5-Skimming and scanning.pptVIP

Skimming is reading for the general idea or the big picture. As a rapid-reading skill, skimming may not be so familiar to you. If you do one of the following, you will find yourself skimming: 1. Reread material you have already studied.2. Look over and sort out your mail.3. Flip through a new book or magazine.4. Keep informed in a general way about the news. Let your eyes float down over the content of the text, looking for clue words that may tell you who, what, when, where, how many, or how much. Look also for the writers direction words. Such words as furthermore and also suggest that the preceding thought is still being discussed. Words such as however, yet and on the contrary suggest that the thought is apt to reverse itself or take another direction. When you do not intend to read closely, you start skimming. The key word for skimming is general. Your attention should be focused on a general overview, not a detailed knowledge. You should look for only the topic, the main idea or the main points. Skimming is not the same as careful reading. In fact, some people dont call it reading at all; they call it semi-reading. Good skimmers read selectively, completely skipping over some sentences, paragraphs, even whole pages. They know that they can always come back and read for details, if they wish. The following practical steps for skimming are suggested to help you get started: 1. Read the title. 2. Note the authors name and the source of the text. 3. Read the first paragraph completely.  4. Read subheadings and first sentences of remaining paragraphs. 5. Alternatively read and float over the body of the material, looking for the following: Main idea of paragraphs, with some of the more important supporting details; Clue words, such as names, dates, and qualifying adjectives; Direction words, indicating the writers agreement or disagreement with the idea under discussion; Numbered sequences and ideas set off by attention-getting markings