Asian Study annotation of reading

When you annotate a reading, you should “mark” the text (highlights, drawings, etc. available through your preferred PDF reader) and annotate (add your reflections, comments, and questions). Engage with the whole text, and write a few significant annotations (each ~70-80 words). “Significant” means that they engage with the course theme, content of the reading, and are analytical. I have attached an example.

First, select three (3) significant annotations (each ~70-80 words) that you believe are your strongest. Take a screenshot of each, showing the page and highlighted part of the text, the context, for each annotation. The three pages / screenshots do not have to be in order.

Next, write one (1) general response to the two readings as a whole (~150 words). Things you might engage with in your general response: Is it a primary or secondary source (or a mixture of the two)? Does the reading have a thesis? If so, what is the thesis? What are its underlying assumptions? What type of evidence or data does the author rely on? What academic approach does the author take? If a primary source or narrative, what is important about the piece or the sequence of events? The symbols and motifs? Does the primary source have a specific function or connection (such as guiding ritual)? and so on.

[Ideally, all annotations should connect to the reading itself (even when you are bringing in outside information).

Response to the reading as a whole should focus on “bigger” items (thesis, argument structure, evidence, method, implicit models). May also engage with key concepts covered in the course.

Annotations demonstrate an understanding of the reading and attend to parts of the reading that reflect or nuance course themes. Weaker annotations attend to superficial details or, for example, are clustered in the first few pages.

Annotations should demonstrate analytical thinking, with selective use of rhetorical questions and issues of fact / information. Unbalanced annotations show an over-frequent use of rhetorical questions or over-focus on facts and definitions.]

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