Designed initially to support year 12 students with sketchbook annotation, this presentation has also been useful with GCSE and year 13 artists. The presentation provides some discussion points and also some clear directions of the 'what not to do’s of sketchbook annotation. Students are asked to look at some examples of sketchbook annotation, so it is useful if you have some old books - good or not - for analysis and discussion. If not, there are two examples in the presentation you can use. The presentation asks students to then look at their own sketchbooks and set their own independent study task, using what they have learnt. I have found this to be a successful starter for lessons, taking about 25 minutes and encouraging independence.