Learning by annotating sources.

1. Learning goals and grading criteria

  1. Student will create an account with hypothes.is using the name they go by in our course.

  2. Student created two annotations in hypothes.is : one on a primary source and one on a secondary source.

  3. Annotations explained something about the source, asked relevant questions, or provided historical context.

  4. Student joined the group in hypothes.is and made sure all their annotations are submitted to the group, not the pubic.

  5. Student tagged their annotations with metadata.

  6. Student responded to another student’s annotations.

2. Annotating the past.

When you write yourself a little note on the side of a book you are reading, that’s an annotation. To annotate is to add a note to a source. We can now do this collectively in a digital environment, which allows us to learn together in ways that traditional reading separately does not.

Our work this week will focus on analysis of sources all together. Annotation is writing on a source itself. To do this we are going to use a new tool, called hypothes.is . Please create an account at https://web.hypothes.is/

Annotating the past.
Annotating the past.

3. Enter this website about the Opium War in China.

https://via.hypothes.is/https://visualizingcultures.mit.edu/opium_wars_01/ow1_essay02.html

4. You’ll see an interface that looks like this.

  1. If you highlight with your mouse any text, it will give you an annotation space.

While we will be annotating as a group, I am going to use a feature of hypothes.is called “groups” to keep our annotations private.

Use this link to join our group: https://hypothes.is/groups/dZ76kWb4/normandale–1102–10-online

  1. Make sure you post your annotations to our group (1), not to the public section.
You'll see an interface that looks like this.
You'll see an interface that looks like this.

5. Annotate a picture and a quotation.

For this assignment, I’m asking you to do two annotations.

  1. Annotate a one passage from a picture. Your annotation can relate the picture to a larger historical context, explain what the historical significance of the painting is, or ask questions you have of your fellow students.
Annotate a picture and a quotation.
Annotate a picture and a quotation.

6. Annotate a secondary source passage as well.

  1. For your second annotation, find a passage that you think needs explanation, context, or questions. Add your annotation and submit it to our group.
Annotate a secondary source passage as well.
Annotate a secondary source passage as well.

7. Respond to someone else’s annotation.

Your last task is to respond to someone else’s annotation, perhaps answering their question or relating it to your annotation. Annotating a text as a group allows us to directly engage each other’s analysis of the past in situ, which means in their original place.

Double check that all your annotations have been saved to the Normandale 1102 Online group (I can’t give you credit if I can’t see your work).

Respond to someone else's annotation.
Respond to someone else's annotation.