How can I study without highlighting?

Distributed Practice

1. Ditch the highlighter and pick up those flashcards.
2. Read the book just once and then test yourself on key terms or ideas until you know them front and back.
3. Stop procrastinating and study for a couple hours every 2 days until the test.

How much text should you highlight when reading?

A maximum of 1/3 of the page should be highlighted. Develop your own personal system of highlighting, and use it consistently. For example, choose one color to always highlight the main idea in every reading.

Is reading while highlighting good?

Highlighting draws our attention to the highlighted word, making it easier to read. The concern is that ease of reading can be interpreted as ease of knowing. That instead of thinking, “oh, that was easy to read” we think, “I must really know/understand this concept.” This is referred to as an illusion of knowing (3).

What can I use instead of highlights?

Highlighting, underlining, rereading and summarizing were all rated by the authors as being of “low utility.” Instead of highlighting and underlining, there are other methods of marking a spot in a book, which do not destroy the book. For example, you can use colorful tabs to mark specific areas in the book.

Why highlighting is a waste of time?

Highlighting and underlining led the authors’ list of ineffective learning strategies. Some research even indicates that highlighting can get in the way of learning; because it draws attention to individual facts, it may hamper the process of making connections and drawing inferences.

What is considered excessive highlighting?

Highlighting that covers the majority of the text on pages generally falls under the heading of excessive. Failure to comply with guidelines or standards might result in your inability to resell your books because they don’t meet the stringent criteria of the program.

Why is highlighting bad for studying?

Although they are common practices, studies show they offer no benefit beyond simply reading the text. Some research even indicates that highlighting can get in the way of learning; because it draws attention to individual facts, it may hamper the process of making connections and drawing inferences.

Should I use highlighter on my book?

If you want to retain information, don’t highlight. It doesn’t help. What helps: copying your favorite quotations, by hand, into your journal. Highlighting, scribbling, underlining—it’s too easy.

How do I stop highlighting?

Remove highlighting from part or all of a document

1. Select the text that you want to remove highlighting from, or press Ctrl+A to select all of the text in the document.
2. Go to Home and select the arrow next to Text Highlight Color.
3. Select No Color.

Should you highlight in books?

Highlighting a textbook as you read does help make you feel great. Many students sit down, start reading their textbooks, and immediately begin highlighting everything that looks important. Sometimes they use different colored highlighters. Sometimes they even underline parts of the highlighted information.

How do you highlight properly?

Highlighting tips

1. Only highlight after you’ve reached the end of a paragraph or a section.
2. Limit yourself to highlighting one sentence or phrase per paragraph.
3. Highlight key words and phrases instead of full sentences.
4. Consider color-coding: choose one color for definitions and key points and another color for examples.

Is highlighting actually effective?

Final verdict: Highlighting text is not an effective or reliable way to study for a test. It may help if it’s done effectively, which is often difficult for students, but not by much. It could even hurt your ability to make inferences about the text.