When it comes to trying to get better at ..... well, whatever. I believe that mimicking a writer's writing style or and artist's art style, is a good way to find your strengths and weaknesses for your own way. Kind of like a ninja trying to copy their sensi in their crafts and realizing that they suck with throwing weapons, unlike their sensi, and would much prefer weapons with close combat potential. That would be an example of trying to annotate and understand the reading for yourself and trying to better yourself as a writer.