If you’re finding it tough to keep track of key points, quotes, or themes when reading books for assignments, annotating could be the game-changer you need. Annotating is all about making notes in the margins, underlining important parts, or highlighting key phrases as you read. It helps you engage with the text and makes it easier to find important information when you need it.
Let’s break down how to do it step by step.
Get prepared
Before you start, you’ll need a few basic tools. Grab some sticky notes, highlighters, pens, and, of course, your book. If you don’t want to write directly in your book, transparent sticky notes are a great alternative.
Step 1: Read with purpose
First, think about why you’re reading the book. Is it for an essay, a test, or class discussion? Knowing this will help you focus on what’s important as you read. For example, if you’re writing an essay on themes of gender roles, you’ll want to pay extra attention to parts of the book where the author introduces characterisation.
Step 2: Mark important parts
As you read, use your highlighter to mark key quotes, ideas, or sections that stand out. You might highlight a sentence that sums up a character’s personality or a paragraph that introduces a major theme. If you’re using sticky notes, jot down why you think that part is important and stick it on the page.
Step 3: Make notes in the margins
When something grabs your attention or sparks an idea, write a quick note in the margin. For example, if a character makes a tough decision, you could write “Character struggles with their morals” next to that section. These notes will help you remember your thoughts later when you’re writing your assignment.
Step 4: Create a system
To make your annotations even more useful, try creating a system. You could use different colored highlighters for different themes or types of information. For example, use pink for character development, blue for themes, and yellow for important quotes. This will make it super easy to find exactly what you’re looking for when you’re reviewing the book.
Step 5: Review your annotations
After you’ve finished reading, go back through your annotations. Look for patterns or connections that you might not have noticed at first, and write these down. This is where your hard work pays off – your annotations will help you see the bigger picture and give you lots of material for your assignments.
Why annotating helps
Annotating your books isn’t just about making your reading more interactive – it’s also a huge time-saver when it comes to writing essays or studying for exams. You won’t have to flip through hundreds of pages to find that perfect quote or piece of evidence; it’ll already be highlighted or noted down.
Plus, annotating helps improve your understanding of the text. By actively engaging with the material, you’re more likely to remember it and develop deeper insights, which will definitely show in your assignments.
Give it a try
If you’ve never tried annotating before, it might take a little practice to get the hang of it. But once you do, you’ll wonder how you ever managed without it. So, grab your highlighters and sticky notes, and start making your books work for you.
And if you’re looking for more study tips and tricks, be sure to check out our website here – we’ve got heaps more advice to help you succeed in school.