CIDES: A guide to annotation English I Honors

Definition Annotate—to add critical or explanatory notes to a written work Active annotations are written connections, questions, and observations. They require readers to think and express their ideas.

Connect Identify & Interact Define Explain Summarize Connect your reading to other works of literature (or) Connect your reading to your own personal experiences Identify & Interact Patterns in the text (reoccurring symbols, phrases, ideas) Figurative language/literary devices (imagery, similes, etc.) Words/passages that convey author’s tone or mood Interact with the text (have a conversation with it) Write down any questions you have Write down any other thoughts you had while reading Define Difficult or unfamiliar words Key terms or phrases Explain A character’s behavior or motivations Historical or cultural traditions relevant to text (What do you need to know about the time period or setting to understand the text? What is the context?) Summarize Difficult passages Key events Your predictions