Annotate Text in Google Docs: Extensions

In the main lesson, you practiced finding the main idea in each paragraph of a piece of writing.

You learned that main ideas tell you what a paragraph is about.

While each paragraph has a main idea, an entire piece of writing has a larger main idea as well.

This is the central point or argument the author makes and supports with details and evidence.

It is also called the thesis.

Finding the thesis helps you learn more from what you read because it helps you understand the point the author is trying to make and compare that point of view with other texts you read or with your own opinion.

In this extension, you will practice identifying the thesis in a piece of writing.

You will read a writing sample and annotate the thesis.

To begin, choose one of the starter documents, and make a copy.

Update the document’s name.

Then, read the title of the article.

The title gives you an idea of the topic of the article.

The topic is different from the main idea -- it's who or what the article is about, but it isn't the main point the author is making and supporting with details.

Highlight the title and insert a comment saying what the topic is.

Next, read the first and last paragraphs of the article.

They give you clues about the main idea because they are where the author introduces and wraps up the argument and develops ideas about the topic.

Select the first paragraph...

and insert a comment.

Explain the thesis of the paragraph and how it relates to the topic.

Follow the same steps for the last paragraph.

Then, read the entire article.

Highlight details in the article that relate to the topic.

These are the details explaining: Using a different color, highlight sentences where the author gives an opinion about the topic.

With another color, highlight any ideas or details that are repeated or emphasized by the author.

Go back to the beginning of the article.

Is there a sentence that all the details you highlighted support?

That's the thesis.

It might also be at the end of the piece.

If you can’t find a sentence that clearly states the thesis, it could be implied.

You will need to figure out the main idea based on what you read.

At the top of your document, write a sentence describing the thesis of the article in your own words.

Nice work! You identified the topic, the main idea, and supporting details of the article.

If you’d like, follow the steps again for another starter project.

Continue identifying main ideas through annotation to improve your reading comprehension.

In the main lesson, you learned why making annotations as you read is a useful way to understand a text.

You also learned the steps for annotating a piece of nonfiction.

In this extension, you will annotate a piece of literature.

Annotating literature is different from annotating nonfiction because the main idea is often expressed by the characters, plot, or setting, instead of directly stated and proven by the author.

Some examples of literature you could annotate include: To begin, copy a short piece of text, or a passage from a longer piece, to annotate.

Paste it into a new document.

Or, make a copy of one of the starter projects linked on this page.

First, highlight important characters.

An important character is usually described in details or contributes to the action of the story.

Include unnamed characters and first-person narrators as well.

Create an annotation key, and add characters.

Next, highlight elements that contribute to the setting.

The setting is the location of the story, like a city or a haunted house, as well as the time, such as a year in the past or a season.

Some details about the setting may not be obvious.

Use the Explore tool to look up place names you’re unsure about.

Add research, questions, or notes to your document in a comment.

Next, underline figurative language.

Then, add more annotations.

Bold passages related to the theme, or the central idea of the story...

And choose more colors to highlight examples of the tone and mood.

Tone and mood are ways to understand the characters’ personalities, their motivation, and the general feeling of the story.

Determine the tone and mood by looking at the words the author chooses, the way the surroundings are described, and the characters’ perceptions of what’s happening in the story.

Include additional annotations, such as a list of unfamiliar words and their definitions, if you’d like.

Finally, update your annotation key.

Great work! Now that you’ve annotated your piece of literature, you’re better prepared for class discussion, writing an essay, or taking a test.

In this extension, you will annotate a scholarly article.

You will identify the claim the author is making and the evidence that supports that claim.

It’s useful to understand the context and determine the evidence for a scholarly claim when you’re writing a research paper or citing a scholarly claim in your own life.

To begin, open the starter document and make a copy.

Add your name to the title.

Quickly read over the article.

Make a mental note of any important themes or claims the author is making.

As you read, highlight any words you don’t understand.

In an article about a scientific experiment or discovery, for example, there may be a lot of terms specific to that field of study that you’ve never heard before.

Insert a table at the top of your document for the new words.

Then, add their definitions.

Create an annotation key.

Read the article again.

Bold the thesis, or the main argument the author is making in the article.

Next, highlight the cause and effect cited in the article.

The cause and effect tells you how one event or action leads to another and often acts as inspiration for a scientific research study.

Then, use a new color to highlight any statistics related to the study, or the study’s results.

These results often form the basis of the author’s argument.

When reading research articles, it’s important to note the evidence the author uses to support the claims.

Outside sources tell you what research was done and how the author formed the main argument.

You could review the sources yourself to determine whether you’d interpret the information in the same way.

Highlight references to outside sources in the article.

These could be: An article that contains a lot of sources likely has been thoroughly researched and supports the thesis of the article.

Update your annotation key.

Nice work! You’re now prepared to summarize the article with supporting evidence.

In the main lesson, you learned to make annotations on a piece of text.

In this extension, you will engage in critical thinking with your annotations by creating a reading response journal.

To start, open Google Docs...

and create a blank document.

Then, give it a title.

Type and format your heading.

On the next line, add a table with two columns and at least six rows.

On the left side of the journal, you’ll write the quotes or passages from the reading.

On the right side you’ll add your reactions.

Add table headers to the first row of the table.

Next, open one of the starter projects.

Choose the text you haven’t already annotated.

Then, start your journal by reading the text.

As you read, stop at a passage that: Interests, entertains, or surprises you, Or you have questions about.

Copy the passage or quote...

and paste it into the second row of your table.

If the quote is from a longer work, such as a novel or a play, include a page number or an act and scene.

For a short story or an excerpt, you might include a paragraph number.

Then, add your reaction to the passage.

Make sure your reactions are specific and detailed.

Continue reading the text, stopping frequently to reflect on what you’re reading.

Include at least five entries in your journal.

Reading response journals are a good way to keep track of your reactions to, and thoughts about, what you read.

They also help your teacher evaluate your understanding of the text.

After you finish your journal, share it with your teacher.

Add your teacher’s email address.

Then, select the permission you want to use: Edit means the person you share with can make changes directly in your document.

Comment allows them to make comments, but not change the document.

And View lets them see your document only.

Select comment, and share the document.

Sometimes, your teacher may assign a piece of text for you to read and discuss later with the whole class or a small group.

Other times, you might be given the reading and a prompt for an assignment, such as an essay.

To prepare for a larger assignment or discussion, conduct pre-writing, or...

Using annotations during pre-writing helps you gather your ideas before you start a formal paper or class discussion.

To begin, make a copy of the starter project.

Add your name to the title.

Then, read the prompt.

Next, read the article, keeping the prompt in mind.

You know the question you need to answer, so pay attention to any clues or specific references to the subject of the prompt.

Look for details that support a specific point of view or idea.

Highlight those passages.

Then, read the article again and look for details that support another point of view.

Highlight those in a different color.

Consider whether one of the arguments made is stronger in your opinion.

Reflect on your opinions about the points of view provided.

To provide support for your response, read the article again.

Highlight any additional clues that may help you support your conclusion.

Finally, include the additional annotations you learned in the main lesson, such as: Unfamiliar terms and their definitions...

The main idea and supporting details...

And passages you find confusing or interesting.

After you finish highlighting ideas that relate to the prompt, read the prompt again.

If you can answer it in a few sentences, you’re ready to start writing your essay or participate in the class discussion.

If you’re still struggling, read the article again and make additional annotations.

Nice work!

In the main lesson, you learned how to make annotations in a piece of text to record your thoughts and impressions.

In this extension, you will use footnotes to make annotations in a document for you and others to read.

They are often indicated with a number and then listed at the bottom of the page.

While you might use traditional annotations to understand what you’re reading, footnotes help readers understand why the author’s point of view should be considered or direct them to additional texts in support of that argument.

To begin, open the starter project and make a copy.

Add your name to the title.

Then, read through the text.

As you read, highlight anything you’d like to research further...

Then, add a footnote.

A number will be added in superscript after the area you highlighted.

The same number is added to the bottom of the page.

This is where you’ll type your research or supporting materials.

Open a new tab and navigate to google.com Then, enter specific search terms to learn more about the topic you highlighted.

Review the results.

Find a reputable source, and click on the link to learn more.

Review the article to find any relevant information.

Return to your footnote and briefly summarize the information you found.

Then, copy the title of the article...

and paste it into the footnote after your summary.

Next, copy the website URL...

and link the name of the article.

Type "see" in front of the link so readers will know they can read more by clicking the link.

Your teacher may want you to format your footnotes in a different way.

Continue adding footnotes to your article by selecting the passages you want to research.

Each footnote will appear at the bottom of the corresponding page in the document.