An accented note is a note which is somehow emphasized. In some cases this will be because it has been made to stand out by being on a different part of the kit (as in some of our rudiment orchestrations) or it could also be a note played slightly louder. To notate accents the '<' symbol is put above the note.
To play an accented note, lift the stick slightly higher than your standard strokes and put a bit more force into this strike. This will make the notes slightly louder, causing them to stand out from the others.