The Topic:

Skimming and Scanning

Easier - There are different styles of reading for different situations. The technique you
choose will depend on the purpose for reading. For example, you might be reading for
enjoyment, information, or to complete a task. If you are exploring or reviewing, you
might skim a document. If you're searching for information, you might scan for a
particular word. To get detailed information, you might use a technique such as SQ4R.
You need to adjust your reading speed and technique depending on your purpose.
 
Many people consider skimming and scanning search techniques rather than reading
strategies. However when reading large volumes of information, they may be more
practical than reading. For example, you might be searching for specific information,
looking for clues, or reviewing information.
 
Harder - Web pages, novels, textbooks, manuals, magazines, newspapers, and mail are
just a few of the things that people read every day. Effective and efficient readers learn
to use many styles of reading for different purposes. Skimming, scanning, and critical
reading are different styles of reading and information processing.
 
Skimming is used to quickly identify the main ideas of a text. When you read the
newspaper, you're probably not reading it word-by-word, instead you're scanning the
text. Skimming is done at a speed three to four times faster than normal reading. People
often skim when they have lots of material to read in a limited amount of time. Use
skimming when you want to see if an article may be of interest in your research.
 
There are many strategies that can be used when skimming. Some people read the first
and last paragraphs using headings, summarizes and other organizers as they move
down the page or screen. You might read the title, subtitles, subheading, and
illustrations. Consider reading the first sentence of each paragraph. This technique is
useful when you're seeking specific information rather than reading for comprehension.
Skimming works well to find dates, names, and places. It might be used to review
graphs, tables, and charts.
 
Scanning is a technique you often use when looking up a word in the telephone book or
dictionary. You search for key words or ideas. In most cases, you know what you're
looking for, so you're concentrating on finding a particular answer. Scanning involves
moving your eyes quickly down the page seeking specific words and phrases. Scanning
is also used when you first find a resource to determine whether it will answer your
questions. Once you've scanned the document, you might go back and skim it.
 
When scanning, look for the author's use of organizers such as numbers, letters, steps,
or the words, first, second, or next. Look for words that are bold faced, italics, or in a
different font size, style, or color. Sometimes the author will put key ideas in the
margin.
 
Reading off a computer screen has become a growing concern. Research shows that
people have more difficulty reading off a computer screen than off paper. Although they
can read and comprehend at the same rate as paper, skimming on the computer is much
slower than on paper.
 

Fast Reading Style

http://www.learnline.ntu.edu.au/studyskills/re/re_re_fa.html
This website provides an overview of fast reading techniques including
scanning, key words spotting, and skimming.
Other Reading Techniques Websites:
Reading and Understanding Texts http://www.coun.uvic.ca/learn/read.html
Reading Techniques http://www.petech.ac.za/sc/reading.htm
 
Seven Steps to Effective Reading
http://www.edgehill.ac.uk/study/lss/tandl/eff_read.html
This page discusses different types of reading (skimming, scanning, reading in-
depth), deciding what to read, getting ready to read, SQ3R, taking notes from
reading, problems with reading, and continuing to improve your reading.
Other Sites on Effective and Efficient Reading:
Reading Effectively http://www.allenandunwin.com/eStudy/reading.asp
Reading Efficiently http://english.glendale.cc.ca.us/speed1.html
  
Super Reading
http://www.school-for-champions.com/grades/reading.htm
This page provides an overview of reading techniques including reading for
speed, skimming, and grouping words. You can even take a short online quiz.
 
Using reading strategies to read more quickly and effectively
http://www.mindtools.com/rdstratg.html
This article discusses effective use of reading strategies including active reading
and reading particular types of texts.
Other Websites to Improve Reading Speed:
Rapid Reading http://www.uwgb.edu/esms/sss/read.htm
Reading Fast http://www.smcvt.edu/src/studyskills/reading_fast.htm
Speed Reading http://www.mindtools.com/speedrd.html
  

Using the websites, complete the following activities:

 
Check Your Reading Speed. Try a Reading Speed Check and Speed Reading Online
Test. You can check for general reading, study reading, and even interpret your own
reading speed.
 
Test Your Skills. Try a Skimming Exercise and a Scanning Exercise.
 
Analyze Your Reading. Read the article How Not to Read the News Paper. What kind
of reader are you?
  
Be a Super Reader. Read the page Super Reading, then take the online quiz.
 
Build a Bookmark. Create a bookmark for skimming or scanning with reminders about
how to skim or scan.
 
Skim Across Subjects. Pick a subject area. Use the Improving Your Reading In All
Subjects to find out how to improve reading in this area. Create a poster showing
techniques to help reading in this subject.
 
Practice Skimming and Scanning. Go Amyby's Education Resources and choose some
online text to practice you skimming and scanning skills. Try some practice websites.
 
Complete a WebQuest or an Internet Treasure Hunt. Many webquests can be used to
practice skimming and scanning skills. Internet Treasure Hunts are also good practice.
Use the Filamentality and WebQuest page website to search for projects in your subject
area. You can even create your own online project.
 

Additional Websites About Skimming and Scanning

Critical Reading Techniques
http://occ.awlonline.com/bookbind/pubbooks/lardner_awl/chapter1/custom5/del
uxe-content.html
This page provides ideas for increasing your critical reading skills. It discusses
previewing, reading, and reviewing techniques.
 
How Do You Become a Better Reader?
http://lc.ust.hk/~sac/advice/R1.htm
This page provides advice on becoming a better reading. It outlines specific
techniques and ideas.
 
Improving Your Reading In All Subjects
http://volweb.utk.edu/school/bedford/bedford/reading.htm
This page provides an overview of the different types of writing. Then, it
discusses ideas for how to improve reading in all subject areas including science,
math, history, geography, literature, and poetry.
 
Internet Know How - Speeding E-Reading
http://www.webfirst.com.au/I-know-how/12EReading.html
This article explore issues in reading off the screen. It examines a series of
factors in designing web pages for the reading on the computer screen.
Other Sites on Writing for Online Reading:
Reading on the Web http://www.useit.com/alertbox/9710a.html
Writing for the Web
http://www.tekdok.com/usablewebsites/writing_for_the_web.htm
Use typograph and layout for skimming
http://html.tucows.com/webmaster/intranetstuff/typography.html
Screen Reading Problems http://dana.ucc.nau.edu/~amt4/htscreen.html
 Why People Scan on the Web
http://www.tekdok.com/usablewebsites/scanning.htm
 
Preparing to Read
http://www.yorku.ca/cdc/lsp/read/read3.htm
This page focuses on techniques for active reading using SQ3R. It includes
sections on general beginning questions, setting a purpose by surveying a
chapter, guiding yourself through the reading, making notes, highlighting, and
summarizing, and after the reading is done.
Other Pages on Improving Reading Skills:
Improving Reading Skills http://www.how-to-study.com/read.htm
 
Skimming
http://www.csbsju.edu/academicadvising/help/skimming.html
The page compares skimming and scanning and provides some techniques.
Other Overviews of Skimming and Scanning:
eHow to Read Quickly and Effectively
http://www.ehow.com/eHow/eHow/0,1053,3832,00.html
Insects: Skimming and Scanning
http://english.unitecnology.ac.nz/resources/units/insects/skimming.html?
printable=1
Reading Skills http://www.lamission.cc.ca.us/devcom/readingskills.html
Reading Strategies: skimming, scanning, reading intensively
http://news.1september.ru/eng/1999/eng19-3.htm
Types of Reading http://sanborn.k12.nh.us/HS/Website/typesRead.htm
 
Skimming and Scanning Scientific Material
http://www.ucc.vt.edu/stdysk/skimming.html
This page describes skimming and scanning techniques for scientific material.
Other Pages to Improve Science Reading:
How to Read a Scientific Research Paper
http://helios.hampshire.edu/~apmNS/design/RESOURCES/HOW_READ.html
Skimming and Scanning http://guts.studentorg.wisc.edu/brskmscn.htm
 
Track Student.com - Communication Skills: Reading
http://www.trackstudent.com/contents/reading.htm
This page focuses on the importance of reading in everyday life. It also discusses
the techniques of skimming, scanning, and speed reading.
 
Websites For Teachers
Amyby's Education Resources
http://amby.com/educate/reading.html
This website provides lots of texts for students to practice reading. There are
also some websites with reading comprehension practice opportunities.
 
ERIC Clearinghouse Reading English and Comprehension
http://www.indiana.edu/~eric_rec/
This web page provides a good starting points on all areas of reading.
 
How to Read Nonfictional English Texts Faster and More Effectively
 http://www.aitech.ac.jp/~iteslj/Techniques/Stiefenhoefer-FastReading.html
This page provides techniques, tasks, and exercises to improve speed when
reading informational materials. Although designed for ESL students, these
guidelines are useful for all students.
Other Text Reading Strategies:
How To Read University Texts or Journal Articles
http://www.coun.uvic.ca/learn/program/hndouts/Readtxt.html
Reading to Comprehend and Learn (PSQ5R)
http://www.coun.uvic.ca/learn/program/hndouts/psq5r.html
 
Reading: Skimming and Scanning
http://humanities.byu.edu/linguistics/lp/lpr3.html
In this lesson the students skim an article to find out the main points. They also
formulate and answer questions by scanning materials for specific information.
 
Reading and skimming from computer screens and books
http://cogprints.soton.ac.uk/documents/disk0/00/00/07/54/cog00000754-
00/pmuter2.htm
This web page discusses research regarding reading and skimming from a
computer screen versus paper. It found the reading speed and comprehension is
the same for the computer screen and paper. However, skimming on a computer
is 41% slower than on paper.
 
Reading Comprehension Page
http://muskingum.edu/~cal/database/reading.html
This page provides lots of ideas for increasing reading comprehension. It begins
with an overview of the characteristics of good and poor readers, then provides
specific reading strategies.
General Reading Resources:
Learning to Read http://www.toread.com/
Reading Strategies
http://www.mcps.k12.md.us/departments/isa/staff/abita/english/reading_strategi
es.htm
 
Reading for Information: The Trash-N-Treasure Method of Teaching Note-Taking
http://www.soe.ecu.edu/LTDI/project/treasure.htm
This article focuses on ideas for helping students read for information. It
discusses techniques such as skimming and scanning.
 
Reading Lesson - Scanning Text
http://esl.about.com/homework/esl/library/lessons/blscan.htm
This lesson was designed for an ESL classroom, but can apply to all classrooms.
It provides practice in scanning skills.
 
Review Basketball
http://www.ofcn.org/cyber.serv/academy/ace/lang/ceclang/ceclang067.html
This lesson uses a game to review skimming and scanning skills.
 
School Improvement in Maryland
 http://www.mdk12.org/practices/support
%5Fsuccess/mspap/tips/reading/cam.html
This page contains strategies to help students with reading. The "Reading to be
Informed" page provides a good classroom activity that requires students to read
and answer questions. The ACE page focuses on specific reading and writing
activities.
 
Skimming and Scanning (Age 5-11)
http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/english/skimming.htm
This lesson provides practice in skimming to find consonant blends.
 
The Skimming Way: Reading Strategy
http://www.ltcc.net/modules/lect_reading/skimming/sld001.htm
This online, PowerPoint slide show provides an overview of skimming and
skimming techniques.
 
Speed Reading at the UTLC
http://www.utexas.edu/student/utlc/rwssl/srho.html
This page discussions issues relates to speed reading and provides some tips to
increase reading speed.
Other Pages at this Site:
Textbook Reading Handouts
http://www.utexas.edu/student/utlc/rwssl/rdgho.html
 
TurboRead Speed Reading
http://www.turboread.com/
Although this is a commercial product, it might be helpful to provide an
alternative view on skimming, scanning, and speed reading.
Other Speed Reading Resources:
How to Read Less More, and Twice as Fast
http://www.str.org/free/solid_ground/SG9805.htm
Tips for Improving your Reading Speed http://www.studyhall.com/sread.htm
 
Student Guide to Web Research Learning to Read on the Web
http://www.teachervision.com/lesson-plans/lesson-4893.html
This lesson provides ideas for skimming and scanning web pages.
Related Pages at Website:
Student Guide http://www.teachervision.com/lesson-plans/lesson-4892.html
Learning the Read on the Web http://www.teachervision.com/lesson-
plans/lesson-4895.html