Why do I need to annotate my text? It seems like a waste of time.

Question

Most high school teachers will insist that you begin to annotate your texts routinely. The reason for this is that the reading you do in school from this point forward will have a purpose. You are not reading "just for fun." You will likely have to write an essay or create a project from the text using the skills that your teacher has taught to you. With this in mind, it then becomes a "waste of time" NOT to annotate. What that translates to in reality is if you don't annotate when you read, then you will spend countless minutes searching through the text later to find what you need for the essay. If you take 1 second to make a note in the margin, underline or highlight a concept or important detail, then you can quickly find it later. I have found that those students who take the time in the beginning to annotate, spend far less time later working with the text. Additionally, their essays come together much more quickly. So, it's your choice. A bit of notetaking in the beginning, or tons of time rereading later. Be a friend to yourself and do it.

Answer 1

Often, expertise or sophistication of the reader, the complexity of the subject, or length of the document determines whether it is necessary to annotate. A short paragraph regarding a simple subject may not require much analysis or retention of salient points for future reference and is read for enjoyment. Some more scholarly, scientific, or business writings compel a different response. Using a pen or highlighter to create notes or delineate key words, phrases, or passages, assists a reader in not only timely review but assists in a deeper understanding of the document, transcript or passage. A high school student however is generally not experienced or sophisticated enough to read through a passage and absorb all of the intricate details, such as theme, topic, voice, style, or other content required later in class discussion or testing. In truth, few readers are. Annotation is essential to learning. Therefore, students should be encouraged to read with their "fingers" as well as their eyes.