Formats a Google Document for close reading and annotation by students.

articleFormatter.gs

// For close reading, it's important to have ordered and numbered paragraphs.
// This script takes the text and formats it based on paragraph breaks.
// More on this script at http://blog.ohheybrian.com

function formatArticle(){ 
  var doc = DocumentApp.getActiveDocument()
  var body = doc.getBody(); 

  // Get the paragraphs
  var paras = body.getParagraphs();
  var addTable = body.appendTable();

  //paragraph index 
  var pIndex = 1;
  for(var i = 0 ; i < paras.length ; i++){
    var para = paras[i];
    var paraStr = para.editAsText().getText();
    
    // if there is string content in paragraph
    if(paraStr.length){
      
      // Add a row to the table
      var tr = addTable.appendTableRow();
      
      // Number the rows and align the number to the right
      var td1 = tr.appendTableCell(pIndex);
      td1.getChild(0).asParagraph().setAlignment(DocumentApp.HorizontalAlignment.RIGHT);
          
      // Add the article paragraph and move on
      var td2 = tr.appendTableCell(paraStr);
      pIndex ++;
    }
      
    // Remove the copied paragraph from the original text
    para.removeFromParent();
  }
  // Remove the table border and resize columns for larger margins
  var style = {}
  style[DocumentApp.Attribute.BORDER_WIDTH] = 0;
  addTable.setColumnWidth(0, 45).setColumnWidth(1, 450).setAttributes(style)
}