Skimming

Skimming is a reading technique characterized by quickly glancing over a text to

grasp its main ideas, key points, and overall content without reading every word or
detail.

Characteristics:
Skimming is a reading strategy that involves quickly reviewing a text to obtain a
general understanding of its content without reading every word or detail. Here are the
key characteristics of skimming:

1. Rapid Reading: Skimming involves reading at a much faster pace than regular
reading, as the goal is to quickly cover the material and get a sense of its main
points.
2. Selective Focus: Skimming focuses on specific elements of the text, such as
headings, subheadings, bold or italicized words, bullet points, and visual aids like
images and graphs.
3. Main Ideas: The primary objective of skimming is to grasp the main ideas,
themes, and central concepts of the text rather than absorbing all the details.
4. Overview: Skimming provides an overview of the text's structure and
organization, allowing the reader to understand how different sections are
related.
5. Efficiency: Skimming is a time-saving technique, especially useful when you need
to quickly assess whether a text is relevant to your needs or if you need to locate
specific information within a document.
6. Decision-Making: Skimming helps readers decide whether the text is worth
reading more thoroughly or if they can extract the necessary information without
a deep dive.
7. Visual and Textual Clues: Skimming involves paying attention to visual cues like
layout, typography, and images, as well as textual clues like headings,
subheadings, and keywords.
8. First and Last: Readers often focus on the first and last sentences of paragraphs
or sections to capture the main points and transitions.
9. Shallow Understanding: While skimming provides a quick grasp of the content, it
may result in a shallow understanding of complex ideas or nuanced arguments.
10. Adaptability: Skimming can be adapted to different types of texts, such as books,
articles, web pages, or reports, depending on the reader's purpose and goals.
 11. Context-Driven: Skimming is often guided by the reader's specific needs and
objectives, such as finding specific information, evaluating a text's relevance, or
getting an overview before in-depth reading.
12. Complementary to In-Depth Reading: Skimming is often used as a preliminary
step before engaging in more detailed and comprehensive reading of selected
sections.

Overall, skimming is a valuable tool for quickly processing and assessing textual
information, helping readers efficiently navigate a large volume of content and make
informed decisions about their reading approach.

Where to use Skimming:

Skimming is a versatile reading technique that can be applied in various situations
where you need to quickly assess content and determine its relevance or extract key
information. Here are some common scenarios where skimming can be particularly
useful:

1. Previewing Textbooks or Course Materials: Skim through the chapters, headings,

and subheadings of textbooks or course materials to get an overview of the
topics covered before diving into detailed reading.
2. Research and Information Gathering: Skim through research papers, articles, and
reports to identify relevant studies, methodologies, and findings, helping you
decide which sources to explore further.
3. News and Current Affairs: Skim through news articles or headlines to quickly
catch up on current events and identify stories of interest.
4. Online Articles and Blogs: Skim through online articles and blog posts to
determine if the content is worth reading in-depth or to quickly extract key
takeaways.
5. Business Documents: Skim through memos, reports, and emails to gather
essential information and prioritize tasks.
6. Academic Reading: Use skimming to review a variety of academic materials, such
as research articles, class notes, and study guides.
7. Job-Related Materials: Skim through job descriptions, company reports, and
industry publications to quickly understand job requirements, company
information, and industry trends.
8. Exam Preparation: Skim through study guides, review sheets, and course
materials to refresh your memory and focus on key concepts before an exam.
9. Travel Planning: Skim travel guides, itineraries, and reviews to quickly gather
information about destinations, attractions, and accommodations.
 10. Recipe Selection: Skim through recipe books or websites to identify recipes that
match your preferences and dietary requirements.
11. Consumer Reviews: Skim through product reviews to quickly gauge the overall
sentiment and key points about a product or service.
12. Meeting Agendas: Skim through meeting agendas to understand the topics to be
discussed and prioritize your preparation.
13. Book Selection: Skim the introduction, table of contents, and back cover of a
book to determine if it aligns with your interests before deciding to read it.
14. Web Research: Skim through search results and webpage content to quickly find
relevant information.
15. Manuals and Instructions: Skim through user manuals and instructions to quickly
identify key steps or troubleshooting information.

In each of these scenarios, skimming helps you efficiently navigate and process a
large volume of information, allowing you to make informed decisions about whether to
engage in more detailed reading or to quickly extract the necessary information.

Steps of Skimming:
Skimming is a reading technique that involves quickly scanning a text to get an
overview of its content. Here are the steps you can follow when using the skimming
technique:

1. Preview the Text: Begin by looking at the title, headings, and subheadings of the
text. This will give you a sense of the main topics or sections covered.
2. Read the Introduction: If available, read the introduction or opening paragraphs
to understand the context and main focus of the text.
3. Focus on Visual Elements: Pay attention to any visual elements such as images,
graphs, charts, or diagrams. These elements often provide key information at a
glance.
4. Read the First and Last Sentence of Each Paragraph: Quickly read the first and
last sentence of each paragraph or section. These sentences often contain the
main ideas or points being discussed.
5. Look for Keywords and Phrases: Scan for bold, italicized, or highlighted words.
These keywords and phrases can give you an idea of the text's main concepts.
6. Check Subheadings and Bullet Points: Review subheadings and bullet points to
understand the structure of the text and the key points being presented.
7. Skip Over Details: Don't get bogged down in details or read every word. Instead,
focus on extracting the main ideas and overall message.
 8. Use Your Finger or Pointer: Use your finger or a pointer to guide your eyes as you
move across the text. This can help you maintain a steady reading pace and
prevent your eyes from wandering.
9. Practice Active Skimming: While skimming quickly, try to stay engaged with the
content. Ask yourself questions about what you're reading and make mental
notes of important information.
10. Read the Conclusion: If available, read the conclusion or closing paragraphs to
see how the text wraps up and summarizes its main points.
11. Review Headings and Subheadings Again: After skimming, take a moment to
review the headings and subheadings to reinforce your understanding of the
text's structure.
12. Summarize the Main Points: After skimming, try to summarize the main points or
key takeaways from the text. This will help solidify your understanding.

Remember that skimming is not meant to replace in-depth reading when necessary.
It's a technique to quickly assess content and determine whether further reading is
warranted. Skimming is particularly useful for quickly reviewing a large volume of
material, identifying relevant sections, and getting a general sense of what a text is
about.

Scanning
Scanning is a reading technique that involves quickly searching a text for specific
information or keywords without reading the entire content. It is a focused and efficient
way to locate particular details, facts, or answers to specific questions within a
document.

Characteristics:
Scanning is a specific reading strategy used to quickly locate targeted information
within a text without reading every word. Here are the key characteristics of scanning:

1. Focused Search: Scanning involves searching for specific details, keywords, or

information within a text to fulfill a particular purpose or answer a specific
question.
2. Rapid Eye Movement: Scanning is characterized by quick and purposeful eye
movements as you move your gaze across the text, looking for the desired
information.
 3. Skipped and Ignored Text: While scanning, you ignore or skip over most of the
text that is not directly related to your search, allowing you to zero in on relevant
content.
4. Use of Visual Cues: Scanning relies on visual cues such as headings, subheadings,
bold or italicized words, bullet points, and numbered lists to guide your search.
5. Limited Reading: Unlike comprehensive reading, scanning doesn't involve
reading full sentences or paragraphs; you focus only on the parts that contain the
needed information.
6. Purpose-Driven: Scanning is driven by a specific purpose or information need,
and you are looking for specific answers or details.
7. Quick Decision-Making: Scanning allows you to quickly determine if a text
contains the information you're looking for and whether it's worth reading more
closely.
8. Targeted Keywords: You actively search for keywords, phrases, numbers, or
specific terms that match your information requirement.
9. Sequential or Non-Sequential Scanning: Scanning can be performed sequentially
(line by line) or non-sequentially (jumping between sections) based on your
approach and familiarity with the text.
10. Efficiency: Scanning is an efficient way to quickly retrieve specific information
from a larger document or text.
11. Highly Selective: You are selective about the portions of the text you focus on,
and your scanning speed varies based on the text's layout and your familiarity
with the content.
12. Complementary to Skimming: Scanning complements skimming, as both
techniques involve quick reading but with different objectives. Skimming
provides an overview, while scanning seeks targeted details.
13. Practical Use: Scanning is often used when looking up information in indexes,
directories, dictionaries, textbooks, reference materials, and digital documents.
14. Goal-Oriented: Scanning aims to achieve a specific goal, such as finding a
definition, a statistic, a name, a date, or a specific piece of information.

Overall, scanning is a valuable reading technique when you need to quickly locate
specific details or answers within a text, making it a practical tool for research,
information retrieval, and focused reading.

Where to use Scanning:

Scanning is a reading technique that is particularly useful when you need to quickly
locate specific information within a text without reading the entire content. Here are
some common scenarios where scanning can be effectively employed:
 1. Textbooks and Course Materials: Use scanning to find particular chapters,
sections, or information within textbooks or course materials.
2. Research and Academic Papers: Scan through research articles or papers to
locate key findings, methodologies, or relevant data.
3. Directories and Indexes: Scanning is helpful when looking up specific entries,
names, or topics in directories, encyclopedias, or indexes.
4. Recipes and Cooking Instructions: Quickly find ingredients, cooking times, or
specific steps in a recipe.
5. Maps and Diagrams: Use scanning to identify locations, landmarks, or specific
details on maps and diagrams.
6. Tables and Charts: Scan through tables, charts, and graphs to gather specific data
points or trends.
7. Phone Directories: Locate phone numbers, addresses, or contact information in
directories or phonebooks.
8. Search Engine Results: Scanning is essential when quickly reviewing search
engine results for relevant websites or information.
9. Meeting Agendas: Use scanning to find specific agenda items or topics of
discussion in meeting documents.
10. Manuals and Instructions: Quickly locate troubleshooting steps, setup
instructions, or specific procedures in user manuals.
11. Contracts and Legal Documents: Scan through legal documents to find specific
clauses, terms, or sections.
12. Shopping Lists: Use scanning to quickly review items on a shopping list.
13. Reviewing Notes: When reviewing your own notes or summaries, scanning helps
you quickly find specific points or concepts.
14. Job Descriptions: Scanning helps you quickly identify key responsibilities,
qualifications, or requirements in job postings.
15. News Articles: Quickly scan news articles to locate specific facts, quotes, or
details.
16. Checking Email: Use scanning to quickly review the subject lines and sender
names of emails to prioritize your responses.
17. Identifying Keywords in Texts: When analyzing texts for specific keywords or
terms, scanning helps locate their occurrences.
18. Proofreading and Editing: Scanning can help you quickly identify errors or
inconsistencies in written content.

In all of these scenarios, scanning allows you to efficiently locate the information you
need, saving you time and helping you achieve your specific goals without reading
through the entire text.
Steps of Scanning:
Scanning is a reading technique used to quickly locate specific information within a
text. It involves systematically moving your eyes across the text to identify keywords,
phrases, or details that are relevant to your specific purpose. Here are the steps you can
follow when using the scanning technique:

1. Have a Clear Purpose: Know what specific information you are looking for before
you start scanning. Having a clear purpose will help you focus your search.
2. Skim the Text: Before diving into scanning, quickly skim through the text to get a
general sense of its layout, headings, and overall structure.
3. Identify Keywords: Identify the keywords, phrases, or terms that are directly
related to the information you are seeking. These are the words you will be
looking for while scanning.
4. Focus on Visual Cues: Pay attention to visual cues that can guide your scanning,
such as headings, subheadings, bold or italicized text, bullet points, and
numbered lists.
5. Move Your Eyes Systematically: Start scanning from the top left corner of the
text and move your eyes horizontally across each line. Keep a steady pace as you
move your gaze from left to right.
6. Skip Over Irrelevant Text: As you scan, skip over sections of text that are not
relevant to your search. Your goal is to quickly locate the keywords or
information you are looking for.
7. Use Peripheral Vision: Your peripheral vision can help you quickly identify
keywords or familiar phrases as your eyes move across the text.
8. Stop at Relevant Information: When you spot a keyword or relevant information,
pause briefly to read the surrounding context and confirm if it matches your
search criteria.
9. Adjust Your Pace: Depending on the layout of the text and your familiarity with
the content, you may need to adjust your scanning speed. You can move faster in
sections you know are less likely to have the information you need.
10. Repeat as Needed: If you don't find the information you're looking for in the
initial scan, repeat the process, focusing on different sections or headings.
11. Practice Active Scanning: While scanning, stay mentally engaged by asking
yourself questions related to your purpose and the keywords you're seeking.
12. Highlight or Note: If you find the relevant information, consider highlighting or
noting it for future reference.
13. Review and Confirm: Once you've located the information you need, take a
moment to review and confirm that it aligns with your purpose.
 14. Avoid Distractions: Minimize distractions in your environment to ensure that you
maintain focus while scanning.
15. Stay Patient and Persistent: Scanning may take a few attempts, especially if the
text is lengthy or complex. Stay patient and persistent in your search.

Scanning is a practical skill that becomes more effective with practice. By following
these steps and refining your technique, you can quickly and efficiently locate specific
information within a text.

Extensive Reading
Extensive reading is a language learning and reading strategy that involves
reading large quantities of text for the purpose of improving language skills,
comprehension, and overall reading proficiency.

Characteristics:
Extensive reading is a reading approach that involves reading a significant amount of
material in a foreign language to improve language skills and overall comprehension.
Here are the key characteristics of extensive reading:

1. Volume of Reading: Extensive reading emphasizes reading a large quantity of

texts over an extended period. The focus is on quantity rather than in-depth
analysis.
2. Variety of Materials: Readers engage with a wide variety of reading materials,
including books, articles, magazines, novels, short stories, and other forms of
written content.
3. Lower Reading Difficulty: Texts are typically chosen at a level that is slightly
below the reader's current proficiency level. This allows for smoother reading
and enhanced comprehension.
4. Focus on Comprehension: The primary goal is to understand the overall meaning
of the text, focusing on grasping main ideas and general themes.
5. Fluency and Speed: Extensive reading contributes to improved reading speed and
fluency, as readers become more comfortable with the language's rhythm and
structure.
6. Enjoyment and Interest: Readers have the freedom to choose materials that
align with their interests and preferences, making the reading experience
enjoyable and motivating.
 7. Minimal Use of Dictionaries: Extensive reading encourages readers to infer
meaning from context and minimize the use of dictionaries. The emphasis is on
understanding without interrupting the reading flow.
8. Language Exposure: Through exposure to diverse vocabulary, idiomatic
expressions, and language patterns, learners naturally acquire and reinforce
language skills.
9. Repetition and Familiarity: Reading similar language patterns and vocabulary in
different contexts helps reinforce learning and enhances memory retention.
10. Natural Language Acquisition: Extensive reading replicates the way native
speakers acquire language by immersing themselves in written materials.
11. Development of Cultural Awareness: Reading a variety of texts exposes learners
to different cultural perspectives, norms, and traditions associated with the
language.
12. Independent Reading: Learners engage in extensive reading independently,
choosing materials that match their preferences and language proficiency.
13. Balanced Learning: While extensive reading primarily focuses on reading skills, it
indirectly supports the development of listening, speaking, and writing skills by
expanding vocabulary and language comprehension.
14. Positive Reading Experience: The focus on enjoyable reading experiences fosters
a positive attitude toward language learning, encouraging learners to read
regularly.
15. Applicability to Various Levels: Extensive reading is beneficial for learners of all
proficiency levels, from beginners to advanced learners, as materials can be
tailored to match individual abilities.
16. Encouragement of Lifelong Learning: Extensive reading encourages learners to
continue reading in the target language even after formal language learning is
complete.

Overall, extensive reading is a learner-centered approach that offers an effective and

enjoyable way to enhance language skills, increase vocabulary, and develop a deeper
understanding of the target language and its cultural context.

Purpose:
The purpose of extensive reading is to improve language skills, comprehension, and
overall proficiency in a foreign language through the regular and extensive consumption
of written materials. Extensive reading serves multiple valuable purposes in language
learning:
1. Language Exposure: Extensive reading exposes learners to a wide variety of
vocabulary, phrases, idiomatic expressions, and language structures, helping
them develop a richer linguistic repertoire.
2. Vocabulary Expansion: Regular exposure to new words in context facilitates
vocabulary acquisition and retention, making it easier to understand and use
words in various contexts.
3. Language Fluency: Engaging in extensive reading enhances reading speed,
fluency, and naturalness, simulating the way native speakers read and process
written content.
4. Improved Comprehension: By reading a significant volume of texts, learners
become skilled at quickly grasping the main ideas, themes, and messages of
different types of written materials.
5. Cultural Understanding: Reading a variety of texts provides insights into cultural
norms, perspectives, and values associated with the target language, contributing
to cultural awareness.
6. Positive Reading Experience: Enjoyable and interesting reading experiences
encourage learners to engage with the language regularly, fostering a positive
attitude toward language learning.
7. Language Confidence: Regular extensive reading boosts learners' confidence as
they become more comfortable navigating different types of written content and
understanding diverse topics.
8. Natural Language Acquisition: Extensive reading replicates the way native
speakers learn their first language by immersing themselves in written materials,
helping learners internalize language patterns.
9. Motivation and Engagement: The freedom to choose reading materials based on
personal interests and preferences enhances learner motivation and
commitment to language learning.
10. Building Reading Habits: Engaging in regular extensive reading establishes a habit
of reading in the target language, promoting ongoing language development
beyond formal instruction.
11. Support for Other Language Skills: While the primary focus is on reading skills,
extensive reading indirectly supports listening, speaking, and writing skills by
expanding vocabulary and comprehension.
12. Exposure to Various Text Types: Extensive reading exposes learners to different
genres, styles, and formats of writing, enabling them to navigate diverse written
materials.
13. Preparation for Language Proficiency Exams: Extensive reading helps learners
improve their overall language skills, which can have a positive impact on
language proficiency exams.
 14. Preparation for Academic Study: Extensive reading enhances language skills
necessary for academic success, such as reading comprehension and critical
thinking.
15. Life-Long Learning: Engaging in extensive reading fosters a habit of continued
language learning and personal enrichment throughout one's life.

The overarching goal of extensive reading is to create a positive and effective

language learning experience that supports the development of strong language skills
and encourages learners to become independent, confident, and proficient users of the
target language.

Intensive Reading
Intensive reading is a focused and detailed reading approach that involves
carefully analyzing and comprehending a text, often for the purpose of deepening
understanding, language acquisition, and critical thinking.

Characteristics:
Here are the key characteristics of intensive reading:

1. Close Examination: Intensive reading involves reading a text carefully and

thoroughly, paying attention to details, nuances, and language structures.
2. Higher Level of Difficulty: Texts chosen for intensive reading are often more
challenging and complex, requiring deeper analysis and engagement.
3. Focus on Comprehension: The primary goal of intensive reading is to fully
understand the text's meaning, ideas, and implications.
4. Vocabulary Analysis: Learners focus on expanding vocabulary by studying
unfamiliar words and phrases within the context of the text.
5. Sentence Structure and Grammar: Intensive reading prompts learners to analyze
sentence structures, grammar usage, and syntax for a deeper understanding of
the language.
6. In-Depth Exploration: Learners explore the text's themes, characters, plot, and
literary elements in greater detail, fostering critical thinking and interpretation.
7. Annotations and Notes: Taking notes, underlining, highlighting, and making
annotations are common practices during intensive reading to capture key points
and insights.
8. Discussion and Reflection: Intensive reading often leads to group discussions,
debates, or personal reflections on the text's content and implications.
 9. Analysis of Literary Devices: Learners examine literary devices such as
metaphors, similes, symbolism, and imagery to uncover deeper layers of
meaning.
10. Focus on Text Structure: Intensive reading involves analyzing the text's
organization, paragraph structure, and transitions to understand the author's
intended message.
11. Critical Reading Skills: Intensive reading encourages the development of critical
reading skills, such as identifying biases, evaluating arguments, and assessing
evidence.
12. Time-Consuming: Intensive reading takes more time compared to other reading
approaches due to the detailed analysis and exploration of the text.
13. Questioning and Inference: Learners formulate questions, make predictions, and
infer information from the text to engage with its content on a deeper level.
14. Support for Writing Skills: Intensive reading supports the development of writing
skills by exposing learners to well-structured and well-crafted texts.
15. Academic and Analytical Focus: Intensive reading is particularly valuable for
academic study, literary analysis, and enhancing overall language proficiency.
16. Preparation for Exams: Intensive reading is useful for preparing for language
proficiency exams that require a deep understanding of texts and language
usage.
17. Cognitive Engagement: Intensive reading engages learners cognitively and
encourages them to think critically, analyze information, and draw conclusions.
18. Enhanced Appreciation: Through in-depth exploration, learners gain a deeper
appreciation for the content, themes, and artistic elements of the text.

Intensive reading is a valuable approach for learners seeking to delve deeply into
texts, enhance language skills, develop analytical thinking, and gain a profound
understanding of the subject matter. It complements extensive reading by offering a
more focused and comprehensive exploration of specific texts.

Purpose:
The purpose of intensive reading is to deeply analyze and comprehend a text by
closely examining its details, language structures, themes, and literary elements.
Intensive reading is focused and deliberate, aiming to achieve a thorough understanding
of the text's content and context. This reading approach serves several valuable
purposes:
1. Enhanced Comprehension: Intensive reading aims to fully understand the
nuances, implications, and intricacies of a text, leading to a deeper
comprehension of its meaning and ideas.
2. Language Acquisition: By analyzing unfamiliar vocabulary, grammar usage, and
sentence structures, learners expand their language skills and vocabulary in a
meaningful context.
3. Critical Thinking: Intensive reading encourages critical thinking skills as learners
evaluate the author's arguments, assumptions, and evidence within the text.
4. Textual Analysis: Intensive reading supports the examination of literary devices,
narrative techniques, symbolism, and other elements that contribute to the text's
meaning.
5. Cultural and Contextual Understanding: Through close analysis, learners gain
insights into the cultural, historical, and social contexts that shape the text.
6. Development of Interpretation Skills: Intensive reading fosters the ability to
interpret and infer meaning beyond the literal text, encouraging creative and
thoughtful analysis.
7. Preparation for Academic Study: Intensive reading is valuable for academic
pursuits, including literary analysis, research, and critical writing.
8. Literary Appreciation: By closely examining a text's artistic elements, learners
develop a greater appreciation for literature and the craft of writing.
9. Language Proficiency: Intensive reading contributes to overall language
proficiency by providing exposure to authentic and complex language usage.
10. Effective Writing Skills: Intensive reading exposes learners to well-structured and
well-crafted texts, enhancing their ability to write effectively and coherently.
11. Preparation for Discussions and Presentations: Intensive reading equips learners
with in-depth insights and knowledge that can be used in discussions,
presentations, and debates.
12. Exam Preparation: Intensive reading is particularly beneficial for preparing for
language proficiency exams and assessments that require a detailed
understanding of texts.
13. Cognitive Engagement: Analyzing and reflecting on a text's content and
implications engages learners' cognitive processes and encourages intellectual
growth.
14. Personal Enrichment: Intensive reading provides an opportunity for personal
enrichment, intellectual stimulation, and a deeper connection with the subject
matter.
15. Critical Reading Skills: By closely examining a text, learners develop skills in
critically evaluating information, detecting biases, and assessing the validity of
arguments.
 16. Transferable Skills: The analytical skills developed through intensive reading can
be applied in various academic, professional, and personal contexts.

Overall, the purpose of intensive reading is to delve deeply into a text, explore its
layers of meaning, and engage in a comprehensive analysis that contributes to improved
language skills, critical thinking abilities, and a broader understanding of the world.