Annotation is when a reader takes notes about what they are reading. Annotating poetry is an excellent way to make sure you understand what you are reading… it’s like reading with a pencil! Annotating is not highlighting or underlining the majority of a text without a purpose or without notes to go along with it. Annotating is also not just drawing symbols without meaningful notes in addition. Practice annotating text by reading this selection of poetry.
What you need:
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Tea
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Cookies
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Pencil
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Sticky notes
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Highlighter
How to prep:
- Simply print the pages
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Grab a cup of tea and plate of cookies, a pencil, sticky notes
Directions:
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First, read a poem without annotation.
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Then, number each stanza and label the rhyme scheme. Count and number how many syllables are in each line of the poem.
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Draw “critical think cookies” in the margins of each poem to guide your note-taking along the way or use sticky notes.
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Draw squiggly lines beneath figurative language you identify and write in the margins what form of figurative language it is and the literal meaning.
