SKIMMING AND SCANNING
Imagine that you're about to take an important biology test. You've studied hard for several days, but now you realize you missed a key detail about monerans. It's not listed in the index, and your test is in 10 minutes. What can you do? You can Skim and Scan.
Skimming and scanning are 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--such as a key detail about monerans.
When you skim and scan, you need to cover everything, even titles, subtitles, side features, and visuals. That bit of information you need may not be tidily packaged in a paragraph, so you need to check the entire page--not just the main body of the text. In textbooks, such as Biology: The Web of Life, there are many visual clues to help you find information. Heads and subheads break up the text and identify the content of each part. Where key terms are introduced and defined, they appear in boldface type. Graphs and charts have titles and/or captions that tell you what they are about. These clues will help you to find information. . . but only if you use them.
HOW TO SKIM AND SCAN
Skimming Method #1
- Run your eyes down the middle of the text page.
- Zero in on the facts you need.
Skimming Method #2
- Skim from the top left-hand corner to the bottom right-hand corner of the page.
- Then skim from the top right-hand corner to the bottom left-hand corner.
Scanning
- Start at the beginning of the passage.
- Move your eyes quickly over the lines, looking for key words related to the information you want to find.
- Stop scanning and begin reading as soon as you find any of the key words you're looking for.
TRY IT!
Skim and scan page 326 (The Characteristics of Viruses) of Biology: The Web of Life . Run your eye across the page to find the definition of capsid.
Click HERE to check your answers to TRY IT!
To practice what you've just learned, go to Worksheet 4.1
To learn about another reading strategy, go to Reading Strategy 4.2.
Reading Strategy 4.1
|| Worksheet 4.1
Reading Strategy 4.2
|| Worksheet 4.2
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