ELC151 INTEGRATED LANGUAGE SKILLS 1I

WEEK 1: GENERAL READING STRATEGIES

TOPIC:
SKIMMING AND SCANNING
PREPARED BY: MS. NURAIN JANTAN ANUA JAH
LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of this chapter, you should be able to:

Skim a reading text
Scan a reading test
WHAT IS SKIMMING & SCANNING?

 Known as very rapid reading methods in which you glance at a passage to find
specific information. These reading methods make it easier for you to grasp large
amounts of material, especially when you're previewing. They are also useful when
you don't need to know every word.
 Skimming and scanning are especially valuable when there is only one item of
information that you need to find from a particular passage.
 What are the differences between the two skills and how can we know which one to
use and when?
 Skimming
• This skill is employed to get
the general overview of the
content.
• We use this technique/skill to
find important ideas in a
reading materials.
• Top-down strategy: serves as
a basis for making inferences
and integrating new
information from the text.
• How to skim: Read fast and
run through over sentences to
understand main idea
through key words.
Scanning
• This skill is employed to
locate specific facts or
information in a text.
• This technique/skill does not
require you to read or
understand every word but to
filter detailed information
• How to scan: You must begin
with a specific question
which has a specific answer.
(Eg: What is the date of the
accident?)
TIPS ON HOW TO SKIM A READING TEXT

 Read the title

 Read the introduction or the first paragraph
 Read the first sentence of every other paragraph
 Read any headings and sub-headings
 Look at the illustrations, graphs or other visuals on the page
 Read the captions of the visuals
 Pay attentions to any italicized or boldface words or phrases
 Read the summary or the last paragraph
EXAMPLE

Instruction: Read the passage above and answer the question provided below by using skimming
technique.
Question: What is the main idea based on the text above?
Answer: A mother’s consumption of sugar-sweetened drink was not associated with increased risks of
overweight children. The effect is post-natal and not foetal growth.
TIPS ON HOW TO SCAN A READING TEXT

 State the specific information you are looking for

 Try to predict how the answer will appear and what clues you might use to help you
locate the answer
 For example, if you are looking for a certain date, you would quickly read the paragraph looking
only for numbers
 Use headings and any other aids that will help you identify which sections might
contain the information your are looking for
 Selectively read and skip through sections of the passage
EXAMPLE

Instruction: Read the passage above and answer the question provided below by using scanning technique.
Question: Who is the principal research scientist at the Guttmacher Institute?
Answer: Dr. Hannah Jones
CONSLUSION

 When students become more confident with their ability to read in English, they will
learn to approach these texts with different reading strategies and skills.
 The strategies and skills used will also depend on the purpose and intent they have for
reading it
 The more students are encouraged to approach a text by first using skimming and
scanning techniques, the sooner they will begin to realise that they do not have to read
and understand every word in the text.