ANNOTATION

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ANNOTATION

• Critical Reading Strategy

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Why annotate?

• How many times have you had to read something
  more than once to comprehend it? How many times
  have you found yourself reading the same line
  over and over again because you were thinking of
  something else rather than concentrating on what
  you were reading?

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• We know that to read a short story, a novel, a
  newspaper or magazine article, a chapter in a
  textbook, etc can be challenging even for
  adults.
• We also know that to be able to immediately
  understand what we read and answer questions can
  be a difficult and time consuming task at times.
• Everyone, even adults sometimes/often struggle
  with comprehension due to a lack of focus or some
  other reasons so to improve in this area we are
  going to be annotating what we read.

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Why Annotate?

• The act of annotating allows (actually forces)
  the reader to become actively involved and
  focused during the reading / learning process.
• Annotating targets multiple learning styles.
• When annotating, we are READING, THINKING, and
  WRITING at the same time.

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What exactly is an annotation?

• First of all, everyone in this room has annotated
  in one form or another. Many of you are doing it
  right now. For example, when we read our
  assigned novels and texts, when we conduct
  research for various papers we write, and when we
  study for our exams, we highlight, place stars
  next to important points, underline, and write
  little notes all over. No one really tells us we
  have to do that. It was just a strategy that we
  use to help us focus and retain what we are
  reading.

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Lets get started.

• It does not matter what you are reading, nor what
  subject area you are reading for, you should
  annotate everything.
• Ideally, you should skim through the assigned
  reading before engaging in the annotating
  process. As you skim, you must circle or
  highlight unknown words.

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STEP 2

• BLOCK by drawing a line under each paragraph from
  the left side of the paper all the way to the
  right side. Must use blue ink (or another color).
• Define all circled or highlighted words in the
  corresponding left margin.

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STEP 3

• READ QUESTIONS FIRST. You should look at the
  questions that you are being asked to answer.
  This gives you hints on what to focus on.

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Step 4

• Read the text.

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STEP 5

• READ TITLE. What does the title mean? What do
  you think the story, article, etc is about? On
  the right hand side of the title, write what you
  think this story is about. I think this story
  will be about This needs to be done in any
  color ink other than black.

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STEP 6

• Read each blocked paragraph individually, and
  complete the steps below.
• 1. UNDERLINE only the main idea of the paragraph
  in one color other than black.
• 2. WRITE a note in the right margin (block) that
  corresponds with the underlined main idea. In
  other words, write the main idea in your own
  words and / or make an inference. (TIP Ask so
  what?) If you can answer this, then you
  understand.) The margin note can even be a
  question. The goal is to build up to higher
  order thinking. Also, look for and identify any
  literary devices used. Margin notes do not
  have to be in complete sentences. Bullets are
  actually preferred.
• Remember VOCABULARY ON LEFT AND NOTES ON RIGHT.

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STEP 7

• After annotating the entire piece, read margin
  notes, and write the overall main idea at the top
  of the page. The main idea of this story was

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STEP 8

• ANSWER QUESTIONS. An annotation is never
  complete until you have answered questions about
  what you have read. Sample questions include
• Authors purpose? Main idea?
  Problem/conflict? Why is this happening?
  Solution/resolution?
• Answers must contain FACT, SUPPORT, and
  ELABORATION. In other words, you must factually
  answer the question. You must prove that is the
  answer by using support (specific details,
  blended quote or paraphrased information) from
  their reading assignment. For more advanced
  levels, you should attempt to elaborate or
  explain the connection between the factual answer
  and the support.

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Why use this strategy?

• When you are writing at the same time you are
  reading, you are going to remember it. For
  example, once you have written a to do list,
  more than likely you do not have to look at the
  list again.
• Since the passage is broken down, you are able to
  analyze what you are reading.
• When answering questions, you are able to look
  back at your margin notes to assist in answering
  rather than having to search through the entire
  passage.
• Since you are allowed to write in your LEAP and
  i-LEAP booklets, you may use this strategy to
  help increase your chances of understanding and
  answering questions correctly and in the correct
  format.
• IT WORKS!!!!!!!!

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VARIATION

• When you are annotating something from a textbook
  or a book that you may not write in, you will use
  sticky notes. Before removing them from the
  text, you will number your notes in the order
  that they wrote them. Then you will place the
  notes in order on loose-leaf and turn in.

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• Lets Annotate!!!!!