ANNOTATION [Marking the Text] GUIDELINES Essays - Reference, Writing

ANNOTATION [Marking the Text] GUIDELINES Annotation consists of brief notes, symbols or markings that highlight key points of a piece of writing. It is a study tool to review large qualities of information with minimal effort. The goal is to be able to glance at a page of text and pick out the main points without having to re-read the whole page. Annotation should be consistent so that it always makes sense and allows you to work quickly. Any annotations you make on a page of text should be neat and easy to read. Here are some common ways of annotating. Text Summary & Notes This strategy requires short summaries or notes in the margin for every paragraph of text. This requires a lot of thinking and writing; however, the notes you create make it easier to find the main idea and summarize the text. Highlighting This strategy works well for students who are very visual and respond to colors. It works best when it incorporates a multiple color coded system. For instance, you might use one color for main ideas and another for supporting details. The disadvantage of this system is that you can't erase the highlighting. This is risky if you're just starting out. Symbols & Markings This strategy is preferred by most note takers. It is quick to make notes and quick to review. It is very easy to glance at page, find important information and evaluate what needs a closer look. Like highlighting, a system should be adopted and stuck with so that it always makes sense. Below are some suggestions for symbols and markings: Circle unfamiliar vocabulary *Stars for important or key ideas, main points _______ Underlining/Highlighting for important quotes or points to use later >Arrows connecting ideas and topics-maybe a sentence in one paragraph that reinforces a sentence in a different paragraph or clearly supports the main idea. = Equal signs indicate definitions Boxes for key terms Ex., R., Stat. Abbreviations show types of support: examples, reasons, statistics 1, 2, 3 Numbers itemize examples, reasons, steps (Ex. #1 or Reason #1) ! ! Exclamation points show surprise Question marks indicate an unclear idea or section-something you want to ask about Really? Margin notes record comments or questions