Annotation Guidelines

ANNOTATION GUIDELINES

Annotating allows you to have an active “dialogue” with a story. Reading is an active process. As you read a text, you should have questions, predictions, and opinions about what you are reading. Annotating also helps you navigate the book again when you need to prepare for tests, essays, and class discussions.

Annotating is a selective process. You do not want to mark everything because then nothing would stand out. However, you will need adequate annotations for each chapter. EVERYONE WILL ANNOTATE IN HIS OR HER OWN WAY, but to help you discern what to mark, refer to the following list:

BASIC ELEMENTS OF STYLE AND STRUCTURE
 Setting - make notes about the time, place, etc.
 Characters- circle or highlight each character’s name the first time you see it. Also mark the passages that describe the character’s:
• Physical appearance
• Motivations behind their actions
• Relationships to other characters
• Personality (especially changes in personality)
 Plot - events of rising action, climax, falling action and resolution
• Identify conflict types (Man vs. Man, Man vs. Self, etc.)
• Make notes periodically at the tops of pages to help you remember what events are happening
 Vocabulary-Circle or highlight words you do not understand. When you find a definition for the words, write a synonym out to the side.
 Tone – Look for the following items to help you identify the author’s attitude toward the subject
• Diction – words with significant connotation
• Images – appeals to any one of the five senses
• Details – noteworthy facts
• Language – the sound of the text (formal, informal, colloquial, etc.)
• Syntax – sentence structure, punctuation, etc.

FOCUS ON QUOTES
Quotes can be 3 words or 3 paragraphs, but you want to keep it clear, concise, and focused
 Important or Striking Passages
• Highlight, underline, or bracket quotes that you find interesting, that poignantly demonstrates thematic issues, or that “talks” to you in some way.
 Confusing Passages
• If you find yourself baffled, offended, or puzzled in any way, write a question in the margin.
 Thought-Provoking Passages – mark passages that would provoke discussion about this book with others who have read it.
• connections to movies, current issues, history, or other pieces of literature
• commentary on issues of a social, emotional, ethical (moral), or spiritual nature
• examination of human nature in general / how the book does or does not hold true today