Marking and annotating a source allows you to identify key ideas, information, and arguments; record your reactions; pose questions; connect the source to other sources; and note how you might use arguments, ideas, and information.

Step 1:         Select a source that is particularly challenging or important for your topic. Note key information, ideas, and arguments in the space provided below.

Step 2:         List your questions about the information, ideas, and arguments you entered above.

Step 3:         Record your reactions to the information, ideas, and arguments you entered.

Step 4:         Note how you might use information, ideas, and arguments in your project document. How do they help answer your research question? Where might they fit into your document?

Step 5:         Identify important passages for later re-reading and list them below.

Step 6:         Note the relationships between the key passages you entered above.