Last Updated on December 6, 2024 by Editorial Team
In today’s fast-paced world, reading has become an essential part of our daily lives. We’re constantly bombarded with information, from emails to news articles.
With so much to read, how can we keep up without spending countless hours on every word? That’s where skimming and scanning come in — two techniques that help us process large amounts of information quickly and efficiently.
Skimming and scanning are important skills that apply to various reading materials. Whether it’s academic texts or online articles, learning these techniques can save time while still helping us extract the key information.
In this article, we’ll explore skimming and scanning in depth. We’ll cover the differences between the two, and their benefits, and offer practical tips for using them in your reading.
Understanding skimming and scanning techniques
Skimming and scanning, like other reading techniques such as reading out loud or silently, are important strategies. They help you quickly identify the most relevant information in a text.
Skimming is about reading quickly to get an overview of the content and main ideas. When skimming, focus on headings, subheadings, the first and last sentences of paragraphs, and any bold or italicized text.
Skimming gives you a general idea of what the text is about, helping you decide if it’s worth reading in more detail. It’s a great way to get the gist of the material without spending too much time on it.
Scanning, on the other hand, is used to find specific information. You use your knowledge of the topic to quickly search for the details you need, like finding a statistic in a report by looking for numbers or related terms.
Both skimming and scanning are valuable skills for anyone who needs to comprehend large amounts of information quickly. This includes students, researchers, and business professionals.
By mastering these techniques, you can save time and improve your reading efficiency. Plus, these strategies help you retain key information while working on your overall reading skills.
Examples of skimming and scanning techniques
1. Skimming
Skimming can be a useful tool for children when they are trying to get a general understanding of a text or passage. Here are a few examples of how skimming can be used in a child-friendly context:
1. Reviewing academic articles: Academic articles can be lengthy and complex, so skimming can be a useful tool for identifying key information and determining whether a given article is worth reading in full.
Skimming can help you quickly identify the author’s main arguments, evidence, and conclusions.
2. Reading news articles: News articles can be time-sensitive, and reading every article in full can be impractical. Skimming can help you quickly get the gist of the story and determine whether it is worth reading in full.
You can skim the headlines, lead paragraphs, and section headings to quickly understand the main points of the article.
3. Reviewing resumes: When hiring, employers are often faced with a large number of resumes to review. Skimming can be used to quickly scan through resumes to identify the most relevant qualifications and experience of potential candidates.
Skimming can help you quickly identify key information such as education, work experience, and relevant skills.
4. Reading business reports: Business reports can be lengthy and complex, often containing large amounts of data and technical language. Skimming can be used to quickly identify the main findings and recommendations and to understand the overall structure of the report.
Skimming can help you quickly identify the main points of the report, without getting bogged down in unnecessary details.
5. Reviewing textbooks: Textbooks can be dense and difficult to read, and reading every page in full can be impractical. Skimming can be used to quickly review the main ideas and concepts covered in textbooks and to help you prepare for exams or research projects.
You can skim the headings, subheadings, and bolded or italicized text to quickly understand the structure and main points of each chapter.
2. Scanning
Here are a few examples of how scanning can be used by children:
1. Finding a specific word in a dictionary: Children can scan the page for the first letter of the word they are looking for and then quickly scan the entries that start with that letter to locate the word. For example, if a child is looking for the word “turtle,” they would scan the page for the letter “t” and then scan the entries that start with that letter.
2. Locating a fact in a textbook: Children can scan the headings and subheadings of a chapter to get an idea of the content and then scan the relevant sections for the information they need.
For example, if a child is looking for information about photosynthesis, they would scan the headings and subheadings of the chapter on plants and then scan the relevant sections for information about photosynthesis.
3. Searching for answers in a multiple-choice test: Children can scan the questions and then quickly scan the answer choices to locate the correct answer.
For example, if a child is answering a question about the capital of France, they would scan the answer choices for the word “Paris.”
4. Finding a specific date in a history book: Children can scan the table of contents or index to find the relevant chapter and then scan the section for the date they are looking for.
For example, if a child is looking for information about the signing of the Declaration of Independence, they would scan the table of contents or index for the chapter on the American Revolution and then scan the relevant section for information about the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
5. Identifying keywords in research articles: When conducting research, scanning can be used to quickly identify keywords in research articles that are relevant to a given topic. This can help to narrow down the scope of the research and identify key sources of information.
Strategies to effectively employ skimming and scanning techniques
Skimming:
1. Focus on headings and subheadings: Headings and subheadings are usually larger and in bold fonts, making them easy to spot. They organize the text and give you a quick overview of the main topics.
By focusing on these headings, you can quickly identify the central ideas of the text. This will help you decide whether you want to read the rest of the text or move on to something else.
2. Look for keywords: Keywords are important words or phrases related to the topic. These words help you understand the main focus of the text without having to read everything.
When you spot these keywords, it becomes easier to find crucial information. They are often highlighted, bolded, or italicized to grab your attention.
3. Read the first and last sentences of each paragraph: The first and last sentences of a paragraph often give the main idea. These sentences summarize the paragraph, helping you understand the content quickly.
By reading just these sentences, you can get the gist of the paragraph without reading every line. It’s an efficient way to skim through the text.
4. Pay attention to formatting: Formatting can provide visual clues about important information. Bullet points, numbered lists, and bolded or italicized text often highlight key points.
These visual cues help you quickly find what’s most important in the text, such as key ideas or examples. They make skimming much faster and easier.
5. Practice: Skimming is a skill that improves with practice. Try skimming through different types of texts, like news articles, research papers, and books, to get better at it.
The more you practice, the quicker you will become at identifying important information. With time, skimming will feel more natural and efficient.
6. Set a goal: Before you start skimming, decide what information you need. Setting a time limit or goal helps you stay focused and avoid wasting time on irrelevant details.
Having a clear goal makes skimming more effective. It helps you manage your time and concentrate on finding only what you need.
7. Preview before reading: Before you start skimming, take a moment to glance through it. Look at its length, type of content, and any visuals or graphics included.
Previewing the text helps you understand what to expect. It also allows you to spot any challenges, such as difficult vocabulary or technical terms, making it easier to approach the text.
Scanning:
1. Look for keywords: When scanning a text, focus on finding words that are directly related to the topic. These words can be nouns, verbs, or adjectives that help explain the main idea.
Keywords may also be highlighted, bolded, or underlined to make them easier to spot. These visual clues help you quickly identify the most important terms in the text.
2. Pay attention to headings and subheadings: Headings and subheadings can provide a roadmap for the text. They highlight the key topics and help you locate the information you need quickly.
Headings are often larger and bolded, making them easy to notice. Scanning through them can give you a good sense of the text’s structure and main points.
3. Scan for visuals: Visuals like charts, graphs, and images can convey information faster than text. When scanning a text, pay attention to these visuals as they often summarize key data or concepts.
Look for any captions or labels that can help you understand what the visuals represent. These elements provide additional context that can quickly inform you about the material.
4. Skim the first and last sentences of each paragraph: The first and last sentences of a paragraph often contain the main idea or summary of the content. By reading these sentences, you can quickly gauge the topic of the paragraph.
This technique helps you identify whether the paragraph has the specific information you need. It’s a time-saving method for filtering out irrelevant sections.
5. Use your peripheral vision: Scanning requires quickly moving your eyes across the text to find key information. Try to use your peripheral vision to spot relevant details without focusing too much on individual words.
This approach allows you to cover a wider area in less time. By scanning with your peripheral vision, you can find the information you’re looking for more efficiently.
6. Focus on reading for specific information: Scanning is about quickly locating specific facts or details, so focus only on the relevant parts. Having a clear idea of what you’re looking for helps you avoid getting distracted by unnecessary information.
By ignoring irrelevant details, you can quickly hone in on what matters. This makes the process of scanning more effective and less time-consuming.
7. Practice: Just like skimming, scanning is a skill that improves with practice. Try scanning various types of texts, such as news articles, research papers, and manuals, to improve your scanning ability.
Conclusion
From guided reading to shared reading, skimming and scanning are important reading strategies for children to learn. Skimming helps children get a general understanding of a text while scanning helps them locate specific information quickly.
By teaching children these strategies, they will be able to effectively read and comprehend large amounts of information, which will be valuable for their academic and future careers.
Additionally, by learning these skills, children will become more confident and efficient readers, which will enhance their overall reading experience.
I am Shweta Sharma. I am a final year Masters student of Clinical Psychology and have been working closely in the field of psycho-education and child development. I have served in various organisations and NGOs with the purpose of helping children with disabilities learn and adapt better to both, academic and social challenges. I am keen on writing about learning difficulties, the science behind them and potential strategies to deal with them. My areas of expertise include putting forward the cognitive and behavioural aspects of disabilities for better awareness, as well as efficient intervention. Follow me on LinkedIn