oh my god :((( i saw your academic/scientific writing post and thank you! my lecturer keeps telling us to 'comment' on paragraphs or papers and i just have no idea what she means??? I've tried looking at other papers and i just don't understand?? i was wondering if you or any of your followers could help? xxx
It sounds to me your lecturer might mean annotating to add your own comments/opinions on the article you're reading.
Writing Notes: Annotation
Annotation - to actively engage a text by pausing to reflect, mark up, and add notes as you read.
The simplest way to annotate:
Mark: Key words; Phrases; Passages...
...By: Highlighting; Underlining; Bracketing; Placing symbols
Steps to Annotating a Scientific Paper
Locate each of the components (Abstract, Introduction, etc.)
Identify unfamiliar words in these sections that are important to understanding the research.
Define the unfamiliar words.
Annotate each section by summarizing the main idea or paraphrasing important sentences.
Ways annotating improves reading:
Avoid having to re-read as often
Monitor and improve your comprehension
Remember what you’ve read
Reasons for writing notes in the margins:
Identify key ideas and help you remember them
Comment on what you are reading
Question what you are reading
Answer guide questions you previously wrote
Take notes for a class, prepare for a presentation, book club or any other occasion: You can make your annotations as simple or elaborate as you want. For instance, you can use different color highlighters or sticky notes to color code the text for different things such as:
vocabulary words to look up
You can go beyond marking up text and write notes on your reaction to the content or on its connection with other works or ideas. A reader might annotate a book, paper, pamphlet. or other texts for the following reasons:
a student noting important ideas from the content by highlighting or underlining passages in their textbook
a student noting examples or quotes in the margins of a textbook
a reader noting content to be revisited at a later time
a Bible reader noting sources in their Bible of relevant verses
an academic noting similar or contradictory studies related to their article or book
Read the passage until you understand the meaning.
Purpose. What will you do with this evidence?
Look away from the passage to write the main points of what you read.
Imagine & write. Imagine explaining that main point to a classmate. Write down your explanation.
Check & cite. Double check your wording against the original. Cite the source.
Other things you should do as you read and annotate text:
Paraphrase important information
Write down thoughts and questions
List and look up new vocabulary terms
Identify other articles to read
Here's an example of an annotated academic article (with steps and more details). Another example:
Strong readers often mark texts and this visual work is deeply linked to the reading experience. Considering annotation as a critical and creative activity, we can design and practice this skill in a multitude of ways. And, once again, as we link student’s visual experience into their ever growing language arts skills we strengthen their ways of interacting and communicating with the world. –James Shivers
Sources: 1 2 3 4 5 6 ⚜ More: References ⚜ Writing Resources PDFs
Thanks for your kind words. Hope this helps! (Do ask your lecturer directly though for further clarification on what they actually meant!)
