Taking notes is one of the most recommended study routines. In fact, it is advisable that the student review the annotations that he himself has made. It is possible to borrow notes from a colleague due to the impossibility of attending class one day.
However, the learning process is always personalized. And personalization is reflected in the way annotations are taken, in the abbreviations used and in the words used. There is another study technique that can be applied on this basis: underlining.. How to underline notes: five basic tips to identify the most relevant parts of a text.
1. Frame the main ideas
The notes can have an image of uniformity when perceived with the naked eye. Therefore, it is important that you make comprehensive readings of the text to identify the main ideas and the argumentation that accompanies each thesis. Use a color you like to highlight the underlined content. It is recommended that you mark only the most relevant phrases.
But you can also point to a specific paragraph if it is an important piece of information. Use a color that you like to perform the task. But, at first, use a pencil. In this way, you can correct any stroke.
2. Underline Type
The type of underlining will also depend on the location of the words you want to highlight. It is common to make a horizontal line to visually frame the key concepts. However, underlining can also be done by means of a vertical stroke. This is the case, for example, when you want to frame a paragraph or several complete lines.
3. Point out those data that answer key questions
Take an active role during the study process. Dialogue with the text itself to identify what information is essential and what data is less relevant. Use underlining to highlight those questions that directly answer some of the most important questions of the topic. Thus, underlining allows you to gain time to identify at a glance where the core of the notes is located.
4. Underline consciously
Sometimes, it is possible to put the accent on the aesthetic part. The underline transforms the image of the notes, personalizes them with a beautiful tone. The aesthetic factor is not secondary during the study process. It is directly related to visual memory.
A well-presented document is easier to read than one with a chaotic structure. However, underlining is a study technique that is used as a means: it is not the final end. Therefore, what is really important is that you carry out the process of underlining in a conscious and intentional way.
5. How to underline notes: practical experience
Experience is the essential ingredient in learning. The first time a person underlines notes, she feels unfamiliar with that routine. Nevertheless, the vision changes when you have already done the process numerous times. Through practical experience you can acquire techniques and resources to underline effectively. Highlight what is truly significant. The most important thing is not the amount of concepts indicated. It is recommended that underlining help you study and, also, to make a possible outline with the most relevant information. The very process of making the scheme invites you to delve into the notes from a holistic perspective.
Therefore, you can not only underline a book, but also the notes. The latter can be cleaned up, if they are very messy, before starting to highlight the main ideas. How to underline notes? We have shared five basic tips to highlight the most relevant parts of a text.