When I decide to sit down to read and annotate a paper, I must be in a quiet environment and usually will have headphones in so I can listen to music while doing my work. Also, it is very important for me to go in with a clear head. It is nearly impossible for me to read and annotate a piece if I have a distraction at mind. This is also why I enjoy listening to music throughout this process as well because it helps me get my mind off anything that will distract me from dissecting the piece at hand. Once I have begun, the objective now becomes writing down any thoughts or ideas I have while reading. As Susan Gilroy puts, “Get in the habit of asking yourself questions.” This will not only start outlining the argument of the reading but will also give you an interpretation of it in your own words so it is most meaningful to you. This is definitely the most important part of annotating for me. Putting the authors’ words in a format that can be best comprehended for yourself. By picking out the parts of the reading that arise any type of thought to you or questions is how you decide what parts must be noted or discussed.
My abilities to “interrogate” readings are fully dependent on how much time and/or thought I put into the piece at hand. If I put myself in the correct setting I know that I have the skills necessary to annotate a reading effectively. This skill didn’t show the true importance to me that it does now because of the discussions I have had in class. Before taking English 110 I always viewed annotating as a busy work that teachers would tell us to do or it was just proof that we had read the assignment. But I now know that I was very wrong. Annotating a reading not only allows you to dissect an authors thoughts but also allows you to form your own ideas and ask yourself questions that will help you to understand the reading in the best way because you’re putting it in your own words.
