Skimming and Scanning

SKIMMING

This reading technique is used when we want to find the overall main idea of a book. In this way, it means that we do not read the book word by word but rather jump from one section to another to see the main points of the topic being read. Well, from there, we can determine  which content of the writing needs to be read in more detail, right?

Oh yes, with skimming, we can read 3-4 times faster than regular reading, you know! Learning is more time-saving and less boring! Then, how do you skimm? Come on, follow these steps:

1. Pay attention to the title and subtitle

When you start opening the book and are going to read the first page, you will surely find the main line such as a title or subtitle, right? Well, when skimming, listening to these two things can help you find out what the material in the book is. You can look specifically at the section you want to learn by knowing the titles and subtitles in the book, OK!

2. No need to read verbatim

The main function of skimming is to read faster, and you will know whether the text is worth reading further or not. Therefore, if you want to quickly decide if the book is suitable for you, then you can quickly step into several sections, and assess whether the content of the book you need or not.

3. Check out the final paragraph

Why go straight to the last paragraph? In general, the structure of writing will always lead to the conclusion of the ideas discussed earlier. By directly listening to the end of the paragraph, you can quickly identify the information described in the book. If you're still not sure about the information at the end of the paragraph, you can also listen to the first part of the paragraph!

SKIMMING

4. Pause

Read calmly, although the essence of skimming is to read quickly, there is no need to rush. Take a moment each time you finish reading in detail in one section, to understand what you just read. If so, you can continue reading the rest of the section. Just a little advice, when you stop for a moment, don't sleep while sleeping, because later you will continue to read the dream realm, hehe.

5. Pay attention to illustrations or infographics

Before reading the letters and sentences, you are advised to look at the visual information first. In images or infographics, usually a summary of important information and interesting things for you to see are usually included. Then, it will be easy for you to understand the content of the reading further

6. Read chapter summaries if available

Then, if this section is in the book, it is highly recommended to listen to the special page that is the summary in each chapter. The information in this section is usually presented in the form of bullet points that form the gist of the information of a full chapter.

SCANNING

SCANNING

Then, the second way is by scanning! Scanning in Indonesian means scanning. But, the scanning we are discussing now is different from the one in photocopy, hehe. Scanning is a reading technique to get specific information quickly and accurately from a book.

Usually, scanning is used when we already know what we want to look for so that we will focus on the specific content of the book. Well, we have to practice moving  our eyes or turning the pages of the book quickly to find the word or phrase we are looking for. Have you ever scanned before? Let's see the complete tips!

1. Define keywords

When you scan  , you certainly already know a little about the information you are looking for, right? Well, as much as possible, you should look for one or two words that are the keywords of the information. Scroll through each page until you find the paragraph that contains the keyword.

2. Glance and quickly

When doing a search, there is no need to read carefully one by one, as it will take a long time. Just take a quick look from the top to the bottom of the page until you find the keyword. When searching, make sure your eyes are focused on the pages of the book, OK!

3. Read information around keywords

After finding the keyword, then what? The answer is definite, just read the surrounding material carefully. Even though you have found the keywords, you don't necessarily find the information you need, right? For this reason, it is also important for you to mark the book on the important parts that you want to learn.

SCANNING

4. Look for words that are bold, italicized, or that are printed differently from other writings

When you have trouble finding a specific word, you can also search for it with the help of several different types of writing. Try searching for words with  bold, italics, or those with underscores.

5. Pay attention to illustrations, tables, or pictures related to the information

Okay, let's get to the next stage, if you find an image, table, or infographic in the book you are reading, then you will have an easier time scanning! The information displayed visually will usually be very helpful on the specific topics you are looking for, such as the infographic below!

6. Make sure to search in the right section of chapters or sub-chapters

Next, make sure  that when scanning you do what you should. Yep, looking in the right place! A thick book usually has several sections. Therefore, to make it easier for you to quickly find the information you are looking for.
7. Pay attention to the order of the letters.

A well-organized book will sort the terms in alphabetical order. Well, if the example of information you are looking for is in a book such as a dictionary or glossary, it is important to find the keywords in the order of the letters. Easy right?

In its use, skimming and scanning can be used at the same time, you know! For example, when studying books that we have never read, we can start by skimming and determining what material is interesting to read. Then, to have a better understanding we can scan the keywords of the material we want to learn.