ELC 080

GENERAL READING
SKILLS
Skimming
When you skim a text, you read the
whole text quickly to get an overview
of what it is about.

To get the main idea or the general

review of the text.
TECHNIQUES
ST • Read the title
EP
1

ST • Read the introduction or first line of information

EP
2

ST • Read the first paragraph completely

EP
3

ST • Read the subheadings

EP
4

ST • Read for clue words ( what, why, who, when, how)

EP
5
Scanning
 Once you have skimmed the general idea of the
text, you need to scan the text to find key words
that will help you to find the specific details of the
text.

 Youwant to locate a specific information such as

names, dates, number, locations etc, without
actually reading the whole text
Contextual Clues
 Hints that the authors give help a difficult or
unusual word
 It may appear in the same sentence as the word to
which it refers or appear in the following
sentences
 Therefore, readers need to figure out the meaning
of the words by how they are used in the
sentences.
 I wonder if that fruit is edible, able to be eaten.
4 types of Contextual Clues
 Synonyms
- Words with almost the same meaning
- The harlequin, like the circus clown, was a fool who
loved to perform
 Antonyms
- word/phrase with the opposite meaning
- Jerry is very clumsy, but his sister Jenny is adroit
- Unlike his quiet and low key family, Brad is
garrulous
 Explanation
- Sometimes the meaning of a word or phrase is
explained immediately following its use
- A biographer, or one who writes about people’s
lives is an example of an author
- keywords: such as, for instance, for example
- The Student was suffering from anxiety. For
example when he first saw the test, he began to
tremble
 Wilson put on a heavy coat, a wool scarf, several
pairs of socks inside his boots, and fur-lined
gloves to protect himself against the frigid
weather.

 The word Frigid means?