Skimming and Scanning
Skimming
refers to the process of reading only main ideas within a passage to get an overall impression of the content of a readingHow to Skim:
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Read the title.*
Read the introduction or the first paragraph.*
Read the first sentence of every other paragraph.*
Read any headings and sub-headings.*
Notice any pictures, charts, or graphs.*
Notice any italicized or boldface words or phrases.*
Read the summary or last paragraph.Scanning
is a reading technique to be used when you want to find specific information quickly. In scanning you have a question in your mind and you read a passage only to find the answer, ignoring unrelated information.How to Scan:
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State the specific information you are looking for.*
Try to anticipate how the answer will appear and what clues you might use to help you locate the answer. For example, if you were looking for a certain date, you would quickly read the paragraph looking only for numbers.*
Use headings and any other aids that will help you identify which sections might contain the information you are looking for.*
Selectively read and skip through sections of the passage.(From College Reading and Study Skills and
Academic Reading and Study Skills for International Students)
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