Research Guides
Tools for Research: Annotation
Popular Annotation Tools
Hypothes.is
Hypothes.is
With the aim of improving the quality of information available for scholars on the web, Hypothes.is makes it possible to analyze everything from blogs and news articles to scientific articles and e-books. Collaborate with others to discuss texts and keep personal notes on what you read.
- What You'll Need:
- Web browser
- Chrome extension (optional)
- Bookmarklet (optional)
- Examples:
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Science in the Classroom recruits graduate students to annotate research articles online. Undergraduate students can then read the annotated versions, enriching their experience as they learn to read academic writing.
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Live-annotate new documents, from hip-hop lyrics to the State of the Union address, to build critical reading skills.
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- License: Free, open, non-profit
- Help:
Lacuna Stories
Lacuna Stories allows multiple users to simultaneously read and annotate a digital text, transitioning the Western tradition of handwritten annotations to a 21st century format. Annotations can be searched and mapped to pinpoint particular types of responses or follow individual student reading experiences. Lacuna can also support long-form writing assignments.
- What You'll Need:
- Web browser
- Server with PHP support
- Command line access to your server
- Drupal experience
- Annotator.js plugin
- Drush
- Examples:
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An instructor embeds an annotation prompt to a noteworthy section of the text, and tracks student responses and questions to guide classroom discussion.
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A scholar studies their previous annotations, and those of their peers, as they are formulating a research question and thesis for their final paper.
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- License: Lacuna grants you a personal, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to access and use the Site and the Material. Registered users may download Material from the Site only for such user’s own personal, non-commercial use.
- Help:
- Read about all the Lacuna features.
- Lacuna Stories can be downloaded via GitHub.
- Installations Instructions
Additional Tools
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AnnotateItA project of Open Knowledge, AnnotateIt allows users to annotate content found anywhere on the web
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Prism ScholarsLabDescribed as a tool for “crowdsourcing interpretation,” Prism ScholarsLab is a fast-growing platform for reading digital texts together. Users can highlight sections of a text and view the most popular terms or words. An account is required.
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ThinglinkThingLink enables users to embed clickable links or pop-up content within the photos and videos they create and share online. Free accounts provide basic features, while subscription accounts grant access to premium features, such as 360° video embedding.