Year 6 English: Headings, bullet points and underlining: structuring a text
Part of the Year 6 English cohesion, editing and reading your own writing aloud chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Headings, bullet points and underlining: structuring a text
Organisational devices make a text easy to follow. A heading names the section. Bullet points set out a list. Underlining or bold type shows a key word. Use them to help the reader find information quickly.
A short guide with devices
What to bring
- a coat
- sensible shoes
- a packed lunch
Remember to check the weather before you leave.
Key ideas
- A heading tells the reader what the section is about.
- Bullet points set out a list of items, each punctuated the same way.
- Underline or bold a key word to make it stand out.
Method. Think about which device shows a list.
- Find the list. The things to bring are a list of items.a list
- Name the device. Bullet points set out a list.bullet points
- Write the answer. bullet points
Check. Bullet points set out a list. ✓
Method. Think about what a reader needs at the start of a section.
- Think about the reader. The reader wants to know what the section is about.what it is about
- Name the purpose. A heading names the section.to name the section
- Write the answer. to name the section and show what it is about
Check. A heading names the section. ✓
Method. Think about what underlining does.
- Think about the word. Weather is key information about the trip.key word
- Name the reason. Underlining makes the key word stand out.stand out
- Write the answer. to show it is a key word the reader must notice
Check. Underlining shows a key word. ✓
Watch out
Watch out: use headings and bullet points to help the reader, not to fill the page. Too many devices can make a text hard to follow.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Ask your child to make a list of things to bring on a day out, with a heading and bullet points, and to underline one key word.
Exercise 13C Practice: headings, bullet points and underlining
Method. Think about what names a section.
- Think about the device. A heading is a short title for a section.short title
- Name it. The device that names a section is a heading.heading
- Write the answer. heading
Check. A heading names a section. ✓
Method. Test each choice against the sentence or the text.
- Read what the question asks for. Decide what the sentence or the text needs.
- Test the choice. Bullet points make each item easy to find and read.bullet points, one item on each line fits
- Reject the other choices. A long line of items is hard to read quickly.a coat, shoes and lunch in one line do not fit
- Write the answer. bullet points, one item on each line
Check. The choice fits the sentence or the text. ✓
Method. Choose the key information, not a small word.
- Find the key word. Weather is the important information to notice.weather
- Check the other word. The is a small word and not key information.the
- Write the answer. weather
Check. Weather is the key word. ✓
Method. Write a short title that names the section.
- Find the topic. The section is about food.food
- Write the heading. A short heading names the topic.Food for the trip
- Write the answer. Food for the trip.
Check. The heading names the section. ✓
Method. Look for the style that the other items use.
- Look at the style. The items are short fragments with no full stop.no full stop
- Choose the item. A coat is a fragment, like sensible shoes.a coat
- Write the answer. a coat
Check. a coat is consistent with the list. ✓
Method. Think about the order of the steps.
- Think about the order. Steps happen in order.order
- Name the device. Numbered steps or bullet points show the order.numbered steps
- Write the answer. Numbered steps, because they show the order clearly.
Check. The device shows the order clearly. ✓
Method. Think about the devices for emphasis.
- Think about emphasis. Underlining and bold type both show key words.key words
- Name the device. Underlining shows a key word.underlining
- Write the answer. underlining
Check. Underlining is an emphasis device. ✓
Method. Keep each bullet short, with no full stop.
- Write the first. A ball is a fragment.a ball
- Write the second. A picnic blanket is a fragment too.a picnic blanket
- Write the answer. a ball / a picnic blanket.
Check. Both bullets are consistent. ✓
Method. Read the heading and say what it introduces.
- Read the heading. Safety rules names the topic.safety rules
- Say what it tells. The section gives the rules for safety.rules for safety
- Write the answer. the section gives the rules for being safe
Check. The heading names the topic. ✓
Method. Think about how a reader uses a long text.
- Think about the reader. A reader scans for the part they need.scans
- Think about the heading. Headings show what each section is about.what each section
- Write the answer. Headings show the sections, so the reader can find the part they need.
Check. Headings help the reader find sections. ✓
Method. Think about the device that marks each item.
- Think about the device. A symbol at the start of each item marks it as a list item.symbol
- Name the device. The device is a bullet point.bullet point
- Write the answer. bullet point
Check. A bullet point marks a list item. ✓