Reading Strategies: Skimming and Scanning

Skimming: Overview of Reading Material

Skimming is a reading strategy that involves quickly reading through the titles, headings, and subheadings of a reading passage to get an overall idea of the content. This technique is helpful in understanding the main topics and key points of a text before diving into the details.

When skimming, readers focus on the most important information such as the main idea, supporting details, and key vocabulary. By skimming the titles and headings, readers can make predictions about what the passage will cover and what to expect while reading.

Skimming is especially useful when previewing textbooks, articles, or lengthy passages to determine if the material is relevant to their needs. It helps readers identify the sections they need to read more closely and those they can skim through quickly.

Overall, skimming is an effective way to save time and efficiently gather information from a reading passage without reading every single word. It allows readers to grasp the main concepts and structure of a text before engaging in a more detailed reading.