Skimming and Scanning
Skimming and
scanning are essential reading strategies that help us gather information from
texts quickly. Skimming involves taking a quick look through a text to get an
overview and identify main ideas or themes, while scanning involves searching
for specific details or information within the text.
Let us
see how these strategies can be implemented in a detailed manner:
Skimming:
Skimming is a
reading technique that involves glancing quickly through a text to get a
general idea of its content without reading every word or focusing on all the
details. Skimming is useful when you want to get an overview of a text,
determine its relevance to your needs, or decide whether to spend more time
reading it in its entirety.
Here
are some steps for skimming text effectively:
Read the title:
Begin by reading the title of the lesson. This can give you a clue about the
subject matter and help you set expectations.
Read headings and subheadings: Scan through headings and subheadings to understand the structure of the text and the main topics or sections it covers. This will give you the outline of the content.
Read the first and last sentences of
the paragraphs. Pay attention to the first and last
sentences of each paragraph. These sentences often provide the main idea or
theme of the paragraph, giving you a sense of the main points being discussed.
Look for keywords and phrases.
Pay attention to bold or italicized words, bullet points, and highlights. These
can highlight important information or key concepts within the text.
Read the concluding section.
If there is a conclusion or summary at the end of the text, read it to get a
summary of the main points and final thoughts of the author.
Skim visually:
When reading, let your eyes move quickly over the text, scanning for keywords,
phrases, and visually distinct elements such as graphs, charts, or illustrations.
Visual cues can provide additional information or give you a quick
understanding of the material.
Note any unfamiliar words.
If you come across unfamiliar words or concepts that catch your attention, make
a note of them. Later, you can go back and explore those sections in more
detail.
Skimming allows you
to quickly assess the content, structure, and relevance of a text. This helps
you determine if the text deserves a more thorough read or if you can move on
to another source. Skimming is especially useful when you have limited time or
when you need to efficiently gather information from multiple sources. Keep in
mind, however, that skimming may not provide a deeper understanding of nuance
or detailed information within the text, so it's important to use it
judiciously based on your reading goals and needs.
Scanning:
Scanning is a
reading technique that involves quickly locating specific information within a
text rather than reading it broadly. This is a valuable skill for finding
specific details, keywords, or pieces of information without reading every
word. Scanning is typically used when you need to locate specific information
in a large text or when you want to quickly assess the relevance of a source.
Here are some steps for scanning text effectively:
Identify your search criteria:
Determine what specific information you are looking for in the text. This can
be a special keyword, a date, a name, a figure, or any other specific detail.
Focus on visual cues: As
you scan text, look for visual cues that can help guide your search. This
includes headings, subheadings, bold or italicized text, bullet points,
numbered lists, or any other visually distinct features.
Quickly move your eyes: Instead
of reading each word, let your eyes quickly move across the page, scanning for
your search criteria. Use your peripheral vision to pick up large chunks of
text at a time.
Ignore irrelevant information:
When scanning, it is important to ignore any information that is not relevant
to your search criteria. Focus on finding the specific details you need.
Use a methodical approach:
Depending on the layout of the text, you can use a methodical approach to scan
more efficiently. For example, you can scan left to right, top to bottom, or
follow the flow of text.
Use your finger or pointer:
To help guide your eyes and maintain focus, you can use your finger or pointer
to trace along the lines of text as you scan. This can prevent your eyes from
wandering and improve scanning accuracy.
Practice skimming
and scanning together. Sometimes, skimming (reading quickly for overviews) may
precede scanning. By skimming the text first, you can get a general sense of
the material and identify key sections or paragraphs to scan more closely.
Scanning allows you
to quickly locate specific information within a text, saving time and effort.
This is especially useful when you're looking for specific details in reference
materials, textbooks, or longer articles. By developing your scanning skills,
you can efficiently find the information you need and assess the relevance of a
text before deciding to engage in more extensive reading or analysis.
Intensive
Reading
Intensive Reading is
a focused and detailed reading approach that involves careful analysis of a
text to gain a deeper understanding of its content, language use, and
structure. It is characterized by attention to every word, sentence, and
paragraph, as well as the overall organization of the text. Intensive Reading is
commonly used in academic settings, language learning, and in-depth analysis of
complex texts.
Here's
a step-by-step guide on how to do Intensive Reading:
Preview the text:
Before diving into the text, take a moment to preview it by examining the
title, headings, subtitles, and any visuals or images. This will give you an
overview of the topic and structure of the lesson.
Set a purpose:
Set your purpose for reading the text. Are you looking for specific
information, trying to understand a concept, or analyzing an author's argument?
Having a clear objective will help you stay focused during the intensive
reading process.
Read actively:
As you begin reading, actively engage with the text. Highlight or underline key
points, unfamiliar vocabulary, and specific phrases. Take notes in the margin
or on a separate piece of paper to record your thoughts, questions, and
connections to the text.
Analyze Structure:
Pay attention to the organization of the text. Identify the introduction, main
body and conclusion. Look for topic sentences, supporting details, and
transitional phrases that guide the flow of information. Analyzing structure
will help you understand the author's main points and the logical progression
of thought.
Consider the use of language:
Analyze the author's choice of language and its effect on the text. Note any
literary devices, such as metaphor or simile, and examine how they contribute
to the author's message. Pay attention to sentence structure, punctuation, and
the author's tone to understand the intended meaning and style of the text.
Reflect on the material:
Take breaks while reading to reflect on the material and check your
understanding. Ask yourself questions about the main ideas, arguments, and
supporting evidence of the text. Consider any counterarguments or alternative
points of view presented in the text.
Summarizing and Synthesizing:
After completing the reading, summarize the main ideas in your own words.
Synthesize the information by linking it to prior knowledge or other lessons
you've read on the same topic. This step will help solidify your understanding
and retention of the material.
Intensive reading
requires concentration, attention, and active engagement with the text. By
following these steps, you can delve deeper into the content, analyze language
use, and gain a broader understanding of the main ideas, arguments, and
structure of the text. It is an effective approach to academic study, language
acquisition, and critical analysis of complex texts.
Extensive
reading
Extensive reading is
a reading approach that focuses on reading for pleasure and general
understanding rather than analysing every detail. It involves reading large amounts
of text, such as books, articles or stories, without necessarily going into
deep analysis or taking extensive notes. The main goals of comprehensive
reading are to develop reading fluency, expand vocabulary, and enhance overall
reading comprehension. Some of the key aspects and benefits of extensive
reading are as follows:
Material Selection:
Extensive reading allows readers to choose texts that match their interests and
reading level. It promotes engagement and enjoyment, making the reading
experience more enjoyable.
Reading for Pleasure:
Unlike intensive reading, which involves focused analysis, extensive reading
emphasizes reading for pleasure. It encourages readers to immerse themselves in
the text, fostering a love for reading and a desire to explore different genres
and themes.
Focus on overall understanding:
Rather than scrutinizing every word or sentence, comprehensive reading focuses
on understanding the overall meaning and gist of the text. The readers aim to
understand the main ideas and follow the flow of the narrative without getting
bogged down in the fine details.
Building Reading Fluency: By
reading extensively, readers develop fluency and speed in their reading. With
continued practice, they become more comfortable with the language, which leads
to increased reading ability and comprehension.
Vocabulary Expansion:
Extensive reading exposes readers to a wide range of vocabulary in context.
Through repeated encounters with new words, readers naturally acquire their
vocabulary knowledge and expand their word bank.
Cultural and Contextual Knowledge:
Extensive reading exposes readers to a variety of cultures, perspectives, and
contexts. It helps to broaden their understanding of the world, improves
cultural literacy and enhances their ability to interpret diverse texts.
Improving Reading Comprehension:
Regular extensive reading enhances overall reading comprehension skills. By
encountering different sentence structures, language patterns, and text types,
readers develop a better understanding of how ideas are communicated and how
texts are organized.
Developing Independent Reading
Skills: Extensive reading promotes independence in
reading. Readers become more confident in selecting appropriate texts, managing
their reading pace, and navigating through texts on their own.
To engage in
extensive reading, schedule regular time to read, choose material that suits
your interests and reading level, and aim to read for enjoyment and overall
understanding. Remember, the focus is on enjoying the experience of reading and
developing a lifelong reading habit, rather than scrutinizing every detail.
