What is the purpose of making annotations while reading?

Making annotations while reading is primarily intended to engage with the text actively, which enhances comprehension and retention of information. When a reader annotates, they interact with the material by highlighting key points, jotting down thoughts, asking questions, or making connections to other content. This interaction fosters deeper understanding and helps to remember the material more effectively than passive reading.

By processing the information through annotations, readers are more likely to internalize and recall the content later since they have actively participated in constructing their understanding of the material. This multitasking—analyzing, summarizing, and reflecting—creates a more robust engagement with the text, which is beneficial for learning and comprehension.

In contrast, focusing solely on personal opinions or summarizing without analysis would limit the potential benefits of engaging with the text, as those approaches do not necessarily foster a comprehensive understanding or retention. Moreover, creating distractions while reading would detract from the purpose of engaging with the material effectively. Thus, the correct answer reflects the holistic and interactive nature of effective reading strategies.