““How to Mark a How to Mark a Book”Book”

Adler’s StrategiesAdler’s Strategies

Adler’s Key Points:Adler’s Key Points:• Ownership of book – Three kinds of book owners

• Soul of book vs. body

• Why mark? 1. Stay awake 2. Thinking shown through writing 3. Remember ideas

• Active reading

• Why writing is important – “you don’t really know something until you write it down”

• Where to write

• Purpose – develop a “conversation” with author

• Adler lists 7 methods

• Front and back end papers

• Different speeds of reading

• Lending books to others

1. Underlining1. Underlining

Major pointsMajor points Forceful statementsForceful statements Label theseLabel these

2. Vertical Lines in 2. Vertical Lines in MarginMargin To emphasize a statement.To emphasize a statement.

I usually comment on these. I usually comment on these. Commentary is the most Commentary is the most important aspect of annotation. It important aspect of annotation. It demonstrates YOUR INTERACTION demonstrates YOUR INTERACTION with the text.with the text.

3. Star or other doo-3. Star or other doo-daddad Used sparingly. Code systemUsed sparingly. Code system To emphasize the ten or twenty To emphasize the ten or twenty

important statements in a bookimportant statements in a book Or 2-3 important statements in an Or 2-3 important statements in an

article (depends on article length)article (depends on article length)

4. Numbers in the 4. Numbers in the MarginMargin To indicate sequence of points To indicate sequence of points

the author makes in developing a the author makes in developing a single argument.single argument.

Helpful for AP Test! There are Helpful for AP Test! There are some sequencing questions.some sequencing questions.

5. Numbers of other 5. Numbers of other pages in marginpages in margin To indicate where else in the book To indicate where else in the book

or article the author makes or article the author makes relevant points. This ability to relevant points. This ability to cross-reference is an important cross-reference is an important critical reading skill.critical reading skill.

Helpful for AP Test! Questions may Helpful for AP Test! Questions may ask you to distinguish examples ask you to distinguish examples made of previous points.made of previous points.

6. Circling of key 6. Circling of key words or phraseswords or phrases I use this to help me determine I use this to help me determine

the tone, the subject, and any the tone, the subject, and any shifts in thought or tone…to name shifts in thought or tone…to name a few. Again, commentary makes a few. Again, commentary makes these markings more significant these markings more significant and useful.and useful.

7. Writing in the 7. Writing in the margin, top, or bottommargin, top, or bottom Used to record questions or Used to record questions or

answersanswers Reduce a complicated passage to a Reduce a complicated passage to a

simple statementsimple statement Record author’s pointsRecord author’s points

I use this to note the tone of the I use this to note the tone of the passage.passage.