Annotating

For my AP Lang summerwork, i have to annotate a few books. I’ve never had to really annotate stuff in other classes, so what kind of information do i look for when highlighting and taking notes?

The main ideas.+ inportant details to the story.

For my annotating this summer I was told by my teacher to look for important quotes, passages that reveal characteristics, passages that describe the setting, analyze diction, syntax and style in margins, look for themes and motifs, and look for patterns. Hope that helps!

well my advice would be to read it a couple times first. Websites like sparknotes help with understanding ideas and stuff.

I think KE3299 hit the nail on the head–rhetorical devices and other literary elements are a big part of Lang, so it would be helpful to identify them and see what you notice about them.

Listen to KE3299, and also look for passages that help develop/reveal character traits

My strategy is to read the book through, using sticky notes to mark things I find interesting. Then go back to do in depth annotations, looking for allusions/references/turning points/foreshadowing. Don’t be afraid to google references to names or historical events or songs or anything you don’t know. That’s how I find the best small details.

yeah definitely google names and events you don’t know because they are usually either allusions, foreshadowing, or insight about characters. Also motifs are a big thing too- like water, colors, nature, etc. If you don’t want to read the book twice, maybe even google motifs or themes in the book beforehand so you can look for and highlight them. But of course it’s best to read it twice- you’ll find more to annotate about and your annotations will be more insightful.