RAPID READING TECHNIQUES:

SCANNING and SKIMMING are two

important reading strategies that can help
you quickly extract information from a
text without reading it word-for-word.
They are particularly useful when you
need to find specific details in a text,
decide if a text is worth reading in-depth,
or when you're dealing with a large
volume of reading material. Here's how to
perform these activities:

Scanning: Scanning involves quickly

running your eyes over a text to find
specific keywords, phrases, or pieces of
information. It's a targeted and systematic
way to locate specific details. Here's how
to do it:
Have a specific question or keyword in
mind: Know exactly what you're looking
for in the text.
1. Focus on headings and
subheadings: These often provide
clues about the content of a section.
2. Use your finger or a pen: Move your
finger or a pen along the lines of text
as you read to help guide your eye
and maintain focus.
3. Read vertically: Scan the text
vertically, not just horizontally. This
can help you spot keywords more
easily.
4. Pay attention to formatting: Look
for bold, italicized, or underlined
words, which may indicate important
information.
5. Skip irrelevant information: If a
section of text doesn't seem to contain
 the information you're looking for,
skip it and move on.

Skimming: Skimming involves reading a

text quickly to get a general sense of its
content without focusing on every detail.
It's useful for quickly determining the
main idea and key points of a text.
Here's how to do it:
1. Read headings and subheadings:
Start by reading the titles and
headings to understand the structure
and main topics of the text.
2. Read the first and last sentences of
each paragraph: This can provide
you with the main idea of each
section.
3. Look for keywords and phrases:
Scan for important terms, dates,
names, or other significant details.
 4. Pay attention to visuals: Images,
charts, and graphs can often convey
important information at a glance.
5. Read the first and last paragraphs:
These often contain the main idea
and summary of the entire text.
6. Ignore small details: Don't get
bogged down in trying to understand
every word. Focus on grasping the
overall message.
When scanning and skimming, it's
essential to stay focused and not get too
caught up in the details. These
techniques are about quickly extracting
the most critical information. Once you've
found what you need, you can decide
whether it's worth reading the entire text
more thoroughly. These strategies can
save you time and help you become a
more efficient reader.
LESSON SUMMARY:
2 Rapid Reading Techniques:
 Scanning – specific detail/info./word
 Skimming – gist/essence/summary –
Comprehension

Identification: scanning or skimming.

1. You have a textbook chapter to read for
your history class, but you're short on
time. You quickly glance at the headings,
read the first and last sentences of each
section, and look for keywords related to
the topic you're studying.
Is this scanning or skimming?
2. You are searching for a specific recipe
in a cookbook. You flip through the pages,
looking for the title of the recipe, and
when you find it, you read the ingredient
list and cooking instructions.
Is this scanning or skimming?

3. You need to read a lengthy research

paper to determine if it contains
information relevant to your project. You
start by reading the abstract to get an
overview of the paper's content and then
quickly scan the introduction and
conclusion.
Is this scanning or skimming?

4. You are reading a novel and want to get

an idea of the book's plot and characters.
You read the back cover blurb, the first
and last few pages of the book, and the
author's biography.
Is this scanning or skimming?

5. You have a stack of resumes to review

for a job opening. You quickly look at
each resume, focusing on the job titles,
qualifications, and any relevant
experience. You skip over the detailed
descriptions of past job duties.
Is this scanning or skimming?

6. You're studying for a biology exam and

have a dense textbook chapter to cover.
You read the headings and subheadings,
look at the figures and diagrams, and
read the first sentence of each
paragraph to identify key concepts.
Is this scanning or skimming?
7. You have a magazine article to read for
a leisurely afternoon. You start by reading
the headline, then flip through the article,
paying attention to pictures and pull-out
quotes, and only read the full article if it
catches your interest.
Is this scanning or skimming?

Answers:
1. Skimming
2. Scanning
3. Skimming
4. Skimming
5. Scanning
6. Skimming
7. Skimming
Activity:
Title: "Climate Change and Its Impacts on
Coastal Communities"
In recent years, the effects of climate
change on coastal communities have
become increasingly evident. Rising sea
levels, extreme weather events, and
coastal erosion are just a few of the many
challenges these communities face.
A study conducted by Smith et al. in 2020
found that the global sea level has risen
by an average of 3.3 millimeters per year
over the past two decades. This alarming
trend is primarily attributed to the
melting of polar ice caps and the
expansion of seawater due to rising
temperatures. Coastal communities are
feeling the consequences of this
phenomenon through more frequent and
severe flooding.
Furthermore, coastal erosion is causing
significant land loss in areas like the Gulf
Coast of the United States and low-lying
regions in Bangladesh. This erosion
threatens not only property but also
human lives, displacing communities and
causing economic hardship.
While the scientific community has
reached a consensus on the reality of
climate change and its effects, there is
still a debate over the extent to which
human activities contribute to this crisis.
Nevertheless, the need for proactive
measures to protect coastal communities
is undeniable.
Scanning:
Keywords: Climate change, coastal communities, rising sea levels,
extreme weather events, coastal erosion, Smith et al. (2020), global
sea level rise, melting polar ice caps, seawater expansion, coastal
flooding, coastal erosion impact, Gulf Coast, Bangladesh, human
activities.
Facts and Figures: The global sea level has risen by an average of
3.3 millimeters per year in the past two decades (Smith et al. study,
2020).
Main Ideas: Climate change is affecting coastal communities
through rising sea levels, extreme weather, and coastal erosion.
There is ongoing debate about the role of human activities in climate
change.
Skimming:
 Climate change impacts coastal communities with rising sea
levels, extreme weather, and coastal erosion.
 A study by Smith et al. (2020) found a 3.3 millimeters per year
rise in global sea levels, primarily due to melting polar ice caps
and seawater expansion.
 Coastal erosion affects areas like the Gulf Coast and
Bangladesh, posing threats to property and human lives.
 Ongoing debate about human contributions to climate change.
 Proactive measures are needed to protect coastal communities.
 By scanning and skimming this text, you can quickly gather the
main points, key details, and relevant statistics, making it
easier to understand the text's main message and the issues it
discusses.