Northcentral University Writing Center Annotating While Reading
 |   |   |   |   Writing Center  Annotating While Reading
While reading and analyzing an assigned text or source for a
writing assignment, some writers passively highlight significant
passages as they read through a text. As a strategy of critical
reading, annotating while reading is a more specialized form of
critical reading and interacting with the text. Rather than just
highlighting passages, annotating requires the writer to
actively read the text, to think about and analyze what has been
said, and to make specific annotations in the margins of the
text. In short, annotating is like having a dialogue or
conversation with the author. The writer creates this
conversation in the margins of the text by summarizing, asking
questions, expressing confusion or ambiguity, and evaluating
content.   Annotating while reading has several benefits for the
writer:   ·         it helps the writer to stay actively focused
and involved with the text  ·    