Skimming Scanning December 18 2012 Skimming for a

Skimming & Scanning December 18, 2012

Skimming for a Gist or Preview WHAT IS IT? Skimming is when you run your eyes very quickly over a text to get a general idea of what it is about. You often do this to preview a text before you read it in-depth. However, you might skim instead of reading it in-depth if it is enough for your purpose. i. e. reading a newspaper or magazine

Skimming for a Gist or Preview HOW IS IT DONE? Look at headings, highlighted words, and pictured captions. Read topic sentences and concluding sentences. If time allows, read the first paragraph of the text completely. Take note of specific, reoccurring words, phrases, or dates. Do not read every single word; do not worry about parts you do not understand.

Skimming for a Gist or Preview WHY IS IT DONE? You skim to get a general idea about the following: the context of the text the purpose of the text the style of writing the level of difficulty Skimming before your read sets-up expectations of what you will meet in the text—this will help your comprehension.

Scanning for Specific Information WHAT IS IT? Scanning is when you look through a text to find specific information—perhaps a fact, a name, a statistic, or a quotation. You are not interested in anything else except for the specific information.

Scanning for Specific Information HOW IS IT DONE? Use headings and highlighted words to guide you to the right spot. Move your eyes quickly looking for the information and ignoring everything else. Slow down when you get to a part that looks as if it might be what you are looking for—read it more closely. Do not worry about parts of the text you do not understand.

Scanning for Specific Information WHY IS IT DONE? You scan for specific information because you simply do not need every bit of information in every text in every situation. You scan because you do not have the time to read everything. You mostly scan when you have a specific focus and do not need the other details of the reading.