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Book Annotation: Thoughts?
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NerdyJediGymnast
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Sep 22, 2017 04:58PM
For my Literature class, Im learning to annotate books because its an "important reading skill". I have an assignment to annotate my favorite book. I never annotate and Im super scared to try it. What are your thoughts on book annotation and do you have advice?
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well, there are 2 different ways i do it. in the first one, i highlight or underline the part of text i want to comment on and then write it next to it. if the book either really sucks or was really cheap i'll probably do it like this. i also put colour coded sticky notes on the pages i've annotated something. the second way is if you don't want to write in the book. when there's something i want to comment on, i write down the page number and the first 2 and last 2 words of the part of text. i then write my comment in the notebook as well. hope this helps :)
I never did this myself, but I just couldn't bring myself to mark/underline things in a book. I'd rather put in sticky notes to easily find a part :)
now i mostly read ebooks so i generally just use the highlight feature in that but i used to highlight/annotate a lot when i was younger and i don't really see why people get so up in arms about it [i had several people yell at me when i would do it if i was reading at school at lunch or something. i'm like ??? i own this book i can write in it if i want to] . i mean it's not like you're marking up a precious manuscript, you're writing in a paperback book that has thousands if not millions of other copies. although i also break the spines so i know i know i'm an absolute heathen lol. i guess if you are just really particular that your books stay pristine you could always a buy a second copy of the book so you have one 'nice' copy and one that is annotated, maybe even a second hand copy so it's already a bit beat up and then it would be easier for you to write in it? i know you can't do that with EVERY book but if it's your favorite and it's for a class it might be worth a try.
I've used tabs before to mark up books, but other than that I stay away from annotations.
NerdyJediGymnast wrote: ". . . I never annotate and Im super scared to try it. "I have a clarifying question for you. Are you super scared to try it because you don't like the idea of writing in your books, or because you are scared that you won't know HOW to do it (what kinds of notes to make, what to underline, etc.)? That makes a difference in the advice I can offer you.
I only annotate my books when reading in school (for obvious reasons). If I have more than one copy of a book then I will usually tab the oldest one or maybe highlight but that's it. I like all my books clean
I have another clarifying question: In what sense are you being asked to annotate? Everyone here is taking this as a scholarly process whereby you comment on various passages of the book throughout as you read it. But as a librarian, my understanding of annotation is to write a short paragraph that captures the "what it's about" of the book, for purposes of a book review. So which is it?
I actually participate in a traveling book project group where books are send around and every readers writes comments in it or draws or underlines parts and you read all the stuff from the previous readers. before that I couldn't bring myself to even annotate books from school, but this group kinda changed my view on that. I still don't write in my own books (yet), but to write in these project books is a lot of fun. I don't know, if this really helps you, but maybe you could start in a similar way =)
I'm in an English IB HL II 12 class, and I hate annotations. With a passion. Because of annotation, I stress, and valuable sleep time is lost. Annotation in my English class means that more ink in the book is from my colorful pens than the publishing company. I feel like when I finish this class, just the word annotations will give me war flashbacks.
But as for how we annotate, we point out literary devices and their significance, relate things back to the themes, analyze characterization, etc, that kind of thing. My teacher says there isn't really a 'wrong' way to do annotations, but it depends on what your instructor wants you to focus on.
I put a big sticky note onto the passage I want to comment on with the text I want to annotate and put another color coded smaller sticky note on the page so i can quickly jump back to where i noted something
I use sticky notes as tabs to mark significant passages and highlight text and use the same color pen as the highlighter for my analysis.
Nyla wrote: "NerdyJediGymnast wrote: ". . . I never annotate and Im super scared to try it. "I have a clarifying question for you. Are you super scared to try it because you don't like the idea of writing in ..."
Both? Like whats the best way and I dont know if I want to write in books yet
Melliott wrote: "I have another clarifying question: In what sense are you being asked to annotate? Everyone here is taking this as a scholarly process whereby you comment on various passages of the book throughout..."The assignment is to annotate "what was important or stands out to you" She told us to annotate quotes and possible hidden meanings in text and stuff like that to capture our feelings and idea at that moment reading that part
Regarding feeling bad about writing in books: some of our most brilliant writers and thinkers mark up their books. Check out some cool examples . . . https://entropymag.org/writers-their-...
I think of annotating books like a medical student in anatomy lab. It is really not for everyone. It makes many people squeamish. It is messy, disquieting work. But it is the absolute best way to learn about the inner workings of your subject. And even those who are uncomfortable doing it themselves are usually grateful that SOMEONE ELSE knows how.
Some advice . . .
1) Don't annotate a cherished copy of a book. (a signed copy you stood in line forever to get, a gift from a loved one, an expensive leather bound edition) Get a cheap/used/paperback copy if at all possible.
2) Use pencil. Trust me, it does make a difference.
3) Don't feel like you have to mark up every page completely. (See the David Foster Wallace example in the link above!) Start small.
4) The Post-It note idea works well, if that is allowed for the assignment. Another tool you can use is a T-chart on separate paper. In the left column, write the quote from the book you wish to comment on. (Be sure to include the page number.) In the right column, write your own thoughts about the passage.
As far as WHAT to write, that is more complicated, but the good news is that there really isn't a "right" or "wrong" way to annotate a book. Obviously, any guidelines received from the instructor of your class are your first clue. Some other ideas, if you are stuck . . .1) Note any passage in which you think the author is trying to make a point, possibly hinting at a theme for the work. What message do you think the author is trying to send to the reader, if any? Is there a message that you are forming in your mind, even if you don't think the author actually intended that message. (That happens too. We are all unique, so we all get something unique out of what we read.)
2) Are there passages that bring about an emotional response in you? Make you sad, make you angry, make you laugh or cry? Write a short note about this. It doesn't need to be long and involved, just enough to remind you of that feeling later on.
3) Especially in fiction or biography, notice how the author reveals a character's inner self. The character's actions, reactions, and dialogue help us understand their thinking and their motivation.
4) Also regarding characters, are there moments when you empathize with the character? Conversely, are there times when the character's actions surprise you? You can always note how you would have viewed a situation the same as, or differently than, the character, and explain why.
5) Note interesting words or phrases the author uses. Why do you think they chose that phrasing over another? What effect does that word choice have on the text? Among other things, word choice often affects the tone of a piece.
6) Finally, don't be afraid to mark words that are new to you, and how you figured out the meaning. Did the context help you, or did you pause and look up the word? This might seem elementary at first, but I find new and challenging words all the time, and I am not ashamed to admit it. I like to mark those because it actually helps me remember them later on, when perhaps I can use them in my own writing.
I know this is a long ramble, but it is a topic I really care about. I hope something in here is helpful to you! Best of luck with that assignment!
I don't usually annotate books, but the ones that are more difficult and which have things I really want to study and understand, I annotate in pencil. These are usually books on history or mythology and I know I will be keeping them always. But since I used pencil, I can erase if I get tired of the notes. A mechanical pencil can be really good for making nice thin letters, but on softer paper they can tear the page. I often underline the part I wish to make a note about and number it if there is more than one on the page. Then I write whatever I thought was important or interesting or whatever at the bottom, making sure to number it appropriately. Fortunately I have been blessed with tiny handwriting! I start the numbering afresh on the next page rather than trying to keep track of how many notes were on previous pages, but that's just me. It's been a long time since I've done this, btw, and now I'm feeling like I must have been a very lazy person recently. lol So if I start marking up my books again, it's your fault!
Christie wrote: "I don't usually annotate books, but the ones that are more difficult and which have things I really want to study and understand, I annotate in pencil. These are usually books on history or mytholo..."XD Whoops! Sorry lol
I've done a post about this on my blog. Haha. I do annotate on my personal books, whenever I feel like it and if its for a book I know I'll reread in the future. Reason being that I love seeing and comparing my previous thoughts about a book to the thoughts that I am during my current reading. Sometimes, its funny how you like something prior, then after rereading, you're completely at the opposite side of things.
