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Annotation

A common question students ask is "What is annotation?" followed quickly by "How/What do I annotate?"

The first question is easy: annotation involves underlining, questioning, and taking notes directly on the page you're reading.

The second question, naturally, is not as easy to answer . . . .

In general, you should note words or images that seem particularly compelling or dialogue by a character that seems revealing. In both instances, the words or dialogue may not be especially vivid, but may have a heightened meaning given the context. Look for repetitious image patterns that the author develops or descriptions that seem important. Why, for instance, did the author use that detail? What would be the difference if another one was substituted? This gets you thinking about possible meanings.

How about we start with an example?  Below you'll find a page with my annotations on the first page of Candide.

And because we'll be reading longer works, you'll need to keep track of these annotations with a high tech device called "an index card."

On it you'll note page numbers of recurring themes, the questions on the Lesson Plans, and general categories -- setting, recurring tropes, character traits, symbolism -- specific for that work.

This will allow you to have, right at your fingertips, a breakdown of information from the work under discussion.

How good is that!

© 2018 David Bordelon