Annotation Tools:

• + / -  : Put next to positive or negative statements and comparisons
• !  : Use if something stands out to you or if you think it's important
• (Arrows)  : pointing away to a blank space so you can add a comment to a sentence
• (A heart)  : I use this if I really like the way the writer worded something
• (Underlining)  : Helps me understand what I am reading 
• (Circling)  : Helps me pull away some main points
• *  : If I don't understand a word
• :(  : If something confuses me more than I already am / confuses me after I though I understood what I was reading
• :)  : I use this when something that I was thinking about was later put into words in the reading 
• [   ]  : I use brackets around a whole paragraph and then to the side of it, I summarize it or pull out the key words or phrases

Classmate Annotations:

• ^  : Thoughts about a paragraph or adding their own comment
• ?  : Put next to a statement that may raise some questions

What I Learned: 

          I learned that most of my classmates generally use the same annotations that I do and for the same reasons. However, I sometimes use a certain type of annotation for more than one thing which may make me confused when looking back at the reading. I need to make a solid reason why I use each method so that when I see it, I know what it's for. 

          Annotating is essential for when reading a text because it helps the reader thoroughly understand each and every statement. Especially because if you're confused about a sentence, you can put a question mark next to it and ask about it in class to clarify it to your understanding.