## Introduction - The Annotation Practice - The annotation practice involves several steps, starting with reading a book with a pencil in hand to mark up pages, which helps to reference important parts and feel a connection to the text [(00:01:41)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nf1_54DUVH4&t=101s). - The second step is to freewrite about the book, typically writing three to five pages of loose reflections, including plot notes, names, themes, and questions, as seen in the example of the book "[[Playboy]]" by Constance de Bray [(00:02:38)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nf1_54DUVH4&t=158s). - The freewriting process helps to outline a set of themes that emerge from the reading, which is the third step in the annotation process, and this is done in a reading journal, as shown with the notes on "Playboy" [(00:03:57)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nf1_54DUVH4&t=237s). - The unique aspect of this annotation method is that it does not aim to identify every single theme or idea in the book, but rather focuses on the ones that resonate with the reader, making it a personal and helpful process for gaining a deeper understanding of the text [(00:04:17)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nf1_54DUVH4&t=257s). ## Connecting with the Text - The annotation practice is recommended as it helps to create a deeper connection to the reading material and is a useful tool for referencing important parts of the book, as experienced with the example of revisiting notes on "Playboy" [(00:01:24)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nf1_54DUVH4&t=84s). ## Identifying Themes and Using a Notebook - The process of annotating a book involves creating a list of themes that are personally interesting, typically around four to six, to make it easy to hold these themes in mind while marking up passages, and this list is usually kept in a notebook [(00:04:54)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nf1_54DUVH4&t=294s). - The themes are then assigned a color using colorful post-its, which are transferred to the first page of the book with a color code, allowing for easy tracking of the themes that are being discussed [(00:05:50)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nf1_54DUVH4&t=350s). ## Color-Coding Themes with Post-its - Using a variety of colors for the post-its, rather than a monochromatic scheme, makes it easier to differentiate between themes and reference annotations later on, despite being potentially less visually pleasing [(00:07:02)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nf1_54DUVH4&t=422s). - The annotated book is then gone through page by page, with colored stickies applied to the relevant pages based on the themes being tracked, and a separate color is used to track quotes with particularly beautiful language [(00:08:10)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nf1_54DUVH4&t=490s). ## Visual Representation of Themes and Easy Referencing - The result of this process is a book that can be easily referenced and admired, with the colored stickies providing a visual representation of the themes that are most prominent and connected to the reader [(00:09:34)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nf1_54DUVH4&t=574s). - The exercise of annotating a book in this way allows the reader to see which themes are most prevalent and resonant, simply by looking at the distribution of colored stickies, such as the pale blue, purple, and green ones [(00:09:52)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nf1_54DUVH4&t=592s). ## Creating a Legend and Tracking Themes - Annotating books involves creating a legend to quickly identify themes, such as queerness, infidelity, and bourgeoisie upbringing, which can be represented by different colors, allowing for easy recall of the book's content [(00:10:07)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nf1_54DUVH4&t=607s). - The annotation process can help readers remember their favorite quotes and locate them in the book, as well as track the development of themes throughout the story [(00:10:36)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nf1_54DUVH4&t=636s). ## Reflecting and Engaging with the Material - After annotating a book, it is essential to take a final step and reflect on the purpose of the annotation, which is to deepen engagement with the writing and gain a better understanding of the material [(00:11:38)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nf1_54DUVH4&t=698s). - This final step can involve writing an essay, journaling, or discussing the book with a friend, and it is crucial to do something with the information gathered during the annotation process [(00:12:03)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nf1_54DUVH4&t=723s). ## Enhancing the Reading Experience - The annotation process can be used in conjunction with other activities, such as writing a monthly reading wrap-up or sharing reading reviews, to further enhance the reading experience [(00:11:03)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nf1_54DUVH4&t=663s). - The ultimate goal of annotating books is not to create a beautiful object, but to become more engaged with the writing and to derive more meaning from the material [(00:11:43)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nf1_54DUVH4&t=703s). ## Sources - [website](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nf1_54DUVH4?si=wWF66htiXpN4AG7u)