Annotation instructions

The purpose of annotating, also called close reading, is threefold: to create trails, to establish territory, and to notice style. When you create a trail, you are tracking the linear value of the story. When you establish territory, you are connecting your life to the literature. When you notice style, you are paying attention to the grammatical structure of the sentences and extrapolating structure you might emulate. You are going to conduct a close reading (where you create trails, establish territory, and notice style) of the novel assigned to you.

Creating Trails…

As you read your novel, keep notes in the margins of what is taking place. Make a trail so when you return to the novel later (hint…an essay due Aug. 24th & an essay we will do during the first 6-weeks), you can follow your notes. Highlight passages you find intriguing or confusing. Make notes about the characters, setting, etc.

Establishing Territory…

As you read your novel, where can you see yourself? Do you identify with a character? Astruggle? Novels that speak to us stay with us. Find places in the novel where the novel spoke to you or reminded you of something in your life. Write this in the margin.

Noticing Style…

All good authors choose their words carefully. The great ones pay attention to the length of their sentences, the way they link phrases together, and their use of advanced grammatical structure. Pay particular attention to the structure and style of the sentences the author chose to use. Consider the grammatical implications of the diction. Reflect upon how the diction and structure impacts the overall meaning of the book. Don’t forget how the author SHOWS you what’s going on versus telling you; this is where figurative language comes into play.

Annotation Styles & Strategies

As you read, you will be annotating. For most of you this will be new and awkward. This is something you will do the rest of the year in my class, the rest of your English career at PG, and most definitely in college. Annotating will be a GRADE! You will mark and make comments:

  • Patterns, motifs, and/or symbols you notice
  • Contrast in relationships
  • Characterization
  • Setting as it relates to and/or dictates themes
  • Themes
  • Quotes you find intriguing for whatever reason
  • Author’s style, including especially effective diction (word choice), figurative language, imagery, similes, allusions, etc.
  • Important plot evens
  • Questions/confusion that needs clarification in a class
  • Anything you would want to come back to later to discuss in class because it is just grabbed your attention or you feel is important

Ways to annotate:

Bracket important passages

Circle unfamiliar vocabulary, look up, and write definition in margin

Write notesin margins

Underline important ideas/details

Place asterisks* or exclamation points! next to unusual or surprising details

Highlighting- when using this strategy, a reader can often forget why they highlighted certain parts. If highlighting, you must write/indicate why you felt the need to highlight. NOTE- if you onlyuse thehighlighting strategy for your annotation, you will not receive full credit.