UNIVERSIDAD ALONSO DE OJEDA
ENGLISH V
PROFESSOR ALEJANDRO ROMERO
UNIT I – UNIT II
SCANNING & SKIMMING
SKIMMING STRATEGY
Definition
Skimming is defined as a quick movement of the eyes through a text or article in order to get
the gist or the main idea of the text. It is reading sections only, skipping to find the next section of
interest (Stephen 2001). Skimming is reading at fastest speed which a person can accomplish, it is
used when a reader wishes to cover material in a hurry (Lakshmi 2007). According to Mildered R
(2009) skimming is a quick type of superficial reading that completed in an effort to get the overall
gist of the material. Ward (1998) claimed that skimming is reading at the fastest possible speed to get
important information quickly, it is a selective process of looking and reading, when skimming the
eyes sweep down the printed page without actually reading every word. For him skimming is an
organized search for seeking information about an article, chapter, or a book.
Yan Shem (2009) explained that “skimming is a fast-reading skill that does not require reading
word by word, but it does require a high degree of concentration” (Yan.P.164), Robert (2011) added
that “skimming is a form of speed reading that is useful for extracting the main idea and supporting
details from a reading selection”. Chris (2012) admitted that skimming is used to get an overview in
very short period of time. When people skim a text they are not searching for specific information,
but rather to determine if the information is relative to what they are searching for.
Li‟ismaawati et al (2014) argues that:
“Skimming is a method of rapidly moving the eyes over text with the purpose of getting
only the main ideas and a general overview of the content. It indicates that the students
avoid reading a whole text but have to read selectively to get general information of a text”
Warren R (2016) describes that:
“Skimming is reading that looks only for general idea of a reading material. It is just
like what the word is; you are just reading parts of the story, article, or report in generalized
manner. It is used when the selected material for reading is quite long”
The Purpose of skimming strategy
The purpose of skimming strategy is helping students to read more actively and to find the
general idea or the main idea of each paragraph.
Martha and Maxwell (1972) in their research about skimming and scanning claims that “the
goal and perhaps the result of developing effective skimming and scanning techniques is to get the
student to read more actively”.
Robert (2011) also says “the purpose of skimming is to locate the topic sentences, the main
idea, and some of the major supporting details”. For Mildered R (2009) skimming is useful to
determine whether the material is worth reading. Skimming involves reading the first sentence of
every paragraph or section, in addition to the chapter headings and all headings in bold print; as well
as the reading of the introduction and the conclusion. (Susan 2005). I.S.P. National (2009) suggests
that “being able to skim text is a useful skill because skimming can be used to help decide if a text or
section of a text deserves careful reading”
Scanning strategy
Definition
Scanning is defined as reading rapidly a passage to get a specific piece of information or to find
the answer of a particular question. Scanning is a focused search for specific information (Merry and
Brenda 1986)
According to Erik. H (2008) scanning is one of the reading skills you require to locate
information quickly in the index of a text book. To do so he suggests; identify the key words in the
research item. Then let the eyes go up and down the index columns until you find references
beginning with the key words, then focus more finely to search for the specific reference you want.
Mildered R (2009) explained scanning strategy as “scanning involves rapid reading to locate answers
to very specific questions concerned with matters such as names, dates, or telephone numbers”.
Lakshmi (2007) added that scanning is also a skill which demands a quick answer to question from
the passage or chapter or even the complete book. In scanning you look for a particular word or a set
of words, ignoring all else, and glancing over the page rapidly (ibid, 2001)
Ward’s (1998) definition is that scanning involves running the eyes down the printed page,
looking for specific bits of information, key words or phrases. For him it is useful for locating
statements, definitions, formulas, dates, telephone number or other specific items which require
little if any context. He added that “scanning is useful for finding answer to simple questions and
permits the eyes to move rapidly down the page searching for the answer. Once it is found, reading
stops”
Yan Shan (2009) also said that “scanning is helpful technique when students are looking for
answer to a particular question. Scanning involves moving through the passage seeking specific words
and sentences” (Yan, P.165)
Scanning technique covers a great deal of material in order to locate a specific in order to
locate a specific fact or piece of information. The student just read based on the information they
need (Li‟ismawati et al 2014). Scanning involves searching for a particular piece of information in a
text, such as looking for a particular name or a particular number. Effective scanning depends on
good careful reading and skimming skills (I.S.P. Nation 2009).
Warren R (2016) argued that “scanning may be similar to skimming but you are mainly looking
at facts that are in the text. You are not reading text at all but instead you are only reading specific
information”
The Purpose of scanning strategy
As mentioned in previous researches the main purpose of scanning is to find specific
information in limited period of time. Scanning is also is used to determine whether a particular piece
of information will answer one of the given questions (Yan Shen 2009).
Scanning involves the identification of the paragraphs or sections that most probably contain
the information you need and then look quickly through them vertically; seeking key relevant words
(Susan 2005)
The Importance of skimming and scanning strategies in reading comprehension
Skimming and scanning are two specific speeds reading techniques which enable students to
get information from a material very rapid. According to Robert (2011) skimming and scanning are
helpful when searching for information sources especially in libraries or on the internet.
Trevor (2011) defines the importance of skimming and scanning strategies as in “most people
choose to skim and use scanning as a way of helping decide whether they should skim the document”
And from Trevor‟s view we can say that both of skimming and scanning have same function
for different purposes.
Differences between Skimming and scanning
According to Tina (2003), the difference between skimming and scanning is that when you scan
for information you are looking for something very specific, such as a telephone number or answer to
a particular question, you generally stop once you have it. Skimming is used when you are seeking
more of a general impression of what the text is about.
Skimming and scanning are two valuable techniques which can help the reader to read faster.
Skimming is a rapid reading technique wherein the eye of the reader keeps floating over the reading
material and scanning is a technique to find the facts in a very fast manner.
Parmila and G.C. Ahuja (2007) suggeste that
“Skimming is quickly reading topic sentences but skipping over
large sections of material. It is a sort of reading that is used to survey a
selection to get an overall picture of its holdings. This is the first stage for
scanning. Scanning becomes easier if the skimming activity has been
performed earlier” (Parmila & G.C. Ahuja. P154)
They add:
“Skimming and scanning are two very important and useful advanced reading skills
which help the reader to read in fantastic speeds. Skimming demands fast moving of eyes
down a page in zigzag manner looking for some words or phrases, or sentences here and
there to get the kernel of the material; scanning demands a quick answer to a specific
question from a passage or a chapter”(Ibid)
According to Thomas (2010) Skimming is looking over material quickly to locate specific data
and scanning is attempt to get a basic understanding of the objectives and the important points of
the material you are going to read.
The role of skimming and scanning in developing students’ reading abilities
Both skimming and scanning are specific reading techniques for quick and efficient reading
comprehension (Grellet 1981). Mark (2009) assumed that skimming is a reading strategy that can be
used as pre-reading technique and a speed reading technique.
It is a pre-reading technique in terms that it can help student to connect his background
knowledge about the subject to what is in the text, and helping the student to learn in advance what
the main focus of the reading passage will be and building comprehension.
It is a speed reading technique in terms of time management, meaning that it allows the
reader to get the flavor of the reading passage without all of the details. It can help student to
increase his reading comprehension when he returns to read the text in more details.
Mainly the role of scanning strategy is that it can help student to locate where the answers are
found in the reading passage. Kumkum (2008) says that “skimming and scanning methods of reading
save time”
According to Time (2011) skimming is used to quickly identification of the main ideas of a text,
usually when there are a lot of materials to read in a limited amount of time. While scanning is used
to look for detail that may answer questions, he added that “for difficult content, skimming and
scanning can, at best, help in doing whatever is possible when one running out of time”
Skimming and scanning a reading passage
For Mark (2009) to skim, the reader should first search the text clues and signposts to find the
main idea of the reading passage such as unit and chapter titles which provides information about
the overall focus of passage. Next read the first paragraph of the text that provides an introduction of
text main idea, and then the subtitles and bold print of key terms. Reading the concluding paragraph
(s) or summary this will emphasize the key concept.
After skimming the passage start the scanning process which refers to going back to the
beginning of the articles or the text, and slowly run your index finger or a pen down the center of
each paragraph, to get the answer of a particular question or a piece of information. Researchers like
Kusuma, Zuhri, and Kurniasih (2013) also suggested several steps in applying skimming strategy:
- Read the title
- Read the introduction of lead paragraph
- Read the first paragraph completely
- Read the first sentence of each remaining paragraph
- Dip into the text to look for clue words, proper nouns, unusual words
- Read the final paragraph completely
While the steps for scanning strategy are:
- Keep in mind at all the time what is you are searching for
- Anticipate in what form the information is likely to appear numbers, proper nouns,
etc.
- Analyze the organization of the content before starting to scan to determine which
part of the article to scan
- Let your eyes run rapidly over several lines of print at time
- Read the entire sentences when you find the sentence that has the information you
seek
They say about skimming “when someone skims he alternate reads and glances, and the goal is
to obtain an impression of the whole”. And about scanning say “when you are scanning you do not
read the entire text, you read only parts of the text which will answer your question or which serve
your purpose of reading”
When you skim, your eyes should move from titles, to heading and subheadings, to figures,
charts, and tables, perhaps taking the important introductory and summary sentences at the
beginnings and ending of appropriate paragraphs. Scan is more comprehensive than a skim, it should
cover all the elements of a document, not word for word, but as a fast as you can while still feeling
that you have passed through the whole thing (David.E2009)
