The Art and Science of Effective Teaching

ANNOTATION SYMBOLS (HS) Annotation System Key:

Fiction Texts: Annotation Symbol Action Underline and margin Look for important details or repeated themes and underline the shout-out evidence that connects to them. Write a margin comment summarizing the importance of the detail. Circle unknown vocabulary and make an inference about the definition Unknown word in the margin using context clues. Verify with dictionary whenever possible. © Underline details that develop or expose characterization and write a margin comment that explains the importance of the detail. √ Identify the use of literary devices in the text by underlining them and writin a margin comment to Identify important moments in the text by underlining them and writing identify them. ! a margin comment explaining their importance. Identify major shifts in the relationships between characters or ideas within the passage (shifts in tone, attitude, direction, etc.). Underline and make a margin comment to describe the shift. T O Time out! Check yourself and see if you can identify the topic of the (at top or bottom of passage, and the overall idea/message/theme of the passage. passage in blank space)

Non-Fiction Texts: Annotation Symbol Action Underline Find the argumentative topic sentence(s) of each paragraph/section (there may be multiple) and underline it. Paraphrase the main idea of those sentences in the margin. Margin shout out Paraphrase every section, including references to supporting details (or connections to previous supporting details). Attempt to paraphrase in more sophisticated diction than the original! Paraphrasing does not mean simplifying!  Margin comments can include shapes, pictures, arrows, and words. Circle unknown vocabulary and make an inference about the definition Unknown word in the margin using context clues. Verify with dictionary whenever possible. Identify major shifts in the ideas within the passage (shifts in tone, attitude, direction, etc.). Underline and make a margin comment to describe the shift. T O Time out! Check yourself and see if you can identify the topic of the (at top or bottom of passage, and the overall idea/message/theme of the passage. passage in blank space)