Annotating the Readings

Annotating = taking notes IN THE MARGIN of the essay's pages, NOT on a separate piece of paper

Why?  To help you locate the main ideas of the essay so that you can write a summary of these ideas later, USING YOUR OWN WORDS

How does it help? 

Ø       You save time by not having to reread the original essay

Ø       You get a better grade because you are paraphrasing the original and NOT COPYING (plagiarizing) ANY sentences or phrases from it

Your annotations should NOT be complete sentences, but you SHOULD  be able to summarize the essay based on your notes only.

How do you annotate?  IN THE MARGINS, note the:

Ø       Thesis statement

Ø       Main ideas (topic sentences)

Ø       Examples & other evidence

Ø       Your reactions             

Ø       Circle and define key vocabulary (include various possible word forms)

When finished, on the BACK SIDE OF THE PHOTOCOPY write TWO sentences:   ONE  that summarizes the author’s main point and ONE that is your reaction to the essay (your feelings about it/opinion of it).

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