Annotating Text - Nonfiction
Annotating is the system a reader uses to add notes and comments to a written text. It serves numerous purposes in helping the reader understand and make meaning out of text. Annotating nonfiction helps to:
*Pick out main ideas and summarize.
*Form questions to better comprehend what I am reading.
*Make connections to things I already know.
*Draw conclusions.
*Create ideas for additional reading.
*Give me deeper understanding.
Every reader must come up with a system that is most comfortable for him or her. Here is a suggested format for marking nonfiction texts:
Symbol / Stands for: / Means:! or ☼ / Connection / I’ve seen, read, or thought about that before.
I’ve experienced that.
? / Question / I don’t understand.
I need more information.
* or ! / Main Idea / This is an important point the author is trying to get across.
This is the author’s basic premise or overall meaning.
VOC / Look It Up / I don’t know what this word means. I need to find a definition.
ME / Idea/Conclusion / I have an original idea or conclusion about this point.
+ / Agree / I agree with the author on this point. Might be good text evidence for a persuasive writing.
- / Disagree / I disagree with the author. I think otherwise.
“ ” / Quote / I might use this quote in my own writing.
The point of annotating is to both summarize and clarify. Use it to better understand and explain what you read. Again, these symbols are just suggestions. You can come up with your own system.
Remember: Each highlighted or underlined passage and each symbol must be accompanied by a note. Simply highlighting or underlining serves no purpose without an accompanying note. Take notes in the margin or, if necessary, use sticky notes.