Annotating TextsUsing your pencil and highlighters to improve reading comprehension

What is annotating?HighlightingUnderliningCirclingMaking notes in

the margin of the text

Why should I annotate texts?Studies show that even though annotating texts makes reading a longer process, students retain 70% more information.

Annotating helps you do the following:◦ Identify important ideas◦ Understand key vocabulary◦ Connect ideas◦ Review new concepts◦ Explore ideas that are unclear or

difficult to understand◦ Summarize main ideas

How do I begin?Select a text.

◦You may use the article “Test Anxiety.”

Get your supplies.◦Pencil & Highlighters◦Post-it notes, pens, paper

(optional)

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How do I begin?Start with some pre-reading

strategies. ◦Identify the titles, subheadings,

and important text features◦Skim the text◦Predict what it is about◦Try to identify some key

vocabulary words

StrategiesCreate some questions about the text

◦Examples: Who is ____ ? What is ____ ? When did ____ ? Why do ____? How does ____?

Write these in the margin of your text, on a separate paper, or post-it.

Your goal while reading is to find the answers to your questions.

StrategiesHighlighting

◦The biggest mistake students make when annotating is highlighting too much.

◦Focus on only topic sentences and really important ideas.

HighlightingYou may want to use different

colors for different purposes. Examples:

◦Green– Main ideas◦Yellow– Important details

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StrategiesUnderlining

◦This strategy can be a way to remind yourself of things you still need to review or look up.

◦As your read, when you come across something that you still don’t understand, underline the sentence.

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StrategiesAs you read, try circling words

you know are important and word you need to look up or study.◦This can help you do a quick review

later on by quizzing yourself on the circled words.

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StrategiesMaking notes in the margins

◦Use the space around the edge of the page to keep notes for yourself, point out connections between ideas, and ask or answer questions.

◦If your text does not have enough room, use paper or a post-it note.

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Review

Now review everything you highlighted by reading it aloud to yourself.

Review

Look at all the underlined sections and circled words. Can you figure them out by rereading the paragraph?◦Use additional resources such

as your glossary, index, dictionaries, or the internet to figure out these difficult words and phrases.

ReviewReread your notes in

the margins aloud to yourself.

Reread the questions you wrote about the text before you began.◦ Are they relevant

questions?◦If so, can you answer

them?Reread the text as

needed.

ConclusionNow select one of your textbooks or a reading

for one of your classes. Complete these strategies you learned on

your own. Discuss what you are doing with classmates or your tutor as you complete the strategies.