Prepare mentally or on paper a method of notation that includes a combination of words, symbols, and colors that you can use while highlighting. Choose easily recognizable notational marks such as academic or business proofreading marks, stars, arrows or numbers. These marks, when combined with colored highlighting, should immediately bring your attention to an area of text that holds a key word, concept or phrase.
Practice using your highlighters and notational method with a newspaper or magazine article. Only highlight key words, concepts or phrases. Add or remove notations marks until you find the best combination of highlighter or pen colors and symbols that work best with your situation and study, memorization or retention habits.
Use a ruler or index card as a guide to highlight with a straight line. To reduce smudging, wipe the edge of the ruler or card with a tissue after each line is drawn.
Read your required paper or book section without uncapping your highlighter or pen.
Skim and review you paper or book section and highlight key words, concepts or phrases using your new method. A highlighter typically has an angular tip which produces a broad line when drawn horizontally and a narrow line when drawn vertically. Use the narrow tip with small text or cramped text in columns, tables or charts. Use the broad tip with large text and wide columns.