Text-Tagging Text-tagging while reading is a great way to keep the brain engaged and focused. It is a way to jot down your thoughts as you read by highlighting information, or by writing down your comments, thoughts, or questions in the margins of a photocopied reading section. When reading directly from a textbook, we sometimes tag the text by using sticky notes to jot down thoughts and then hold our place in the book. When it comes time to discuss or write about the text, you are able to revisit your ideas and be reminded of the thoughts and questions you had while reading. Read through a section first without tagging it, and then skim back through it. As you go through it the second time, highlight or note the big ideas in it, and try to identify the supporting details for that section. Ask yourself questions as you go through the reading. You can always use the Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How questions to find meaning. A quick way to tag text is to use the X Marks the Spot Method: xX means “I’ve found a key point.” ! means “I’ve found some interesting, new information.” ? means “This is confusing; I have a question about what it means.”