Critical Thinking Skills To Read And Annotate

When students use their skills to analyze literature, they must annotate to look for the main plot points or literary devices, locate the theme of the novel, and determine if the novel is an allegory. Even though analyzing a book is often confused with summarizing a book, they are entirely different things. While summarizing a book is just writing a few sentences about the most important points in the plot, analyzing a book requires you to look deeper into the story and find what the author’s purpose is. One technique students can use when to analyze literature is annotating. Annotating is a process in which students highlight or make a note of any literary device in the book, important plot points, or connections between the plot/characters to the real world.

The Norton Field Guide to Writing covers topics about writing and composing. Several of which I was already familiar with. In chapter 2, Bullock and Weinberg express how “Many readers find it helps to annotate as they read…” (16). I have become very familiar with annotating over the years. I often use this writing method to help me understand and summarize text I come across.

Analyzing is one effective reading strategy a reader can use. This method is most effective by thinking about the writer’s arranged ideas. For example, viewing the developed topics and the structure of the paragraph is a way of analyzing. Annotating is beneficial to the reader who is analyzing the text. When using annotating, a reader

Reading Strategy Note: Unlike summary and paraphrase, which require close reading, for this discussion use the reading strategy of

* Do a first reading that uses underlining, annotation, and summary to make sure you understand what the writer is saying. Go back to any sections that need clarification.

To truly be conversant, you have to form your own questions, not just scan for answers (107). When reading to absorb, and translate you must read actively and critically. (108) In order to do this you must, “pay attention to the actual words in a reading and to use them when you write” (Rosenwasser 108). This can be done by individually breaking down passages, and picking apart the meanings (108). When “Passing your eyes or highlighter over the text or generalizing about it or copying notes from someone else's power point will not teach you the skills to become an independent thinker” (Rosenwasser 108).

I feel that the tools listed in the article “Read Like a Graduate Student, not a Mystery Fan” are going to help me immensely as I continue my course of education. The first chapter I read, for another course that I am currently enrolled in, I read from front to back like I would normally read a chapter for enjoyment. Upon completing the reading assignment, I felt like I had retained very little information. After reading the first discussion questions required for the course, I had to re-read portions of the first chapter in order to address the topics from discussion questions. I did not read the chapter from front to back but read the introduction, then the summary and finally the content. The second reading,

“How to Mark A Book” by Mortimer J. Adler emphasizes on the significance of note taking while reading. The thesis for this source was stated directly. For example Adler said “I want to persuade you to "write between the lines." Unless you do, you are not likely to do the most efficient kind of reading.” What distinguish readers from each other are their effort to understand the meaning of each line, paragraph and page. Adler talks about having a book and owning a book. Unless you have the whole book annotated from front to back, you don’t own the book. Adler described 7 ways you could note take while reading. Some of them include underlining words, star or asterisk, write in margins, circle of highlight phrases and numbering the pages. After reading this source I felt really strong about the why you should annotate and read. It is your way of interpreting the text and understanding it. This source reminded me of my high school professor explaining to me why it was important to annotate. Back then I never took it as a big deal and kept reading rapidly without comprehending. On the contrary, Adler’s “How to Mark A Book” inspired me to start taking notes while

After reading the article, “Read like a Graduate Student, not a Mystery Fan” by Doane (2008), I realized that my notion of proper reading is incorrect. Although, from time to time, I tend to read the back and introduction of a book prior to reading or purchasing it, I never considered that particular method to be an effective reading method. Nonetheless, this specific article has provided me with interesting tools, that can enhance my reading process. Surprisingly, the information presented in the article makes perfect sense. For instance, I can see how knowing the outcome prior to reading the book can intensify one’s comprehension of the events leading to the conclusion or ultimate outcome (Doane, 2008).

clients feelings. While my client was speaking, I used non-verbal words, such as I see, uh huh, and oh yea? I wanted to make sure my client could count on me to pay attention and trust I wasn’t just talking with her because it’s my job. I wanted her to feel that I really cared.

Many people want a way out of their skin and a way into a new look. The wants of people worldwide varrie and always will be different, depending on the person and their taste. Where there are people worldwide who worry about their complexion and how other people think of them, there are companies worldwide who have a profit to gain. No matter what our make-up might be, we want something better. I can’t stress enough about this subject because I am the same way. I believe there will always be room for improvement. This is something in the human genes that I believe will never change.

Poldma dissects the Interior Design one element at a time. Her book will assist with the research

reading before class and have understood much (but not necessarily all) of it. When the

My reading process overall is very strong and went smoothly. As I read I annotated the pages and this helped me stay more focused and connected with the reading. Today it was hard for me after I went to the bathroom and came back to the reading because I disconnected from the reading and had to try and dive straight back in. I also put my cell phone far away from me when I read or do homework so that I will not be tempted to look at the phone instead of completing my reading.

According to (Critical literacy practices, 2011) “critical reading” is a type of literacy practice that is learning practice in which students analyze and critique language and power relationships within written texts. Many college freshmen are not prepared for critical reading, yet a lot of higher education organizations and levels do not require individual critical reading courses. Even though critical reading is an often-cited neutral topic in some different colleges structured reading courses. In many different colleges, at times, there is little to no research that exists that may also describe how composition instructors teach critical reading strategies. No matter the subject or the age of the reader. An overall reading goal for critical readers includes reading an article to comprehend information based on what was stated within the text. While readers read to gain understanding from the text, the readers also use additional information at times such as factual ideas, prior knowledge, and also context clues to understand the difficult text. There are many ways to become a “critical reader” which includes different types of reading strategies.