1. “How to Mark a Book”
Adler’s Strategies

2. Adler’s Key Points: Soul of book vs. body
Ownership of book – Three kinds of book owners
Soul of book vs. body
Why mark? 1. Stay awake 2. Thinking shown through writing Remember ideas
Active reading
Why writing is important – “you don’t really know something until you write it down”
Where to write
Purpose – develop a “conversation” with author

3. Front and back end papers Different speeds of reading
Adler lists 7 methods
Front and back end papers
Different speeds of reading
Lending books to others

4. 1. Underlining
Major points
Forceful statements
Label these

5. 2. Vertical Lines in Margin
To emphasize a statement.
I usually comment on these. Commentary is the most important aspect of annotation. It demonstrates YOUR INTERACTION with the text.

6. 3. Star or other doo-dad Used sparingly. Code system
To emphasize the ten or twenty important statements in a book
Or 2-3 important statements in an article (depends on article length)

7. 4. Numbers in the Margin
To indicate sequence of points the author makes in developing a single argument.
Helpful for AP Test! There are some sequencing questions.

8. 5. Numbers of other pages in margin
To indicate where else in the book or article the author makes relevant points. This ability to cross-reference is an important critical reading skill.
Helpful for AP Test! Questions may ask you to distinguish examples made of previous points.

9. 6. Circling of key words or phrases
I use this to help me determine the tone, the subject, and any shifts in thought or tone…to name a few. Again, commentary makes these markings more significant and useful.

10. 7. Writing in the margin, top, or bottom
Used to record questions or answers
Reduce a complicated passage to a simple statement
Record author’s points
I use this to note the tone of the passage.