1. Selective Underlining
By Debbie Jones

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. Let’s have a go!
The following text comes from the “Roman Britain Resource Book” and is discussing the Roman Army.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. Underline any information that helps explain your key vocabulary.
Choose a new colour.
Underline any information that helps explain your key vocabulary.

10. 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.

11. 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

12. 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.

13. 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?

14. 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!