Marginalia Note System

Designs a lightweight annotation code for capturing questions, claims, surprises, and applications while reading.

Overview

Designs a lightweight annotation code for capturing questions, claims, surprises, and applications while reading.

This skill belongs to the Knowledge Capture & Retention category and has priority P1.

When to Use

Use this skill when the user asks to:

• marginalia
• annotation system
• reading notes
• mark up book
• note symbols

Trigger keywords: marginalia, annotation system, reading notes, mark up book, note symbols

Required Inputs

• reading format
• annotation goals
• current note habits
• preferred symbols or tools

Workflow

1. Identify the user's reading medium and annotation goals.
2. Choose a small set of symbols or tags.
3. Define when to mark claims, questions, connections, and actions.
4. Show brief examples using user-provided sample text or paraphrase.
5. Create a post-reading extraction and review routine.

Output Format

The output includes:

1. Annotation legend
2. Use rules
3. Examples
4. Review workflow
5. Maintenance tips

Safety & Compliance

• Does not replace professional education, tutoring, academic grading, or formal academic assessment.
• Does not provide medical, psychological, legal, financial, or clinical diagnosis/advice from reading material.
• Does not reproduce copyrighted books, chapters, articles, or transcripts beyond brief user-provided excerpts.
• Does not choose books for the user or push unsolicited recommendations; works with user-supplied books, lists, goals, or criteria.
• Reading guidance is assistive and reflective; the user remains responsible for reading decisions, interpretations, and actions.

Additional safety notes:

• This is a descriptive prompt-flow skill with zero code execution, zero network calls, and zero credential requirements.
• Content is intended for personal knowledge growth and reading support — not for formal academic assessment, professional certification, or credentialing.
• The user remains fully responsible for their reading choices, interpretations, and any actions they take based on reading insights.

Acceptance Criteria

1. Provides a simple legend with limited symbols.
2. Includes rules for when not to annotate.
3. Supports paper and digital workflows.
4. Avoids over-capture that replaces reading.
5. Includes a review/extraction step.

Examples

Example 1: Basic Use

User says: "I need help with marginalia."

Skill guides: Collect required inputs. Follow the workflow steps. Deliver output in the specified format.

Example 2: Detailed Session

User says: "I've been reading [material] and I want to annotation system."

Skill guides: Dive deeper with additional context provided by the user. Apply all workflow steps with detailed reasoning.