Selective Underlining

By Debbie Jones
 You will learn to:

• Decide what it is you want to find out.

• How to choose the KEY WORDS and PHRASES

to underline or highlight in the text.
 Non-fiction Texts
• We are studying non-
fiction texts.
• These types of texts are
factual.
• They will contain a lot
of new vocabulary
related to the subject.
 What should you underline?
• You should start by underlining the KEY
VOCABULARY.
• This means you underline the important words
which relate to the topic.
• In a different colour, you should then underline
words and phrases which help to explain what these
important words mean.
 Let’s have a go!
• The following text
comes from the
“Roman Britain
Resource Book” and
is discussing the
Roman Army.
 The Romans Invade Britain

The men who fought in the Roman army

were paid to be full-time soldiers. The
army was divided up into legions. There
were nearly five thousand men in a
legion. They were called legionaries.
Let’s start by underlining the key words.

These are words you haven’t heard before and words you
think are important for us to learn.
The men who fought in the Roman
army were paid to be full-time soldiers.
The army was divided up into legions.
There were nearly five thousand men in
a legion. They were called legionaries.
 Choose a new colour.

Underline any information that helps explain your key

vocabulary.
The men who fought in the Roman
army were paid to be full-time soldiers.
The army was divided up into legions.
There were nearly five thousand men
in a legion. They were called
legionaries.
 How do we connect the information?

• Paid – to be full-time soldiers

• Legions – divided up into these groups
• Legions – a group of five thousand
men
• Legionaries – what they called the men
 What have we just done?
We have summarised the main points
by simply underlining a few
important words.
The underlined words will help us to
learn and remember the important
facts.
 Now it’s your turn!
• Choose two different coloured pencils.
• Read through your non-fiction text.
• With your first colour, underline any new words or words
you think are important.
• With your second colour, underline any words or phrases
which help to explain what your underlined words mean.
• Read your underlined words.
• Do they help you to remember the important information?
 Remember!
• Never underline in a
real book!
• If your text isn't a copy,
then use a piece of
plastic paper to lay on
top of the text before
you start your
underlining!