What is the purpose of ‘annotation’ while reading?

The purpose of annotation while reading is to engage with the text actively and record thoughts, questions, or summaries. This practice encourages a deeper understanding of the material as readers interact directly with the content, allowing them to note important points, ask questions about unclear sections, and reflect on their reactions to the text. By writing down comments or insights in the margins or a notebook, readers enhance their comprehension and retention of the material.

Summarizing the entire text in detail, while useful, is not the primary focus of annotation, which is more about immediate engagement rather than exhaustive summary. Debating the author’s viewpoints or memorizing quotes may also serve a purpose in the study process, but they do not capture the essence of what annotation aims to accomplish.