![]() ![]() Annotation is just one practice to help become a critical reader, but there are many other ways to engage meaningfully with text.That’s the question and of course I would like to hear your answer. With time, I’m sure you will develop your own annotation styles, and you shouldn’t feel the need to always cohere to the same one. I hope this post has been a helpful guide and provided ideas to help with annotation if this is something that interests you! If you’re interested in studying literature in an academic setting, annotation is a critical piece of the reading experience. Here is an example of what my digital phones look like for Edwidge Danticat’s Claire of the Sealight (note: for this example, I was writing an essay about the role of the sea in the novel, and was quickly re-reading the novel and noting down passages I might want to use): I just include short quotes, page numbers, or themes with corresponding page numbers. If I don’t have my notebook on me, or am having a more casual reading experience, I use my phone for these notes. Similar to using physical notes, I sometimes take notes on my phone on the books I read. Notes on my phone with quotes, themes, and page numbers These are annotations of quotes pulled from John Okada’s “No-No Boy.” The tabs to the left correspond with various fragments from the quotes I had pulled from the text.ĥ. I’ve included an example of what that looks like below: Often, when I use sticky notes in a book for class, upon finishing the novel, I type up a document of notes for the passages I had marked with the stickies. This is especially of use when I am writing an essay on a novel, because I can read the novel fairly quickly for class, tracking themes or compelling passages with various colored sticky notes, then revisit those notes for deeper reading when I write a literary analysis. Adding a sticky note doesn’t require me to disrupt my reading experience as much as writing full notes in the margins, but does let me revisit passages of interest easily. If I don’t want to write directly in my novel, I use sticky notes to mark passages that are interesting to me. ![]() My copy of “No-No Boy” by John Okada filled with orange sticky notes Here is a broad list of various features I take note of or draw attention to with my annotations: If I’m reading a book for class, my annotations will be more focused on formal elements, themes, and questions, while if I’m reading for pleasure I will focus on beautiful passages or my reactions to the text. What I annotate shifts from text to text. I prefer quicker and less involved annotation processes so that I can read critically but still keep a fair pace.īelow are some of my annotation styles and why I use them, as well as other tips I have on the practice. I have seen other English majors annotate using multiple color pens or other very developed systems, which you should look into if you’re interested in more involved styles. I suggest trying out different annotation styles to see what works for you. You can annotate however you choose, whether that be writing notes in the margin of every paragraph or not annotating at all. I originally started annotating my books for class, but now I tend to annotate almost all the books I read to some degree. Annotating texts is like having a conversation with them while you read it builds reflection and absorption into your reading. If you are interested in increasing your engagement with the books you read, you can try annotating them. (By “rewarded” I mean gaining additional insight or filling in what seems to be another piece in the puzzle). These downsides aren’t ubiquitously felt–– I’ve found that I find books more entertaining when I can reflect on them critically and feel “rewarded” for doing so, for example. Some “downsides” can be that it can take longer to get through books, it can be harder to find books enjoyable on a pure entertainment level, or that too much active engagement makes reading feel like a chore. While critical reading has refined my tastes and deepened my reading experience, it certainly isn’t for everyone.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |