How to Annotate a Book

Books have more below the surface than what is observed by simply reading for entertainment itself. Annotating allows you to think deeper into the meaning of the book as well as following the plot better. Steps: 1. Decide on Your Method. There are several different ways to annotate a book. o The first method is to simply write on the pages of the book. This is good if you own the book. It is especially helpful for pointing out keywords or phrases. However, it can be a little difficult to fit all of your annotations in depending on the size of the margins in the book. o If you don't own the book, or need more room to write, using sticky notes may be helpful. Sticky notes are good for adding additional notes and can also easily be removed from borrowed books that will later be returned. o Finally, you can write on a separate sheet of paper. This is good for organizing your thoughts and for easily referencing pages in the book. 2. Organize Basic Plot Elements And Flow Of Ideas One important thing to do is to follow the plot. This is fairly easy and is helpful for comprehension and to prepare for a discussion. It covers some of the surface details, but doesn't dig very deep into the book. 3. SIFTT Sifting a book is used to pick out specific evidence from the text in order to discover and support the author's overall message. o The S in SIFTT stands for symbols. A symbol is a literal real thing that also stands for something else, like a flag, or a cross, or fire. Most anything might be a symbol and finding these symbols help to discover a whole new layer of meaning the author included into the book. o The I in SIFTT stands for imagery. Imagery includes any words the author adds that appeal to one or more of the five senses. Of course, if a place were described in such vivid description that every single imagery detail was covered, you would have a very long book. Authors carefully choose which images to include when writing a book. Close attention to imagery is important in understanding an authors message and attitude toward a subject. o The F in SIFTT stands for figurative language and works closely with the imagery. Figurative language includes things like similes, metaphors, and personification. Figurative language can be used to compare things to other things which, like imagery, can reveal an authors attitude toward a subject. o The T in SIFTT stands for tone. Tone is composed of imagery and figurative language along with diction and other elements. Tone is the overall mood of a piece of literature. Tone can carry as much meaning to the story as the plot does. o The second T in SIFTT stands for theme. In literature, a theme is a broad idea in a story, or a message or lesson conveyed by a work. This message is usually about life, society or human nature. Themes explore timeless and universal ideas. Most themes are implied rather than explicitly stated. Deep thematic content is not required in literature; however, some readers hold that all stories inherently project some kind of outlook on life that can be taken as a theme, regardless of whether or not this is the intent of the author. Themes arise from the interplay of plot, setting, character, conflict originated by: Anonymous, Maluniu, Sondra C, Zoe Volt Source: www.wikihow.com