Highlighting study strategies
Many learners use highlighting as a reading tool but highlighting does not replace note-taking – it’s a second step and therefore is an effective strategy when used on notes already taken. Here are some pointers to consider when using a highlighter to help with your studying.
Techniques to help you highlight correctly
Read through the text first. Reading through the text will give you an indication of the theme and subject of the text.
Reread the text to ensure you understand the main ideas and supporting ideas. Reading the text for a second time, will help you pick up facts that you may have missed the first time you read the text. It will also help you identify main themes and supporting themes.
Highlight the main ideas only, the facts which are important or the key vocabulary – not the entire sentence. Highlighting main ideas, will help you focus on what is most important for future study purposes.
After highlighting, look at what you highlighted and summarise what you read. This will ensure you understand the broader connection and focus areas. Take what you highlighted and write a summary paragraph.
Rewriting summarized notes from your highlighted areas will help you further with your study preparations.
