Annotating a Text Annotating is essential for close and critical reading of texts in preparation for class discussions/seminars, writing assignments, analyses, research, and test/exam responses. Furthermore, annotating helps you dissect difficult texts and discern meaning from them.

Marking the text o Circle phrases you find pithy, that show patterns or repetitions, or reveal figurative language. o Circle words the author uses for their connotative meanings. o Circle words you need to define in the margins o Underline sentences that stand out, develop an argument, or make a point. o Number related points o Bracket important sections of text o Connect important ideas, words, or phrases with arrows

Noting in the margins o Summarize and number each paragraph o Define the unfamiliar terms o Note any questions that come to mind o Note possible connotative meanings of circled words o Note any significant patterns Note shifts in tone or attitude o Identify any outstanding language usage or devices you discover o Identify points or arguments

Rubric Grade A or B: Evidence of copious, helpful annotations, a great deal of which are related to any topics specified by the assignment. Grade C: Too few annotations, or the annotations are usually vague. The most important sections of the book are not marked. Annotations are not complete enough to amount to a solid tool for the student. Grade D: Almost all of the annotations are highlighting, underlining, or the like. Very little marginal or interlineated writing is present. Grade F: Very few annotations are present, or annotations are present only at the beginning of a reading assignment.