Don't take the time to mark up items that you read on a daily basis
Don't mark the obvious
What To Do
Mark the text with a pencil, pen, or, even better, colored fine-tipped pe
Know your preferenc
Underline the topic sentence in a passage: Remember, each paragraph has one topic sentence. The rest is supporting information and examples. Identify the topic sentence to find it easier
Use codes: Flag text with codes (e.g., Question marks to indicate disagreement, Exclamation marks to note agreement or to flag a strong statement, triangles to indicate a change in thinking, or a star for the topic sentence
Write the passage topic in the margin as a reminde
Write questions in the margin
Add your or other author's perspectives in the margins
Add cross-reference notes to other works on the same topic
Add structure to a narrative text
Draw arrows to related ideas
Summarize: Add your own summary after the last paragraph. That simple exercise will crystalize your thinking on the topic. If you can't write it, you don't understand it.
