SCANNING

AND
SKIMMING
 Scanning
Scanning is a fast reading technique. It's a way
of reading to look for specific information in a
text.
In daily life, scanning can be used to read
through the ads in a newspaper, or for browsing
TV schedules, timetables, lists, catalogues or
web pages for information. For these tasks you
don't need to read or understand every word.
Scanning is also useful when studying or looking
to find specific information from a book or
article quickly as there is not enough time to
read every word.

Scanning is like sweeping your eyes (like radar)

over part of a text to find specific pieces of
information from a large quantity of written
material.
 How to scan a text
• Focus on your mind or question.
• Don't try to read every word.
• Start scanning the text by allowing your eyes (or
finger) to move quickly over a page.
• As soon as you catch an important word or
phrase that answer your question, stop reading.
• When you locate information requiring attention,
then slow down your speed to read the relevant
section more thoroughly.
• Use clues on the test.
 Skimming

Skimming is a fast reading technique.

People use it to obtain the gist of a text.

It will help you to decide if the text is

interesting and whether you should read it
in more detail.
 How to skim a text
• Focus to find the main point of the text.
• Move your eyes over the text quickly.
• Read the title, subtitles and subheadings to find
out what the text is about.
• Do not read the whole text. You may read a few
words of every paragraph, perhaps the first and
last sentences.
• Familiarize yourself with the reading material by
gaining an overview.
• Find some clues: Name, date, place, etc.
 The term skimming is often
confused with scanning.
Scanning is used to obtain specific information
from a text by answering the question in mind.
Example: finding a particular number in a
telephone directory.
Skimming is used, to get the gist of a page of a
textbook to decide whether it is useful and
should therefore be read more slowly and in
more detail.
Example: finding the main idea in a paragraph
 Sometimes you can use both in
reading a text
After you have skimmed a piece of text to
decide whether the text is of interest, you
may wish to use scanning techniques to
locate specific information.
 Key Differences
1. Scanning refers to the reading technique, in
which the reader moves his eyes over the
entire text in order to locate specific
keywords which he/she has in his/her mind.
On the other hand, skimming can be defined
as a type of reading in which the reader
reads the text quickly to have an idea of the
concept, subject matter, main points and gist,
without paying close attention to the
excessive detail.
2. Scanning is a selective reading method,
whereas skimming is a quick reading method.
3. Scanning is a method of searching out something in
a fast manner, while skimming involves reading out
the maximum amount of material in the minimum
time.
4. When the reader uses scanning, he/she wants to
find out the specific fact, keyword or information, of
his/her need. On the contrary, skimming technique
is used with the aim of taking an insight of what is
contained in the study material, without reading it
word for word.
5. In scanning, the reader has the knowledge of what
he/she is looking for, in the given text. Conversely, in
skimming, the reader has to get acquainted with the
text that he/she has not read yet.
 Conclution
ASPECT SCANNING SKIMMING
Method Quick Selective
is a fast reading
is a fast reading
technique to look for
Meaning specific information in a
technique to obtain the
gist in a text
text
Reading out the
Finding out the required
Involves data quickly
maximum content in
minimum time
The reader knows what The reader is not familiar
Familiarity he is searching for with the text
To spot and cast specific To take a birds-eye view
Objective facts of the text