Choose a question before a source
A reading is easier to judge when you can say what you hope it will help you understand.
The complete index
Notes
Seven short readings about choosing, recording and revisiting what you read.
The first two notes help you begin. The next three make a useful record. The final pair keep that record honest and easy to revisit.
Use a first pass to find the shape
An overview helps you decide where a slower reading will be useful.
Keep a reference you can find again
A useful reference explains where a claim came from and how to return to its context.
Give each annotation a job
A few specific marks can be more useful than a page covered in highlights.
Connect notes with an explanation
A link becomes useful when it says what two readings have in common and where they differ.
Mark what the reading leaves open
A useful note distinguishes what a source says, what you infer and what still needs checking.
Leave a clear place to return
A short closing note can make the next session easier to begin.