SKIMMING

 

Skimming is a strategic, selective reading method in which you focus on the main ideas of a text. When skimming, deliberately skip text that provides details, stories, data, or other elaboration. Instead of closely reading every word, focus on the introduction, chapter summaries, first and last sentences of paragraphs, bold words, and text features. Skimming is extracting the essence of the author’s main messages rather than the finer points.Skimming is the other technique of fast reading. Skimming is the act of glancing through a text for gathering a basic idea about that text. For instance, if you want to read an interesting article on the newspaper and you do not have enough time to read more than one article, you will skim through most of the article to decide exactly which article you want to read. Skimming will also save a great amount of your valuable time if you know how to skim a text efficiently. 

Purposes of Skimming

1. To see what is in the news on a website or on a paper
2. To look through a text to decide whether you want to read it or not
3. To look through the television guide/program schedule to plan your evening
4. To see through a catalog to choose an offer
5. To go through the options after searching something on Google

Skimming: Steps to Follow

• Read the title first. Generally, titles will give you the most important idea of the text. If the title does not interest you, you will probably skip it at once.
• Then read the sub-headings (if any) of the text. It will give a basic idea about the text and what’s in it.
• If there is no sub-heading, read the first line or first few lines of the text. It will give you the gist of the text.
• If you want to skim it further, you may read the first lines of all the paragraphs and focus on the emphasized (bolded & italicized) words in them to get more ideas about the text.

There are certain texts that lend themselves to skimming better than others. It is typically less beneficial to skim novels, poetry, and short stories or texts that do not have text features such as such as tables of content, chapter or section summaries, headings, bold words, pictures, and diagrams. Non-fiction texts, like textbooks, journal articles, and essays are typically full of these kinds of text features and are more suited for skimming.

Skimming can also be a good tool for conducting research and writing papers. Typically, when researching or writing, you will not need to read every word of every text closely, but will benefit more from skimming while evaluating your sources or identifying information important to your work.

Finally, know your context. There may be some texts that you are better off reading closely and thoroughly. Some professors specifically tell you that they include small details from the textbook on exams. You may have some classes that are just difficult to understand, and you may find that reading closely helps you comprehend concepts better. Before skimming, spend some time thinking about your classes, professors, and needs to determine if you have any texts you may need to read more closely.

When skimming, it’s important to continue to use active reading strategy. This keeps your brain active, engaged, and focused, and helps you understand and retain information better and longer. Here are a few effective active reading strategies to pair with skimming:

Set a purpose for reading. Instead of approaching the text as something you just have to get through, identify a purpose for this reading. What do you want to get out of it? Why are you reading it? Keep this purpose in mind as you read.

Preview. Look through the text before started to read and focus on headings, illustrations, captions, highlighted items, end of chapter summaries, etc. These features give you an idea of the main concepts of the text and what you should focus on while skimming.

Make a prediction. Right after previewing, make a prediction about what you think the chapter or section is going to be about.

Activate prior knowledge. Make a list of what you already know about the topic and what you want to know about it. Identify and write down any questions you have.

Annotate. Instead of copying down copious notes from the book, jot down brief notes and thoughts (in your own words) in the margins of the text or in a notebook. PDF viewers, such as Adobe Acrobat and Preview, also let you add notes directly on the page of a digital text. Other possibilities include note-taking apps such as Evernote, OneNote, or Google Keep.

Summarize the main ideas. After a section or page, stop and write a 1-3 sentence summary in your own words. This keeps your brain engaged and ensures you are comprehending what you read.

Here are some examples of how you might use skimming in different situations:

Example 1: Skimming a News Article

You’re reading an article titled “New Technology Revolutionizes Renewable Energy”. To skim it:

• Read the Headline: The title suggests the article is about a breakthrough in renewable energy.

• Glance at the Subheadings: Subheadings might include “Solar Innovations,” “Wind Power Advancements,” and “Impact on the Environment.” These give you a sense of what specific areas of renewable energy the article covers.

• Read the First Sentence of Each Paragraph: The first sentence of a paragraph often summarizes the main idea. For example, “The latest solar panel design is increasing efficiency by 20%.”

• Look at Key Words: Words like “breakthrough,” “new,” or “environmental benefits” might stand out and give you a quick sense of the overall message.

From this, you’d know the article is about technological advancements in solar and wind energy and their positive environmental impacts.

Example 2: Skimming a Chapter in a Textbook

You’re about to read a chapter on “The Causes of World War I” in a history textbook.

• Read the Title and Introduction: The title tells you the chapter will focus on the causes of the war, and the introduction may summarize key factors, like “alliances” or “militarism.”

• Scan the Section Headings: Headings like “The Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand,” “Nationalism in Europe,” and “The Arms Race” let you know what topics will be covered.

• Look at Bolded or Italicized Terms: Terms like “Triple Entente” or “Balkan Crisis” might stand out, signaling important concepts to pay attention to.

• Read the First and Last Sentences of Each Section: These sentences typically summarize the main ideas, helping you grasp the chapter’s key points.

After skimming, you would know the chapter discusses various political, economic, and social causes that led to World War I.

Example 3: Skimming an Email

You receive a long email from your boss about an upcoming project. Instead of reading it word for word, you skim for the most important information:

• Read the Subject Line: The subject might be “Project Update and Deadlines,” which tells you the email is likely about the progress and timeline of the project.

• Look for Bullet Points or Lists: These might outline the next steps or key deliverables, like “Finish report by Friday” or “Prepare presentation for Monday.”

• Focus on Deadlines and Key Dates: Skim for any dates or timeframes mentioned, as they are critical.

• Read the First and Last Sentences of Each Paragraph: These often summarize the key points, like “We need to complete all tasks by the end of next week.”

From skimming, you get a sense of the tasks you need to complete and the deadlines, without reading the entire email word for word.

Example 4: Skimming a Research Paper

You’re skimming a research paper titled “The Effects of Climate Change on Marine Life.”

• Start with the Abstract: The abstract provides a brief overview of the study’s purpose, methods, and findings.

• Scan the Section Headings: Sections like “Introduction,” “Methodology,” “Results,” and “Conclusion” give you an idea of where to find specific information.

• **Look for Figures