Annotations are explanations or comments added by a reader to a text, often (in books) in the margins. Taking notes while you read is an indespensible activity to aid learning. Note-taking helps you:

  • focus and identify relevant sections and passages
  • question and consider what you read
  • integrate your new learning with your existing  knowledge
  • formulate arguments and ways to discuss the content
  • reflect on your reading
  • record and remember what you read
  • record references for compiling bibliographies (covered in the next section)

You can make notes directly into your e-books (not library books!!).  The textbooks which you can download through our online book shelf VitalSource, all allow this feature.  Or you might prefer to make notes on paper or on your computer or device.  It's important to take these notes in your own words this helps you to process and understand what you are learning, and ensures you don't inadvertently use direct text from published work in assessments. 

Tools

There are lots of digital tools available for making notes, annotating, and clipping, bookmarking and saving information and resources.  Remember be careful to put your notes into your own words rather than copy and paste.  Popular tools include:

  • OneNote: Digital notebook accessible across devices. Notes, clips, lists and sketches.
  • Evernote: Capture, organize, and share notes and sync across devices.
  • Notability: Powerful, yet simple note-taking and PDF annotation. (Apple)
  • iAnnotate: Read, annotate, and share PDFs, Microsoft Office files, images and web pages. (Apple)
  • Google Docs: The collaboration tool is also good for note-taking

Taking notes