How to Make Useful Annotations

How to Make Useful Annotations

By Mrs. Panwar at The Gaussian School

When I assign a short story or novel, one of the first tasks I give my students is to annotate while they read. I am usually greeted with puzzled faces and raised hands: “Mrs. Panwar, I don’t know what to annotate or how to do it correctly. Help!”

Here is a summary of what I tell my students:

• Be Prepared: Have a pencil and highlighter handy when you read. Notes have to be taken as you read, or reread, the text.

• New word? Highlight it, look it up, and write the definition in the margin near the word.

• Figurative Language: Highlight or underline alliterations, personifications, similes, and metaphors.

• Literary Devices: Highlight or underline the author’s use of irony, mood, or foreshadowing.

• Make Connections: How does this part relate to other parts of the book? Have you seen something similar in other texts? Can you relate something in the story to your own life experiences?

• Comprehension: After each chapter, summarize what happened and why it happened.

• Analyze: Ask questions. Think of answers. Write them in the margins. Here are some examples: Why did the protagonist take an action or inaction?; What might an object or character symbolize?; What are the conflicts, both internal and external?; What message is the author conveying to the reader?

As with everything in life, there is much more to annotating, but this guide will help students take the initial steps to deepen their understanding of literature. Prod your children to keep a pencil and highlighter handy and to think more about what they read. Enjoy!