I will show you how to do it.

Skimming & Scanning

Skimming (also called speed reading) is a technique that you use when you want to get the gist and the main idea in a reading text without paying attention to the details. When you are skimming, you move your eyes up and down the page, left and right trying to find what you want.

Examples

Preview a text to find the main idea
Read the headings of charts and tables
Choose a book to borrow from the library

Scanning is a technique that you use when you quickly want to find specific information in a reading text. When you scan, you look through the text quickly to find what you want.

Examples

Recipe to check what ingredients you need or how long it will take to cook
Look up the meaning of a word in a dictionary

Let's look at an example from the JPC website:

Mayfair

Mayfair is the premier event in the Daisy Hill area and surrounds, welcoming local Logan community members for a fun-filled afternoon carnival. Held annually, this is the major fundraiser for the John Paul College Parents and Friends’ Association. The John Paul College Fair has become a Logan tradition since its inception on 5 June 1982, before being moved to a May timeslot and renamed Mayfair. Since then it has grown into a major event for the local community on the College’s calendar. Mayfair has previously had an attendance of more than 5,000 visitors annually. The visitors come from within the local community including students, parents, grandparents, home-stay families, friends, neighbours, local community and church groups. This fantastic afternoon and evening is a cultural food fest with food provided by local food vans, performances, entertainment and amusement rides. The evening of this wonderful event culminates in an amazing fireworks display.

SKIMMING

SCANNING

What is this text about?

I will use the SKIMMING technique to identify the main idea of this text.

This is how I do it:

a. I look at the pictures and read the headings.

b. I read quickly to find any repeated words, which I underline.

I can understand that this reading will be about a fun event at John Paul College.

By skimming this text, I have quickly figured out what it is going to be about.

Why is this useful?

The answer is: I will be able to understand faster and better when I read it.

What do I need to know about this event called Mayfair? I have some questions.

I will use the SCANNING technique to find answers to my questions. For example, ‘what?’ ‘when?’, ‘how long?’, ‘how much?’

This is how I do it:

I look through the text quickly to find out answers to my questions:

a. What is the date and time of this year’s event?

b. How many visitors attend every year?

c. Can I invite my grandparents?

d. Is there any food available?

By scanning this text, I have quickly found answers to my questions.

Why is this useful?

The answer is: I will be able to understand faster and better when I read it

I may find that I don’t need to read it at all because I only needed a few detail to answer my questions.