Scanning and skimming are fast reading techniques used to obtain information from a text quickly. Scanning is used to look for specific information, while skimming is used to get the general idea or gist of a text. When scanning, the reader moves their eyes quickly through the text looking for a particular piece of information, without reading every word. When skimming, the reader looks at titles, subtitles, first and last sentences of paragraphs to get a general understanding of the topic and main ideas. The document provides examples of when each technique would be used and steps for how to scan and skim a text.

1. SCANNING
& SKIMMING
STRATEGIES IN READING
PREPARED BY TEACHER RUSSEL

2. EVERYONE READ!
Earlier the air we breathe is used to be pure and
fresh. But, due to increasing industrialization and
concentration of poisonous gases in the
environment the air is getting more and more
toxic day by day. Also, these gases are the cause
of many respiratory and other diseases.

3. EVERYONE READ!
Reading is a very good habit that one needs to develop in
life. Good books can inform you, enlighten you and lead you
in the right direction. There is no better companion than a
good book. Reading is important because it is good for your
overall well-being. Once you start reading, you experience a
whole new world. When you start loving the habit of
reading you eventually get addicted to it. Reading develops
language skills and vocabulary. Reading books is also a way
to relax and reduce stress. It is important to read a good
book at least for a few minutes each day to stretch the
brain muscles for healthy functioning.

4. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN SCANNING AND
SKIMMINNG?
Reminders before we start.

5. read more quickly
decide if the text is interesting and
whether you should read it in more
detail
Skimming is a reading technique that
can help you to:
WHAT IS SKIMMING?

6. Skimming is a fast reading technique.
Use it to obtain the gist of a piece of text
(i.e. to quickly identify the main ideas in
the text).
WHAT IS SKIMMING?

7. Read the title, subtitles and subheadings to
find out what the text is about.
Look at the illustrations to give you further
information about the topic.
Read the first and last sentence of each
paragraph.
Don't read every word or every sentence.
HOW TO SKIM:

8. WHAT IS SCANNING?
Scanning is a fast reading technique. It's a
way of reading to look for specific
information in a text.
Scanning can be used to read through the
ads in a newspaper, or for browsing TV
schedules, timetables, lists, catalogues or
web pages for information. For these tasks
you don't need to read or understand every
word.

9. WHAT IS SCANNING?
Scanning is also useful when studying or
looking to find specific information from a
book or article quickly as there is not
always time to read every word.

10. Don't try to read every word. Instead let your eyes
move quickly across the page until you find what you
are looking for.
Use clues on the page, such as headings and titles, to
help you.
If you are reading for study, start by thinking up or
writing down some questions that you want to
answer. Doing this can focus your mind and help you
find the facts or information that you need more
HOW TO SCAN:

11. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN SCANNING AND
SKIMMINNG?

12. The term skimming
is often confused
with scanning.

13. S k i m m i n g i s u s e d , f o r e x a m p l e , t o
g e t t h e g i s t o f a p a g e o f a
t e x t b o o k t o d e c i d e w h e t h e r i t i s
u s e f u l a n d s h o u l d t h e r e f o r e b e
r e a d m o r e s l o w l y a n d i n m o r e
d e t a i l .

14. S c a n n i n g i s u s e d t o o b t a i n
s p e c i f i c i n f o r m a t i o n f r o m
a p i e c e o f t e x t a n d c a n
b e u s e d , f o r e x a m p l e , t o
f i n d a p a r t i c u l a r n u m b e r
i n a t e l e p h o n e d i r e c t o r y .

15. Sometimes you can use both
reading methods. After you
have skimmed a piece of text to
decide whether the text is of
interest, you may wish to use
scanning techniques to locate
specific information.

16. THANK
YOU FOR
JOINING!
Hope you had fun!