Download Non-fiction Texts - Primary Resources

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 nonfiction 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!