Highlighting is an important study skill. It is a strategy that should be taught. This study technique can help with exam revision and assignment writing.
Now think about that for a moment. Have you ever been taught how to highlight information?
I’ll ask another question. What percentage of your page is commonly highlighted? If it is more than 40% then you need a lesson in highlighting.
Highlighting is a Study Skill.
Like I mentioned earlier, highlighting is a skill. Common uses for highlighting are:
- Taking notes for assignments
- Reading over study notes and emphasizing main points
The point of highlighting is to emphasize key ideas.
The highlighted word is calling out to you and saying “Look at me! I am important. Block out the cute person beside you and look at me”
Now think about how you highlight. If more than half the page is highlighted then your eyes are not going to know what is important at all. And all you have shown your teacher and your mind is that you can color in. And frankly, you should have learnt that a long time ago.
Top Tips for highlighting important information.
This summary is taken from the book Effective Study Skills by Judy Roberts, pages 228-230
- Use different colors – choose one color for main idea, another for secondary ideas
- Think before you highlight – Skim the page or chapter. If you know a lot about the subject then you don’t need to highlight too much.
- Read then highlight – don’t highlight as you read. Read a section first then go over it again and summarize the main parts. This will make sure you are making a decision about what is important and stop you just coloring in
- Don’t highlight headings or subheading – these already stand out.
These steps involve planning to remember and studying only what you understand.
Highlighting is one of those study skills that make students feel good. You can say to yourself, your teachers and parents “Hey look at me! I’m studying. I just read 5 pages” and then show them your coloring in. That is passive learning and you haven’t thought about anything you just read.
I want you to change the way you highlight information. Stop being passive and use the strategies mentioned above.
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