Annotating a reading selection involves writing notes on the article itself. Notes remind you of the important ideas for later review, eliminating the need to re-read the entire selection.
To go to a deeper level of detail about what the author is telling you:
- Print out the article
- Read each paragraph
- Underline or highlight the main point of each paragraph
- Annotate in the margins details that support the main point of the paragraph
How to mark a text:
- Finish reading before marking
- Under core ideas only, not entire sentences
- Chunk the text into subheadings
- look for changes in point of view
- look for pro vs. con
- look for problem vs. solution
- Use your own words
- Be swift and neat
- Develop a code for marking a text
- MP for main point
- SD for supporting detail
- T for thesis
- P for problem
- S for solution
The purpose of this strategy is to:
- Find the main point in each paragraph
- Find the supporting details in each paragraph
- Create a clear, personal organization of the text
- Use this reorganized text to revise your thesis for the third time