Speed Reading Techniques Xplored In A Simple Way

Reading Made Easy

As we all know,nowadays, Reading Comprehension has been a significant section in all type of competitive exams,we throw light on these speed reading techniques in our previous article Improve your reading speed and recollect more which are followed by top scorers and experts
Skimming and scanning are the two speed reading techniques that everyone needs to possess. This article will now explain the difference in the two skills, when to use each technique, and how to do them.

Skimming

Why do it: to quickly assess the value of the article and determine if it is worth your time and energy to spend any more time with it.

How to do it:

1. Read the title

2. Read the introduction

3. Read all the subheadings and think about how they are related to one another and to the title

4. Read the first sentence in each paragraph. You may also need to read the last sentence in each paragraph depending on the style of writing.

5. Go back through the text looking for clues as to content and importance. Such clues include:

· words that answer who, what, when where, why and how

· proper nouns

· numbers

· adjectives such as best, worst, most, least, etc.

· changes in font such as italics, underlining, boldface, etc.

6. Read the last paragraph

After skimming you should be able to know the general ideas of what the article is about and be able to determine if it fits your needs or not. If not, let it go. You’re done. Move on to the next article.

Scanning

Why do it: to find a specific fact or piece of information that you need for something else.

How to do it:

1.  Remember what it is you are looking for so you will not be distracted by other pieces of information

2.  Anticipate how the information looks – is it identified by numbers, italics, proper nouns, etc.

3.  Run your eyes over several lines at one time

4.  When you find the information you are looking for, focus your eyes and attention there and read the entire sentence. You may also need to read the sentence before and after as well.

When you understand what skimming and scanning are and how to use these techniques, you can manage a large amount of text in a relatively short amount of time. Skimming and scanning skills allow you to use your time both efficiently and effectively.