Basic Reading Strategies II

Scanning is a strategy that is used for finding out a specific piece of information or a fact and the answer to a particular question.

Scanning is a type of selective reading and can be best described as moving the eyes through the text rather than a reading process.

In the scanning process, the eyes go up and down until the reader finds the references beginning with the keywords. The reader knows exactly what to look for in scanning.

It enables the reader to locate keywords, names, phrases, numbers, definitions, dates or other specific items.

Effective scanning requires careful reading and skimming skills.

Author’s use of organisers such as headings, numbers, word of sequence or other aids are used to locate where the answer might be in scanning strategies.

Before using scanning strategy, the readers should know the organisation of the text. This information helps the readers locate the information more quickly.

You are expected to use scanning strategy in combination with skimming to have knowledge about the organisation of the text. After you have learned the organisation of text, make use of clues such as keywords, headings, names, numbers etc.

1. Identify the specificc information you are looking for.
2. Try to predict what aids you might use to locate the answer.
3. Check the organisation of the text. It will give you an idea where to start.
4. Look at the related charts and tables if your answers are in there.
5. Use titles or sub-titles that are related to information you are looking for.
6. Selectively read for the specific information you are looking for.
7. Move your eyes through (or down) the text in a systematic way.
8. When you have found the specific information, read the sentence carefully
to validate you have found the correct information.

Many textbooks include an index at the end. By using scanning strategy, you can check whether the book includes a particular topic you are looking for and, if so, on what page the topic is located. Indexes are designed to help readers find information quickly and easily. All-important names, topics, events, and concepts are generally listed alphabetically in an index. Many indexes list various sub-headings under the major headings.

In a specific scan or targeted scan, you look for specific content such as a number, a place, people or time. Train schedules or bus schedules contain a variety of travel information. Train schedules tell you which trains run between which cities, on what days, and what time. Schedules also inform you about the stops and arrival time of the trains. Therefore, scanning strategy is a useful skill you use in every part of your life.

• Read the title of the article first and try to understand the topic/subject of the text.
• Skim the text material to understand terms or abbreviations used in the charts, graphs, and tables.

• Carefully read the title of the charts, graphs, and tables. The title summarises the purpose of charts,
graphs, and tables.
• Read labels carefully and find the related part.

To fully understand a text, a paragraph or a report, you have to read it more carefully. In
other words, detailed reading is done for a deeper understanding of the text.

After you apply previewing and predicting to get the gist of the text and use the skimming and scanning strategies to find what to focus on, you can slow down and read more carefully to have a deeper understanding about the related parts of the text.

Readers should set their purpose of reading and ask the following questions to fully understand what they are reading:
1. What are the arguments of the author?
2. Are they credible?
3. What evidence does the author use to support the arguments?
4. What do you infer from the text?
5. Do you agree with the author? Why? Why not?
6. How can you use the information in the text?

While interacting with the text, readers should also benefit from some techniques to help comprehension. The most frequently used technique in detailed reading is note-taking. Making notes will help you remember the key points or important details while you are reading. Underline or highlight phrases and words that seem to you the most important. To engage with the text and to take an active role, ask questions while reading. And finally try to summarise what you are reading in your own words.

Determining the patterns of the text makes it easier to understand.

Understanding rhetorical patterns and paying attention to transitions can help readers divide the paragraphs into more manageable parts.

The use of transitions, repeated words and topic sentences.

Transitions give information about the direction of thoughts in a paragraph and repeated words give structural or context clues about the topic of the text.