Annotation is a big word for taking notes on a material. It is almost as old as writing itself.1 You can also annotate video, audio or any information object. For the annotator, the immediate benefit of annotation is better comprehension because it require active (as compared to passive) consumption of information. The annotator, for example, cannot simply read, but must also think. And it takes more thinking to transform one’s rough thoughts into succinct, useful notes. There are also longer-term benefits to annotation. The annotator has the notes for future reference, of course. The notes are a resource for remembering what was already thought, preventing, or at least limiting, the need to fully re-think an issue. Furthermore, if the annotator shares the notes, other people can benefit. Rather than start from scratch, the path before them is clearer (assuming the notes are good), making their journey to comprehension faster.2

For each book/section, you will make “My Annotation.” It should be written in a single Word document, which you will upload to iCollege.

What To Include In Your Annotation

To be graded as complete, your annotation must include all of the following:

• Summarize every page, up to page 250 (not less, not more), in every chapter, including introductory and conclusion chapters…

• In your own words (no quotation or plagiarism)…

• In one sentence (not less, not more).

You do not need to annotate acknowledgements, preface, epilogue, appendix, notes, or references.

Also, your annotation must conform with the instructions, below.

How to Make Word Docs for Annotating Books

For this course, you must specify the page of each note.3 You must do the following for each half of each book.

• Go to this page

  • Click “Download”

    • Click “Word”

• Do whatever you need/want to save the Word document to your computer, flash drive, or whatever

• While reading, write the summary sentence for each page on the line below its number