Note-taking and Annotation

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
• 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 in your books (not library books!!), on paper or on your computer or device. 

Tools

There are lots of digital tools available for making notes, annotating, and clipping, bookmarking and saving information and resources. 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

"Ask the department you will be studying with what skills you may need during your study" Maria, 3rd-year student