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Learn how to identify and annotate the key parts of a textbook.
| 0:00 | Owl: Welcome to Annotating a Textbook, an instructional video on reading comprehension brought to you by the Excelsior University Online Writing Lab. |
| 0:12 | So you’ve been assigned to read a chapter or section in a textbook. |
| 0:16 | Most likely, your teacher plans to give a quiz, test, or exam on the material. |
| Displayed on screen | Student: Yes. |
| 0:22 | Owl: Well, reading a textbook is easier when you understand how it works. |
| 0:27 | You’ll be able to find the information you need and remember it when it comes time to study. |
| 0:31 | Textbooks are a unique kind of genre with their own specialized organization and goals. |
| 0:37 | In general, most textbooks share the following qualities: They |
| 0:41 | follow an explicit pattern of organization or structure, |
| 0:45 | emphasize facts and evidence, |
| 0:47 | rely on references to important research, |
| 0:50 | introduce many new terms, |
| 0:52 | and provide visual aids. |
| 0:55 | Okay. Let’s look at the different elements that make up the structure of a typical chapter in a textbook. |
| 1:01 | A typical chapter may contain some or all of the following ten items: |
| 1:06 | 1. An introduction, abstract, or synopsis that states the purpose of the chapter; |
| 1:12 | 2. A list of chapter objectives, goals, or learning outcomes; |
| 1:18 | 3. A chapter outline; |
| 1:20 | 4. Titles, headings, and subheadings that divide up the chapter; |
| 1:26 | 5. Key terms that are bold-faced, italicized, or made to stand out in some special way; |
| 1:33 | 6. Boxes and sidebars to pull out key information; |
| 1:38 | 7. Visual aids or figures; |
| 1:42 | 8. A chapter summary or conclusion that reviews the main idea; |
| 1:48 | 9. A vocabulary list or glossary; |
| 1:52 | and |
| 1:53 | 10. Study questions and activities to help you focus on key ideas and remember them. |
| 1:59 | You can improve how well you read a textbook by applying five techniques. |
| 2:04 | First, remember to read with a pen, pencil, or highlighter in hand so that you can mark-up important information, such as key facts, terms, and ideas. |
| 2:15 | This will help you to remember them better and find them more easily when it comes time to study. |
| 2:20 | Also, write questions or comments in the margins as you read and answer any guide questions that you previously placed in the margins. |
| 2:28 | By doing so, you will improve your understanding and identify what you need to understand better. |
| 2:34 | Textbooks—especially those written for the physical and social sciences—often introduce and evaluate important theories. |
| 2:41 | When you come across a new theory, ask yourself the following questions: |
| 2:46 | What is it called? |
| 2:48 | Who proposed it and when? |
| 2:50 | What does it explain and how? |
| 2:52 | What evidence supports it? |
| 2:54 | Are there counter-theories? |
| 2:56 | If so, what are they? |
| 2:59 | You can improve your understanding of a theory by summarizing it in your own words. |
| 3:04 | You can do this in the margins or in a separate notebook. |
| 3:09 | Textbooks also tend to emphasize specialized or technical terms that are important to a field of study or discipline. |
| 3:17 | These terms are often singled out in bold-faced or italicized print and frequently accompanied by a definition in a sidebar or glossary. |
| 3:26 | Highlight or underline them. |
| 3:28 | Key terms can include the names of laws, theories, principles, models, concepts, patterns, systems, stages, processes, structures, parts, and important people in the field. |
| 3:45 | A good way to help you remember new vocabulary items such as specialized or technical terms is to make vocabulary flashcards. |
| 3:53 | As you read, make a list of all the terms that are new or challenging. |
| 3:57 | Then, look up the definition, either in the textbook or in a dictionary. |
| 4:02 | Write down the new word or phrase on one side of a note card. |
| 4:06 | Then write the definition on the other side. |
| 4:09 | Below that, write down a sentence using the word. |
| 4:12 | This will help you understand the word better. |
| 4:14 | When it comes time to study, you can challenge yourself by reading the word and guessing at the definition. |
| 4:20 | Then check your answer on the back of the flashcard. |
| 4:24 | Go here for more help with new vocabulary. |
| 4:27 | Another key feature of textbooks is the inclusion of visual aids to convey important information. |
| 4:33 | Visual aids can be found within the body of the text or in special boxes, sidebars, and appendices. |
| 4:40 | They normally have a title and caption that explain what they are. |
| 4:45 | Each visual aid is often referred to as a “table” or “figure” and numbered to make it easier to find. |
| 4:52 | Sometimes a textbook will have a special table of contents at the beginning of the text just to list all the numbered tables and figures for the reader’s convenience. |
| 5:01 | By paying attention to visual aids, you can learn a lot about the topic that the chapter is covering. |
| 5:06 | Make a note of key visual aids that you want to revisit later when it comes time to study or review information. |
| 5:12 | If you’re having trouble reading and understanding visual aids, check out this video. |
| 5:19 | Finally, after you read make sure to give yourself some time to go over any provided study questions or activities at the end of the chapter. |
| 5:27 | This will help you to monitor your understanding of what you’ve read, deepen your understanding, and help you remember it. |
| 5:34 | It’s also a good idea to create your own study questions and write them on flashcards to help you study later on. |
| 5:40 | Go back to the beginning of the text and review your notes. |
| 5:44 | Create study questions about important theories, facts, people, dates, and terms. |
| 5:51 | To make studying easier, write up your questions and answers on note cards with questions on the front and answers on the back. |
| 5:58 | Use these note cards to help you study. |
| 6:03 | When you’re ready to study for an exam, you should: |
| 6:06 | Review your notes; |
| 6:08 | If provided, review the chapter objectives and outline; |
| 6:12 | Review important information, such as theories, facts, names, dates, and terms; |
| 6:19 | Review any vocabulary flashcards you created; |
| 6:22 | Review your answers to study questions and activities; |
| 6:26 | Review any study questions you created. |
| 6:29 | Remember to give yourself enough time to study before the exam. |
| 6:33 | Don’t wait until the last minute! |
| 6:35 | Good luck! |
| Displayed on screen | Student: Thank you! |
| 6:39 | Owl: Thanks for listening to this instructional video on Annotating a Textbook! |
| 6:44 | Visit the Excelsior University Online Writing Lab for more support with reading and writing skills. |
