The eNotes Blog New! eNotes AnnotatedTexts

New! AnnotatedTexts As the Literature Experts, we’re excited about learning and obsessed with reading. We love books in all forms- from dusty tomes found in the back of used bookstores to sleek, new e-reading technologies. Because of the wide accessibility of digital reading, its no surprise that digital texts are becoming increasingly popular in and out of the classroom. To further our commitment to accessible education and literature, were excited to unveil Annotated Texts! Our digital text library features hundreds of works of public domain literature available to read online now for free. These texts have been annotated by our staff of literary experts, helping readers engage more meaningfully with these important literary works. Let’s take a look at five major benefits of annotated texts. The Benefits of Annotated Texts 1. Affordable Alternative to Printed Books One of the most appealing advantages of a digital library is its cost benefits. On average, students are spending $1,168 per year on textbooks while 94% of United States teachers reported spending their own money on classroom supplies. Digital texts eliminate the cost of shipping and delivery, which ultimately saves people money (and trees!). With hundreds of free books already available, plus new additions every month, our digital texts are an accessible alternative to purchasing hard copies of public-domain texts. Utilizing digital texts will eliminate the need to purchase books in print, while ensuring the texts do not get lost or damaged. 2. Helps Develop Close Reading Skills Close reading is a valuable skill for students to learn in order to gain a comprehensive understanding of a text. It’s a skill that helps students formulate an analysis of the entire work rather than summarizing what they’ve read. When individuals are told to teach or perform close readings, they often lack examples. Our annotations serve as models for teachers and students so that they can practice how to effectively conduct a close reading and become familiar with the process before dissecting intimidating pieces of literature. 3. Easy to Obtain We understand that finding and creating quality teaching and study aids can be time-consuming. That’s why we’ve compiled our annotated texts within their corresponding study guides to ensure you can access all relevant information in one place. With a vast library of study guides that include summaries, analyses, and criticisms, there are tons of supporting resources to accompany digital texts. Teaching students to actively engage with a text will help them stay focused and retain more information. 4. Creates an Inclusive Learning Environment Every student has a different learning style, so it’s important for teachers to create an inclusive learning environment where their students feel supported and inspired to learn. With a wide range of teaching resources that pair with digital texts, teachers can spend more time focusing on what types of material will help their students succeed rather than creating content themselves. Plus, the mobile-friendly addition of annotated texts allows students to read and research hundreds of titles from the palm of their hand. 5. Encourages Quality Interactions Teachers are responsible for creating effective and engaging curriculum that promote meaningful interactions among their students. Adopting annotated texts in a teaching curriculum allows teachers to create interactive activities for their students. Annotated texts allow teachers the ability to communicate with their students through shared annotations and notes. Teachers can highlight specific areas of digital texts to facilitate group discussions or create learning activities. This is also a great way for teachers to point out specific content for students to review and prepare for future assessments.