Which Reading Style Is Suitable for Reviewing Material That You Have Previously Read?
Do you always experience like you spend way as well much time reading? Do you have trouble determining which parts of a text are the most of import? Do you lot wish you could collect information from books in a quicker and more efficient mode? If so, consider skimming the next time you sit downward to read a text.
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What is skimming?
Skimming is a strategic, selective reading method in which yous 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, affiliate summaries, first and last sentences of paragraphs, bold words, and text features. Skimming is extracting the essence of the writer's primary messages rather than the finer points.
Why skim?
You lot demand the "big picture" or main points when you're reading. Even if y'all're going to do a more detailed reading of the text, skimming every bit a grade of previewing can help yous better comprehend what you read. Knowing when and how to skim will assist you become a more than efficient, strategic reader. You'll become meliorate at determining what parts of the text are well-nigh important. There may also be times when your professor wants you lot to empathize the big moving-picture show, not all of the little details. In these cases, skimming helps y'all understand the overall points of the text and its relevance to your course without bogging you downwards.
Make the most of your fourth dimension. Sometimes you don't have time to do everything. With skimming, you lot'll exist able to encompass vast amounts of material more than quickly and save time for everything else that you have on your plate. Maybe you lot don't take time to finish your reading before class, but skimming will assistance you go the master points and attend class much more prepared to maximize in-class learning.
Yous demand to review a text y'all have read earlier. Skimming is also an efficient way to refresh your retention of large amounts of material earlier an examination. Skimming a text that you lot have already read helps you recall content and structure.
Skimming is non…
Skimming tin nowadays problems if not washed intentionally. Skimming is not simply flipping through a text rapidly or paying half attending to it. When skimming, be deliberate and intentional with what yous choose to read, and brand sure that you are focused. Skimming is non a lazy way out or a one-half-hearted attempt at reading. Make certain that you lot apply it advisedly and strategically and are able to walk away with the main ideas of the text.
Skimming methods
Beginnings & endings: Read first and last sentences of paragraphs, offset and last paragraphs of major sections, and introductions and summaries of chapters.
Wheat vs. chaff: Read just the amount of text necessary to determine if a section presents a main idea or support for a main idea.
Visual & verbal cues: Sentinel for signal words and phrases that signal an author's direction (e.thousand., however, although, moreover, in improver to). Things to focus on while skimming:
- Introduction and conclusion
- Chapter/department summaries
- First and last sentences
- Titles, subtitles, and headings
- Bold words
- Charts, graphs, or pictures
- End of chapter review questions
When to skim
In that location are certain texts that lend themselves to skimming meliorate than others. It is typically less beneficial to skim novels, poetry, and brusque stories or texts that do not have text features such equally such as tables of content, chapter or department 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 tin can also be a proficient tool for conducting research and writing papers. Typically, when researching or writing, you will non need to read every word of every text closely, only will benefit more from skimming while evaluating your sources or identifying data important to your piece of work.
Finally, know your context. There may be some texts that yous are better off reading closely and thoroughly. Some professors specifically tell you that they include pocket-size details from the textbook on exams. You may have some classes that are just difficult to sympathize, and you may discover that reading closely helps y'all encompass concepts better. Before skimming, spend some time thinking about your classes, professors, and needs to decide if you have whatsoever texts you may need to read more than closely.
Active reading strategies
When skimming, it'southward of import to go along to use active reading strategies. This keeps your brain active, engaged, and focused, and helps you understand and retain information improve and longer. Here are a few effective agile reading strategies to pair with skimming:
Set a purpose for reading. Instead of budgeted the text as something you but take to get through, identify a purpose for this reading. What do you desire to get out of it? Why are you lot reading it? Keep this purpose in mind every bit y'all read.
Preview. Look through the text earlier started to read and focus on headings, illustrations, captions, highlighted items, stop of chapter summaries, etc. These features requite yous 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 call back the chapter or section is going to be near.
Activate prior knowledge. Make a listing of what you already know about the topic and what you want to know about it. Place and write downwards whatever questions you have.
Annotate. Instead of copying down copious notes from the volume, jot down cursory notes and thoughts (in your own words) in the margins of the text or in a notebook. PDF viewers, such equally Adobe Acrobat and Preview, besides permit you lot add notes directly on the page of a digital text. Other possibilities include notation-taking apps such as Evernote, OneNote, or Google Go along.
Summarize the main ideas. After a department 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 y'all read.
Generate questions. Ask and write down questions that you lot take as yous read the text and/or questions that you would ask a grade if yous were the teacher. Try using different levels of questions.
Utilise resources
Make an appointment with an academic coach at the Learning Center. Our coaches run across one-on-ane with students to work through reading, report skills, and whatsoever other academic upshot.
Meet with your professor in office hours about how to approach your course's specific text and content.
Attend a peer tutoring session to get specific help with i of your courses or texts.
Works consulted
Holschuh, J. and Nist, S. (2000). Active learning: Strategies for college success. Massachusetts: Allyn & Bacon.
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Source: https://learningcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/skimming/
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