Identifying Annotation Topics

How do we create accessible, reliable annotations for classroom editions that maintain a balance between too much information and too little information? As much as possible, LiC annotations should not be interpretive but objective, providing information to increase the reader’s understanding of the text.

1. Important historical or cultural contexts made visible in the text (an important context is discovered through research and reading more about your text). For instance:

• Genre or literary tradition contexts
• Cultural context for of understanding behavior or conduct
• Historical, scientific, educational contexts

2. Allusions

• Other texts
• People
• Historical events

3. Definitions

• Phrases or words that are jargon or have particular resonance for the time period in question—identifying these requires context clues and broader historical knowledge
• Words or phrases in other languages
• Ancient/obsolete words no longer commonly used

If you have questions about whether an annotation should be included, ask your professor!