Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Close Reading of
Complex Texts
Learning to Read with
Highlighters and Pens
What is Annotation?
Annotation is marking a text to show understanding. While
there are many ways to annotate, at Cordova, we are using
the following:
Highlighters:
* Yellow is used to highlight the claim of the text and
the
conclusion that mirrors or summarizes the claim
at the end
of the text. A claim is the argument
presented, and it may be called a thesis or central idea.
By using the term
claim (claim and yellow share the
letter L), we simplify the
language for all of us
teachers and students.
*Green is used to highlight the grounds (evidence)
upon which the claim is based. It is the proof that
supports the claim. Grounds and green share the letter G.
What is Annotation?
Pens/Pencils:
The color of the pen/pencil is irrelevant. It is the mark that
matters.
Underlining: The reader underlines words or passages that
he/she
thinks are essential to understanding the text.
Readers may underline text that has already been highlighted
in green, but one goal is to look
for words/passages in
addition to the grounds that reveal more specific information
about the grounds.
Additionally, readers will label the underlined text
(metaphor, simile,
allusion, quote, data, comparison/contrast,
counter-argument, etc) and briefly explain why/how the author
used it, the purpose it
serves, or how it supports the claim.
Circling: Readers circle words/text they do not understand or
find
confusing.
Practice Time
1.Read to comprehend. Look for
the big picture.
2.Annotate to show understanding
with highlighters and
pens/pencils.
3.Interpret what you know.