SKIMMING & SCANNING STRATEGY PROTOCOL

❖ Introduction:
Skimming & Scanning is a style of reading and information processing. There are some who
argue that skimming and scanning is more of a searching technique than a reading strategy. But it all
depends on the purpose for reading.

For example, one could read for pure enjoyment, while in another situation, one could read for
inquiring about information or to successfully complete a proposed activity/task.

• What is “skimming?”
It is a strategy that can be taught to students to help them identify the main ideas in text. It is
important to correlate “skimming” to reading, making it clear that it is not word-by-word reading.
Rather it is three to four times faster than normal reading.

Generally, skimming is used to get through text very quickly. Consequently, skimming is used
when students have a lot of reading material to get through, or have been assigned a task in an activity
that requires some quick reading first, prior to completing the task. Skimming has also been used as a
strategy in research when the student wants to determine if a text/article is a resource than can be used.

• How is skimming done?

When seeking specific information related to a topic/theme or an answer to a question or a
prompt, it is best to employ skimming. The skill of skimming allows for you to read the headings, titles,
subheadings and illustrations with captions, as well as reading the first and last paragraph of a
text/article. Indeed, skimming works well to identify dates, names, places or specific items. It also
allows for the reader to quickly review charts, tables and graphs.

• Types of Skimming:

Pre-read skimming Skim reading Review skimming

Assumes you have already read the

Situations in which skimming is the only
Refers to preparing to read material and are going back over it as a
coverage you plan to give the material
means of study and review

By Muhammad Mohsin Ali

 SKIMMING & SCANNING STRATEGY PROTOCOL

• Skimming Uses:
✓ Familiarize yourself with a chapter by looking at the headings, pictures, graphs, etc.
✓ Preview a new textbook to find what information is inside by looking at the front and back
covers and table of contents.

• How Do I Use Skimming?

i. Read the title. If it is an article, check the author, publication date, and source.
ii. Read the introduction. If it is very long, read only the first paragraph completely. Then, read
only the first sentence of every paragraph. That sentence will usually be the main idea of
that paragraph.
iii. Read any headings and sub-‐headings. The headings, when taken together, form an outline
of the main topics covered in the material.
iv. Notice any pictures, charts, or graphs; they are usually included to emphasize important dates
or concepts.
v. If you do not get enough information from the headings, or if you are working with material
that does not have headings, read the first sentence of each paragraph.
vi. Glance at the remainder of the paragraph.
a. Notice any italicized or boldface words or phrases. These are key terms.
b. Look for lists of ideas within the text of the material. The author may use numerals,
such as (1), (2), (3) in the list, or signal words such as first, second, one major cause,
another cause, etc.
vii. Read the summary or last paragraph.

By Muhammad Mohsin Ali

 SKIMMING & SCANNING STRATEGY PROTOCOL

• What is “scanning”?
Scanning is a method of selective reading, when searching for a particular fact or answer to a
question. Scanning can best be described as a looking rather than a reading process. It allows students
to search for key words/concepts/ideas. More often than not, the student knows exactly what he/she is
looking for. So, the assigned task is finding out specific information, such as finding the name of an
individual in a telephone directory or looking for a word in a dictionary.

• How is scanning done?

When a student is asked to employ scanning in a task, this process involves moving the eyes
quickly through the text (or down a page) looking for specific words and/or phrases. Scanning can
also be used in a research project, where the student can scan the text to determine whether it will
provide the information, he/she is looking for. It is important to note, once you have scanned a text, you
might go back and skim the text to identify the main ideas. Remember to emphasize with your students
that scanning involves using the author’s use of organizer’s (i.e., numbers, letters, steps, or the sequence
words of First, Second, third…You can also encourage your students to look for words that are bold
faced, italicized or in a different font size, style or color. It is also important to point out that authors can
place important information in the text’s margin.

• Scanning Uses:
✓ Use scanning to locate quotes in a text you have previously read.
✓ Find specific words you are looking for on a worksheet by moving your eyes quickly across
the page.
✓ Use scanning to find answers to questions on a worksheet.
• How Do I Use Scanning?
i. State in your mind specifically the information for which you are looking. Phrase it in question
form, if possible.
ii. Try to anticipate how the answer will appear and what clues you might use to help you locate the
answer.
iii. Determine the organization of the material; it is your most important clue to where to begin
looking for information. Especially when looking up information contained in charts and
tables, the organization of the information is crucial to rapid scanning.

By Muhammad Mohsin Ali

 SKIMMING & SCANNING STRATEGY PROTOCOL

iv. Use headings and any other aids that will help you identify which sections might contain the
information for which you are looking.
v. Selectively read and skip through likely sections of the passage, keeping in mind the specific
question you formed and your expectations of how the answer might appear. Move your eyes
down the page in a systematic way.
vi. When you have found the needed information, carefully read the sentences in which it appears in
order to confirm that you have located the correct information.

By Muhammad Mohsin Ali