/her use of words
Mood can vary from scene to scene, but often longer works (like a novel) have an overall mood as well

12. TERMS REVIEW
Theme – a message about life or human nature that can be inferred by analyzing the events, characters, and outcomes in a novel or literary work

13. Annotation Expectations
Annotation should ADD to the reading experience; it requires time and thought, but should not be too disruptive.
“A” Level Annotation
50 or more annotations by final due date
Must number annotations
Clear focus on literary devices, author’s craft, and bullying themes
Insightful annotations that go beyond simply describing the device

14. Annotation Expectations
See the rubric for exactly how you will be graded.
Final Annotations Rubric

15. Citations