This document provides guidance on previewing and scanning/skimming reading materials to prepare for tests. It recommends previewing assignments by reviewing tables of contents, introductions, conclusions, and graphic elements to understand overall topics and concepts. Scanning involves quickly locating specific answers, facts, or details by focusing on keywords, headings, and first sentences of paragraphs. Skimming allows gaining general understanding by focusing on bold, italicized, underlined text as well as introductions and headings. Both scanning and skimming are faster reading techniques compared to fully reading text.
2. Step 2: Previewing Info Helps understand it better Major topics Chapter Reading assignment Grasps overall understanding Check out Table of Contents Intro paragraph Appendix Glossary
3. Survey or Skim Closing paragraphs Introductions Summaries Lists Headings & subheadings Graphic aids Pictures End of section questions
4. Preview an assignment Look for NEW terms Check out “notable” words Underlined Bolded Italics ALL CAPS
5. It Only Takes a Few Minutes to… Build a foundation for what you can learn Get insight on what you will be covering (Consider it an hors d'oeuvres)
6. Step 3: Scanning/Skimming Remember these from Reading Textbooks? Remember the difference between them? Most prefer scanning Gets answers to fill in the worksheet or answers the homework questions You know what you’re looking for and you’re out to find it You don’t want to waste time “Just the facts M’aam’
7. Scanning Locate answers to questions Pick out key words Names Dates Facts Read phrases/short sentences Not reading everything, scroll eyes down middle of page
8. Strategies to Scanning I.D. organizational methods Poetry ABC order Expository Includes facts, details, & info Determine author’s arrangement of info Helps to locate page/section
9. More Scanning Strategies Focus on key words before you scan Easier to pick out Read quickly & accurately Look for key words, ignore unnecessary Move eyes in quick patterns When you think you’ve found info, spend time to read more carefully. Don’t get bogged down with all the text
10. Skimming Info Read quickly for general understanding Careful preview Focus on main ideas Look for Bolded words Italics Underlined words/phrases Intro paragraphs
11. More Skimming Info Look for Headings First sentences of paragraphs Intro/sequence words First, second, third In conclusion Next Finally Furthermore
