R E A D I N G II

READING FOR THE

GIST

COMPILED BY: SYARIFAH AINI, S.PD., M.SC.

WEEK II-MODULE 2
 AT THE END OF THIS LESSON,YOU ARE EXPECTED TO BE ABLE TO;

●
Identify the gist of a reading text.
●
Identify the gist of a text consisting of some paragraphs.
 A. DEFINITION

• Gist literally means: the core; the essence; the central meaning o r theme
of a speech.
• Gist is the general meaning or purpose of a text, either written o r
spoken. Reading a text for gist is known as skimming.
• As the illustration: before answering detailed comprehension questions on
a short story, learners read it quickly for gist/general idea, and then match
the text t o a picture that summarises what happens in the story.
• Skimming for gist-moves eyes quickly across the page.
• In the classroom learners employ a variety of reading skills including
prediction, reading for gist, scanning and intensive reading. Learners need
t o be shown these and taught how to use them in order t o f n d their own
effective strategies.
 Skim reading practice

●
Skim reading can be a useful technique t o have when researching.This skill involves
reading a longish text o r parts of one in order t o get the gist (the main idea) of what it
contains.The aim is not t o get a detailed understanding but rather an overview of a text
that may be relevant t o your enquiry.
●
When skim reading a text, you should aim to read it fairly quickly, passing over complex
explanations o r detail in order t o grasp the main concept(s) being discussed.Your aim is
to understand the gist o r main idea only. Let your eyes glide over the text to catch the
main idea rather than reading every word carefully.
• Skimming ●
is a reading skill that is performed quickly. It consists of letting
the eye glide rapidly over chunks of text, resting on the key words or
phrases to take in the main points expressed.The reader's aim is to get an
understanding of what a text or part of a text is about, rather than to
grasp all● the detail can
Skimming or be
particular
particularlydetail
usefulin a text.
if you are searching for texts that are likely t o be
relevant for a research purpose. Because it is done quickly, valuable time is not wasted
on texts which are not useful, but texts which do seem to be relevant to your research
purpose can be selected for later close reading so that their detail can be absorbed.
 Let’s practice on how to read for the gist!
Answer the following question!
Deep-sea specimens collected during oceanic research expeditions often turn out to be species which are
completely new to science.These collected specimens are carefully preserved for later analyse ashore. If they
turn out to belong to a previously unknown species, biologists then prepare and publish a formal description of
that new species, comparing it with the other known species of that kind of animal, and highlighting how the new
species is different (and therefore how it can be recognised from other species by other biologists in the future).

W h a t is the main point expressed in the f r s t paragraph?

●
Careful preservation of specimens from the deep ocean is required
●
Biologists in the future will be able to differentiate between species
●
Species comparison enables biologists to highlight differences
●
N ew species of animal need to be analysed and formally described
 The cues: The identifcation and description of new species

W h a t is the main point expressed in the f r s t paragraph?

●
Careful preservation of specimens from the deep ocean is required
●
Biologists in the future will be able t o differentiate between species
●
Species comparison enables biologists to highlight differences
●
N e w species of animal need to be analysed and formally
described
 N O TE

To understand more about the topic, your are suggested to read the text
book (buku materi pokok/BMP) which can be accessed in RBV as it is
written in Indonesian language. Therefore, it will help. Also, try to complete
the exercise and check your answer using the key answers provided down
below it (module 2 p.p 2.2).