1. Use a good pen.
   Pencils smear and highlighters limit you.
    
2. Read a section first, then go back and underline.
   Everything looks important the first time through. You need to see the whole picture to mark selectively.
    
3. Follow the cues the author gives with the direction words.
   The author tells you what to mark if you follow his lead.
    
4. Underline phrases, not sentences.
   Just mark the key parts. Rereading the underlining should give you a short, accurate summary of the text.
    
5. Be consistent and complete.
   Mark all items in a set or list. The author probably had a good reason for grouping ideas together.
    
6. Mark only the main points.
   Look for topic sentences. Be very selective about underlining examples or details.
    

1. Did the process of marking my book help me understand it?
2. Does the marking show the main ideas of the passage?
3. Does the marking show the organization of the passage?
4. Can I find important information quickly?
5. Have I used my system consistently?
6. Does the marking translate easily into useful study notes?

In addition to underlining, you can add other kinds of notations and symbols. Within the text itself you can double-underline or add circles, boxes, or numbers. In the margins, you can show organization patterns or important ideas with numbers, arrows, or stars. Create short summaries or outlines. Or create a dialogue between yourself and the book by marking passages you don't understand or would like to discuss later.