The what, why and how of annotating text. Part of the study skills covered by first-year students in the CUBE English program.

1. Annotating a Text
CUBE English - Study Skills Module

3. Annotating a text is . . .
- a strategy for helping us become better readers
and improve reading comprehension.
- better than highlighting because we are
marking with intention (careful consideration).
- a user friendly system that has many benefits
for language learners.

4. Annotating a text . . .
- can (should) be used before, during and after
a reading
- will help you understand the essential points
in intensive reading
- streamlines information, which is helpful for
review, test preparation, etc.

5. Getting Started
Step 1: Pre-Read
Step 2: What is the author’s main point or thesis?
Step 3: What is the author’s evidence?
Step 4: What is the author’s conclusion?
Step 5: What don’t you understand?
Step 6: Personal thoughts

6. Getting Started
Step 1: Pre-Read
- What are you reading? looking for?
Step 2: What is the author’s main point or thesis?
- Make some notation (e.g. double
underline)
Step 3: What is the author’s evidence?
- Asterisk (*) next to supporting evidence.

7. Getting Started
Step 4: What is the author’s conclusion?
- Highlight the author’s conclusion.
Step 5: What don’t you understand?
- Mark with ?? what you don’t fully
understand.
Step 6: Personal thoughts
- Write in impressions, surprises,
agreement,etc

8. Review
- After annotating, you can use your notes to
review the text.
- Do you agree/disagree with the author’s
main points?
- How did the author support their argument?
- Are you persuaded? Did your thinking change?
- Annotating can help learners monitor their
own understanding.