Annotation As an Index to Critical Writing

The differences in the ability to write critical and analytical essays among students with individual annotation styles were investigated. Critical and analytical writing was determined by the writer's ability to respond to a text with logical and critical analysis and attention to its thematic argument. Annotation styles were determined by ways of annotating a text: critical inquiry as skillful and simple highlighting as verbatim. The results indicated that skillful annotators produced more critical and analytical writing samples than did verbatim annotators. Verbatim annotators recycled information rather than analyzing it. The findings are congruent with theories that promote explicit metacognitive skills and support the position that teaching tactics consonant with students' cultural backgrounds are more likely to succeed in fostering critical thinking reflected in writing.