Annotation Worksheets

ELA Standard: Secondary Level Writing

Core Standard

There are many ways we can make important sections of the texts we read stick out to ourselves. There are often many key parts of a written work that are essential for readers to comprehend so that we can recall and use that information to understand the significance of text that comes along later. One active learning method that can be used for this purpose is adding annotations to text that you read. This is an effective reading strategy. It takes on many different forms. It often begins by using a highlighter to point out either key concepts or key words. If you do not have a highlighter handy, underlining with any writing implement has the same affect, but I just find it a little messy and harder to focus when revisiting it. This then eventually progresses to paraphrasing or summarizing main ideas. As you begin to master annotation you with write short comments that indicate the value of what you have read in your own words. On this page you will find a series of worksheets that will introduce you to using this technique in your own reading.

Annotation Worksheets To Print:

Explore It - Read the assigned text. Then follow the directions to see how to put this technique to work for you.

Using Symbols - Read and annotate the assigned text. Use the symbols presented below.

Outline - This is a graphic orgainzer designed to help you keep track of how you broke down some work.

Meaning of Symbols - It helps you make connections as you are reading. It also makes it easier to find things in the text again without having to re-read the whole thing.

Class Poster - You can use this as a classroom poster to remind them of how to take notes while they read.

Annotate the Passage - You are given a sizable passage to work with.

Working with Fiction - This points out all the things you need to pay attention to while reading fictional works.

Core Thoughts - Those focuses on the main concepts of a work.

Practice Passage - We ask you consider this passage and work with it.

Working with Articles - Read the article. Record your annotations below. Then write several paragraphs reflecting on what you have read. Include quotes from the text. At the bottom of your paper, record the citation for this text

Checklist - This is a great to assess if you looked as deep as you needed to.

The Annotated Bibliography - Create an annotation for one of the sources you used in your research project.

More Bibliographies - Work on the research that you need to get after it.

Is It Useful? - Write a few sentences about the strength/weaknesses of this source, any biases the author may have, and the relative usefulness of this source.

Bibliography Worksheet - This sets up everything you need to pay attention to.

Why, When, and How to Annotate Text

The Why and When


Annotating text has been shown to greatly enhance reading comprehension levels. It not only helps you remember what you read, but it can be used to form discussions and explore issues that the text brings about. You should use this method when you are reading anything that is important for you to fully understand. When you first begin using this technique you will most likely focus on keywords and phrases. If you are annotating a text that you have some time with, you should focus not only the main idea of each paragraph but writing what each point means to you. Eventually you will be able to read a piece and understand the writer’s intention for put this piece together and what they were trying to accomplish with it. This will allow you to attribute a level of value to what you have read.


The How


In the best situation you should fully read a text before you go back and make annotations. An old professor of my compared it to driving on a racecourse. When a racer wants to win a race, they review the course to best understand what they should be doing at each turn and straightaway. The same goes for readers that wish to fully understand the text that they are reading.


Annotating text does not come a single form and many people find particular value in one form or another. The most common method that we see used is highlighting, underlining, and circle of key points or terms. While this does help many readers focus on important parts of the text it is sometimes overly used and distracts more than it helps. When you go back and review this form of annotation it is almost passive. I find that students have a greater level of success with summarizing key points and writing their comments in the margins of what they are reading. Once you create a super short summary, write a comment about the summary. This may be question that you have or something that is clear or unclear. You can even go back and write abbreviations or symbols next to the text that grabs you or puzzles you. Remember that these symbols and abbreviations are just for you, so there is no correct symbol to use.


The biggest concern that students have when using this technique is that it takes a great deal of time to do right. I would say you are correct, at first. When you get some experience with it and create your own style, it can be a game changer for your ability to understand what you read.