diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 35f0239..d8ef2fa 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -47,8 +47,8 @@ extensions) can then communicate with it via HTTP POST requests.
 
 ### Sample Invocation ###
 
-Every request consists of an *action*, and a set of contextual *parameters*. A simple example of a JavaScript
-application communicating with the extension is illustrated below:
+Every request consists of a JSON-encoded object containing an *action*, and a set of contextual *parameters*.
+A simple example of a JavaScript application communicating with the extension is illustrated below:
 
 ```JavaScript
 function ankiInvoke(action, params={}) {
@@ -74,9 +74,19 @@ ankiInvoke('version').then(response => {
 });
 ```
 
+Or using [`curl`](https://curl.haxx.se):
+
+```
+curl localhost:8765 -X POST -d '{"action": "version", "params": {}}'
+```
+
 ### Supported Actions ###
 
-The following actions are currently supported:
+The following actions are currently supported.
+
+Note that the sample requests are written here as Javascript objects rather than raw JSON.
+If you are writing raw requests be sure to send valid JSON (i.e. quote all keys and strings with 
+`"`, and remove any comments).
 
 *   **version**