Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Skimming
Skimming
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Reading in our lives…
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Important reading sub-skills and habits
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Moving further!
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These skills include:
(http://www.learningtolearn.group.shef.ac.uk/read/read_difkind_task.
html)
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What is Skimming?
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Skimming as a Reading Skill
Inacademics, skimming is a
reading (sub-)skill in which a
reader quickly goes through a
text in order to get the gist
and general idea or
information.
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Some Definitions of Skimming
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Cont… Some Definitions of
Skimming
While skimming, “you pick out only key words in
every sentence”.
(Kui, 2008: p.200)
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A tool to efficient reading
A means of shifting out that to which s/he needs
to give only cursory attention and that which s/he
may wish to consider at greater length and with
more care.
Contrary to the popular notion, skimming is not
just glancing down the page... Instead, a highly
selective process of looking at a page so that the
reader is able to survey and inspect the
topographical features.
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Skimming in Everyday Life
When we are looking at a newspaper, we are
actually skimming. We do not read every
word-instead we skim it to get a general idea
of what the main articles are about. We might
use the headlines, photographs, and captions
to help us decide if we want to delve further
into a particular article or skip it and search
further.
(Rief and Heimburge, 2007: p.72)
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Difference between Skimming and Scanning
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Slight: By practically ignoring unimportant,
linking words-words like the, a , for with to, on,
it. etc.
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Types of skimming
Skimming to overview-the purpose of this method is to get
an outline of what the material is about. You will be
looking more at structure than content.
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Simply to see what the text is about
Glancing through the text to find
the gist
To satisfy a general curiosity
Not to find answers to particular
questions
To summarize longer texts
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Skimming Helps
Overall purpose
Central idea
Organizational pattern
Main points
Author’s intention-to describe, narrate, report,
explain, discuss etc
(http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/aSGuest57800-455276-
skimming-and-scanning/)
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Benefits of Skimming
Researches show that when we read faster, our
comprehension increases. The word-to-word reader
generally fails to grasp the meaning of sentences or
paragraphs.
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Check your comprehension
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How to skim?
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Eye for paragraph is the key
First sentence
All other statements Justify
Exemplify
Explain
describe
If not, last sentence
If not, what to do?
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Cont.
In a book, glance at the preface. That’s where the
author usually states what the book is about.
Likewise, the afterword often recounts the author’s
major ideas.
Look up your research subject in the index of the
book. Frequently you can tell from the number of
pages devoted to the subject whether or not the
book is likely to be useful. For instance, if you are
looking in an English history book for information on
Jack Sheppard, the eighteenth-century criminal, and
see from its index that it contains only one page
about him, you probably should move on to another
source.
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Cont.
Read the chapter headings. Often they reveal what
each chapter is about. Subheadings also can tell you
a lot about the major ideas in a book.
Read the first and last two sentences in a paragraph
to find out what information it contains. Generally
the main idea of a paragraph is stated in its initial
sentences and summed up in its final sentences.
Glance at the opening paragraph of an article, essay,
or book chapter. Often the author’s thesis is stated in
the first paragraph or two.
(Winkler and Metherell, 2010: p.61)
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Recapture: Techniques of Skimming
Read the title-it is the shortest possible summary of the
content
Read the introduction or lead-in paragraph
Read the first paragraph completely
If there are subheadings, read each one, looking for
relationship among them
Read the first sentence of each remaining paragraph
a) the main idea of most paragraphs appears in the first
sentence
b) if the author’s pattern is to begin with a question or
anecdote, you may find the last sentence more valuable.
(http://www.aacc.edu/tutoring/file/skimming.pdf)
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Cont… Skimming Tips
Since you don't know exactly what you are looking
for while skimming, prepare yourself by reading the
title, source, author, and picture: then you question
yourself, -- who, what, when, where is this likely to
be mainly about?
With a questioning mind you direct your eyes down
the column of print, or in a zig-zag, if the lines are
quite long.
Look for exact names of people, places, things,
ideas, numbers, and words like therefore, whenever,
until, because, and instead, to clue you to how and
why.
(http://www.academictips.org/acad/skimming.html)
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Cont… A Few more Tips
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Advantages of Skimming
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Disadvantages of Skimming
Skimming a book, article or webpage only gives the
reader a general idea of its contents. Nuances, vital
details and caveats are easily missed. This can
produce a confused or misleading impression.
Skimming works well when dealing with clear
subjects that lend themselves to a general overview,
such as a chronological description of an event.
Skimming is far less effective in making sense of
complex discussions or detailed arguments.
(http://www.ehow.com/about_6533094_reading-skills_-scanning-vs_-
skimming.html)
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Example:
Just cast a glance at the paragraph!
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Cont… Example
Here is the same paragraph again. The words
highlighted in bold represent the main idea of the text
and therefore are important to be noticed while
skimming.
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Activity 1
Read the following passage quickly and answer
the questions given at the end
Time: 30 seconds
Gerber (1998: p.50)
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Now answer these questions:
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Answers
Gerber (1998: p.50)
1) Geologic time
2) second
3) 4,600 million years
4) 4.6 billion years
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Activity 2
Read the following passages carefully and
answer the questions given at the end.
Time: 30 seconds
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Answer these questions:
Why we dream?
Why we sleep?
What are two steps of sleep?
(Tarifa, 2003:p.456)
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Answers
1) Why we dream?
Scientists believe that we need dreams because
when we dream we process the day’s information
and if we do not dream we can’t concentrate and
would start imagining things or hallucinations.
2) Why we sleep?
Most scientists believe that we need sleep to give
our bodies a rest as our heartbeat slows down
during sleep. Children needs more sleep as they
grow when they sleep.
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Activity 3
Skim the text and answer the questions.
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Questions to be answered
1: This text is about:
( ) library resources
( ) opening hours
( ) fines and other fees
( ) membership conditions
2: Information is given about borrowing CDs.
( ) false
( ) true
3: Which category of video isn't listed?
( ) educational
( ) exercise
( ) film
( ) travel
http://readingstrategies.wikidot.com/skimming
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4: A telephone number is provided.
( ) true
( ) false
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6: What types of fictional books are listed?
( ) romantic, horror, science-fiction and adventure
( ) historical novels
( ) sporting adventures
( ) Spanish fiction
7: Members can also borrow CD Roms.
( ) true
( ) false
( ) The text doesn't say.
8: Which month is 'library month'?
( ) November
( ) August
( ) September
( ) April
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9: What is the name of the library?
( ) Frimsborough Town Library
( ) Frimsborough County Library
( ) Frimsborough Village Library
( ) Framborough District Library
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Solved!
1: This text is about:
( ) library resources
( ) opening hours
( ) fines and other fees
( ) membership conditions
2: Information is given about borrowing CDs.
( ) false
( ) true
3: Which category of video isn't listed?
( ) educational
( ) exercise
( ) film
( ) travel
http://readingstrategies.wikidot.com/skimming
44
4: A telephone number is provided.
( ) true
( ) false
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6: What types of fictional books are listed?
( ) romantic, horror, science-fiction and adventure
( ) historical novels
( ) sporting adventures
( ) Spanish fiction
7: Members can also borrow CD Roms.
( ) true
( ) false
( ) The text doesn't say.
8: Which month is 'library month'?
( ) November
( ) August
( ) September
( ) April
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9: What is the name of the library?
( ) Frimsborough Town Library
( ) Frimsborough County Library
( ) Frimsborough Village Library
( ) Framborough District Library
47
References
Bhardwaj, K. (2008). Professional Communication. New Delhi:
I.K International Publishing House Pvt Ltd.
Gerber, C. (1998). Reading: Grade Six. Columbus: School
Especially Publishing.
Glasman-Deal, H. (2010). Science Research Writing: A Guide
for Non-Native Speakers of English. London: Imperial College
Press.
Kesselman-Turkel, J., & Peterson, F. (2003). Note-Taking Made
Easy. England: Univ of Wisconsin Press.
Konar, N. (2009). Communication Skills For Professionals. New
Delhi: PHI Learning private limited.
Konstant, T. (2003). Speed Reading. UK: Teach yourself.
Kui, L.C. (2008). Practice Skills for MUET (Malaysian University
English Test). Malaysia : August Publishing.
MacLeod, M. (n.d). Types of Reading. Retrieved December 13th
, 2012 from
(http://fis.ucalgary.ca/Brian/611/readingtype.html#scanning)
Malcolm, M., & Contributor, E. (2012). Reading Skills: Scanning
Vs. Skimming. Retrieved December 13th , 2012 from
http://www.ehow.com/about_6533094_reading-skills_-
scanning-vs_-skimming.html
48
Murphy, D., Baker, C., Sharman, R., Vermeer, R., & Hall,
C. (2006). Developing Skills for Distance Learning. Hong
Kong: Open University of Hong Kong Press.
Reading Skills: different kinds of reading - with exercise.
(2010). Retrieved December 13th , 2012 from
(http://www.learningtolearn.group.shef.ac.uk/read/read
_difkind_task.html)
Read 110 Power Reading Online. Retrieved December 13th
, 2012 from
http://www.palomar.edu/reading/r110hybrid/Module%205
/mod5.1skim.htm
Rief, S. F., and Heimburge, J.A. (2007). How to Reach and
Teach All Children Through Balanced Literacy: User
friendly strategies, tools, activities, and ready-to-use
materials. San Francisco: WILEY.
Skimming.(2012).Retrieved December 13th , 2012 from
(http://readingstrategies.wikidot.com/skimming)
Skimming and Scanning. (2012). Retrieved December 13th
, 2012 from
http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/aSGuest5780
0-455276-skimming-and-scanning/
Skimming and Scanning. (n.d.). Retrieved December 13th ,
2012 from
http://www.aacc.edu/tutoring/file/skimming.pdf
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Skimming Techniques. Retrieved December 13th , 2012 from
http://www.johnabbott.qc.ca/public/3a6ce747-8d96-4668-
becd-
0c6ac17b644a/learning_centre/skimming_techniques.pdf
Skimming Tips. (2012). Retrieved December 13th , 2012
from (http://www.academictips.org/acad/skimming.html)
Speed Reading Techniques: Skimming and Scanning. (2012).
Retrieved December 13th , 2012 from
http://riverwrites.hubpages.com/hub/Speed-Reading-
Techniques-Skimming-and-Scanning
Sujit, K. (2009). Reading Comprehension For The Cat. New
Delhi: Pearson Education.
-Tarifa, J. L. E. (2003). Ingles. Spain: MAD-Eduforma.
Teaching of Reading. (n.d.). Retrieved December 13th , 2012
from
http://nsambatcoumar.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/teachi
ng-reading-in-english.pdf
Winkler, A. C., Metherell, J. R. (2010).Writing the Research
Paper: A Handbook (8th ed.) . NewYork: Cengage Learning.
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Recapturing Today’s lesson: Uses of
Skimming
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As a student have you ever thought…
It is not always necessary to read everything completely.
Sometimes the complete text is not relevant to what you
are working on, but there are still parts that would be of
importance to your work. This is where skimming helps.
Learning to skim rapidly can help you improve your speed
for study reading and average reading as well.
Use of skimming can help you to build background
knowledge. Skimming will help you keep informed in
political affairs or other areas when you don't have the
time to read very much.
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Thank you very much!
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