Scanning and Skimming http://www.readingdynamicsrsa.com/speedtest.htm

Skimming and scanning are especially valuable when there is only one item of information that you need to find from a particular passage. Skimming and scanning are very rapid reading methods in which you glance at a passage to find specific information. These reading methods make it easier for you to grasp large amounts of material, especially when you're previewing. They are also useful when you don't need to know every word.

Read the introduction or the first paragraph. Skimming refers to the process of reading only main ideas within a passage to get an overall impression of the content of a reading selection. An example of this is when we read the title of a newspaper to know what happens everyday. How to skim: Read the title. Read the introduction or the first paragraph. Read the first sentence of every other paragraph. Notice any pictures, charts, or graphs. * Notice any italicized or boldface words or phrases. Read the summary or last paragraph.

State the specific information you are looking for. 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: 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.

Skim and Scan this special note in 30 seconds When you skim and scan, you need to cover everything, even titles, subtitles, side features, and visuals. That bit of information you need may not be tidily packaged in a paragraph, so you need to check the entire page--not just the main body of the text, there are also many visual clues that help you to find information. Heads and subheads break up the text and identify the content of each part. Where key terms are introduced and defined, they appear in boldface type. Graphs and charts have titles and/or captions that tell you what they are about. These clues will help you to find information. . . but only if you use them.

SW: Skim and Scan the text: A newly published report indicates that jogging could have adverse health effects, especially for those who do it alone. A team of researchers from Harvard University has suggested that going for a run on your own is not as healthy as previously believed and is nowhere near as beneficial as jogging as part of a group. They suggested it could actually be detrimental to one’s health. Experiments conducted on rats indicated that running alone raises stress levels and stifles brain cell regeneration. Professor Elizabeth Gould, who led the research, said: “These results suggest that, in the absence of social interaction, a normally beneficial experience can exert a potentially deleterious influence on the brain.”

The researchers monitored two groups of rats on exercise wheels The researchers monitored two groups of rats on exercise wheels. One group exercised alone, the other as part of a rodent jogging team. After two weeks, the scientists conducted tests to ascertain the rate of brain cell growth in all of the test animals. The results revealed that the communal joggers had double the amount of new brain cells as the solo runners. Professor Gould concluded that: “When experienced in a group setting, running stimulates neurogenesis (brain cell growth). However, when running occurs in social isolation, these positive effects are suppressed.” Joggers around the world should perhaps take the research with a pinch of salt and remember that jogging is healthier than the rat race.

Part 1: Skimming Answer the following questions using your own words but taking into account the information in the text. According to the text, is jogging alone beneficial for our health? Why? Has this piece of research been tested on humans? 2. Choose a, b or c in each question below. Only one choice is correct. Some Harvard researchers claim that jogging alone a. is not healthy. b. is as healthy as it was thought. c. is not as healthy as it was thought. Jogging alone.. increases the production of brain cells. increases the size of the brain. c. reduces the production of brain cells.

Part 2: Scanning Are the following statements TRUE or FALSE? Identify the part of the text that supports your answer. Jogging with rats stimulates the brain cell production: ________ Evidence: b. Jogging rats produce more brain cells if they do it in group: ________ Answer the following questions: c. What does professor Gould says about the results of this experiment? d. What were her conclusions?

In this chapter you will learn: To skim to get an overview of an article. To scan to locate specific information quickly. © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers

Skimming Skimming is reading selectively to get a general idea of what an article is about. Read some parts/skip others. Look for the most important ideas. Read for main ideas. Skip facts and details. © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers

Purposes for Skimming Skim through a review of the metric system if you already are familiar with it. Skim a section of a reference book if you are looking for specific information. Skim a newspaper report if you wish only to understand the main events. Skim a movie review to make a decision on seeing a movie. © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers

How to Skim Read the title. Read the subtitle or introductory byline. Read the headings. Read the first sentence of each paragraph. Read the key words. Read the title or legend of graphics. Read the last paragraph or summary. © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers

Use Skimming Effectively Preview skimming Overview skimming Review skimming © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers

Limitations of Skimming Cannot expect to retain facts and details. Expect 50% comprehension rate. Use only when reading for general concepts. © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers

Alternating Skimming and Reading In a given article, you can skim several sections until you come to a section that is of particular interest or that fulfills your purpose for reading. © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers

Skimming Internet Sources Scroll through the document by using the down arrow or page down key. Scroll through the entire document quickly, noticing the major headings, graphics, and length before you read. © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers

Skimming Textbook Chapters Focus on: Chapter objectives and introductions. Headings and typographical aids. Graphic and visual aids. Review and discussion questions. © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers

Skimming Reference Sources Skim for the: Date. Organization of the source. Topical index. © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers

Skimming Newspaper Articles Read the: Title. Opening paragraphs. First sentences of remaining paragraphs. © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers

Skimming Magazine Articles Read the: Title/subtitle/byline. Opening paragraphs. Photograph/captions. Headings/first sentences. Last several paragraphs. Read Photograph Captions. © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers

Skimming Nonfiction Books Read the: Front and back cover of the book jacket. Author’s credentials. Table of contents. Preface. First and last chapters. © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers

Scanning Scanning is searching for a specific piece of information; your only purpose is to locate that information. © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers

Scanning Check the Organization. Form Specific Questions. Anticipate Word Clues. Identify Likely Answer Locations. Use a Systematic Pattern. Confirm Your Answer. © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers

Scanning Columnar Materials Check overall organization. Scan for a specific word, phrase, name, date, or place name. Use the arrow scanning pattern… straight down the column. Focus on the first letter of each line. © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers

Scanning Prose Materials Let your eyes drift quickly through a passage searching for clue words and phrases. Move your eyes across sentences and entire paragraphs, noticing only the clue words to locate an answer. © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers

Summary Questions What is skimming? What steps should you follow to skim effectively? What are the three types of skimming? What is scanning? What steps are involved in the process of scanning? © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers

Critical Reading Tip #13: Anticipating Your Reading Assignments What is the difficulty level of the material? How it it organized? What is the overall subject and how is it approached? What type of material is it? Are there logical breaking points where you might divide the assignment into portions, leaving a portion for later study? At what points might you stop and review? What connections are there between this assignment and class lectures? © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers

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