Academic Reading-Skimming and Scanning

Easier - There are different styles of reading for different situations. The technique you choose will depend on the purpose for reading. For example, you might be reading for enjoyment, information, or to complete a task. If you are exploring or reviewing, you might skim a document. If you're searching for information, you might scan for a particular word. To get detailed information, you might use a technique such as SQ4R. You need to adjust your reading speed and technique depending on your purpose.

Many people consider skimming and scanning search techniques rather than reading strategies. However when reading large volumes of information, they may be more practical than reading. For example, you might be searching for specific information, looking for clues, or reviewing information.

Harder - Web pages, novels, textbooks, manuals, magazines, newspapers, and mail are just a few of the things that people read every day. Effective and efficient readers learn to use many styles of reading for different purposes. Skimming, scanning, and critical reading are different styles of reading and information processing.

Skimming is used to quickly identify the main ideas of a text. When you read the newspaper, you're probably not reading it word-by-word, instead you're scanning the text. Skimming is done at a speed three to four times faster than normal reading. People often skim when they have lots of material to read in a limited amount of time. Use skimming when you want to see if an article may be of interest in your research.

There are many strategies that can be used when skimming. Some people read the first and last paragraphs using headings, summarizes and other organizers as they move down the page or screen. You might read the title, subtitles, subheading, and illustrations. Consider reading the first sentence of each paragraph. This technique is useful when you're seeking specific information rather than reading for comprehension. Skimming works well to find dates, names, and places. It might be used to review graphs, tables, and charts.

Scanning is a technique you often use when looking up a word in the telephone book or dictionary. You search for key words or ideas. In most cases, you know what you're looking for, so you're concentrating on finding a particular answer. Scanning involves moving your eyes quickly down the page seeking specific words and phrases. Scanning is also used when you first find a resource to determine whether it will answer your questions. Once you've scanned the document, you might go back and skim it.

When scanning, look for the author's use of organizers such as numbers, letters, steps, or the words, first, second, or next. Look for words that are bold faced, italics, or in a different font size, style, or color. Sometimes the author will put key ideas in the margin.

Reading off a computer screen has become a growing concern. Research shows that people have more difficulty reading off a computer screen than off paper. Although they can read and comprehend at the same rate as paper, skimming on the computer is much slower than on paper.


Skimming and Scanning
Skimming refers to the process of reading only main ideas within a passage to get an overall impression of the content of a reading
selection.
How to Skim:
* Read the title.
* Read the introduction or the first paragraph.
* Read the first sentence of every other paragraph.
* Read any headings and sub-headings.
* Notice any pictures, charts, or graphs.
* Notice any italicized or boldface words or phrases.
* Read the summary or last paragraph.
Scanning is a reading technique to be used when you want to find specific information quickly. In scanning you have a question in your mind and you read a passage only to find the answer, ignoring unrelated information.
How to Scan:
* State the specific information you are looking for.
* Try to anticipate how the answer will appear and what clues you might use to help you locate the answer. For example, if you were looking for a certain date, you would quickly read the paragraph looking only for numbers.
* Use headings and any other aids that will help you identify which sections might contain the information you are looking for.
* Selectively read and skip through sections of the passage.
(From College Reading and Study Skills and
Academic Reading and Study Skills for International Students)

Notes:
1. Membaca sekilas (scanning)

Gunakan teknik ini untuk mencari informasi tertentu dari suatu buku/makalah, seperti sebuah definisi atau judul bab tertentu. Misalnya, Anda sedang membuat tinjauan tentang sebuah novel dan mendadak lupa nama salah seorang tokoh yang tertembak mati. Anda tidak perlu membaca keseluruhan novel untuk mengetahui hal itu, cukup membaca sekilas pada bagian yang memuat kejadian penembakan tersebut.

2. Skimming

Teknik ini mirip dengan scanning, hanya saja tujuannya untuk mendapat gambaran ringkas akan isi suatu buku/makalah. Jika Anda mendapat tugas membaca lima judul buku dan harus membuat tinjauannya dalam waktu kurang dari tiga hari, Anda mungkin tidak dapat menyelesaikannya jika harus membaca buku itu satu per satu. Cukup membaca secara skimming dan kembangkan tinjauan Anda berdasarkan gambaran umum yang Anda peroleh.

3. Untuk memahami

Teknik ini banyak digunakan untuk membaca materi pelajaran yang baru. Membaca dilakukan dengan lebih perlahan, mendalam dan terkadang diulang-ulang, sehingga terserap dalam ingatan. Untuk mengulang, dapat digunakan teknik skimming.

4. Mengeja

Teknik ini digunakan jika menyangkut istilah asing atau teknis, misalnya fenilpropanolamina HCI. Tujuannya agar pengejaan nama tidak salah dan nama tersebut benar-benar masuk dalam ingatan.

5. Mencatat

Kalau sudah menyangkut materi bacaan yang banyak, catatan-catatan kecil berupa kata kunci atau "jembatan keledai" akan sangat membantu mengingat keseluruhan bacaan.

TEKNIK. Untuk membantu anda memahami teks dalam bahasa Inggris, teknik-teknik di bawah ini yang meliputi previewing, scanning, skimming, dan guessing mungkin dapat membantu anda walaupun memang penguasaan vocabulary sangat mutlak diperlukan. Ke empat teknik tersebut akan dibahas satu persatu:

1.1 Previewing
Previewing adalah suatu cara untuk melihat teks secara global. Tujuan previewing semata-mata untuk mendapatkan informasi umum mengenai kandungan suatu teks, terutama teks bacaan. Dari hasil pengamatan Mikulecky dan Jeffries (1996), melakukan previewing sebelum membaca teks memberikan konstribusi penting pada proses pemahaman informasi dengan tepat.
Previewing dilakukan dengan cara melihat kalimat-kalimat pertama dan kalimat terakhir pada masing-masing paragraph. Hal ini karena pola penulisan orang-orang berbasis bahasa Inggris punya kecenderungan induktif “straight to the point” (Ballard dan Clanchy, 1996).

1.2 Scanning
Scanning adalah melihat kata-kata tertentu dengan kecepatan tinggi. Contoh scanning dalam kehidupan sehari-hari adalah ketika seseorang mencari nomor telepon di Telephone Directory. Untuk mendapatkan nomor telepon Budi Sudarsono, misalnya, seseorang tertentu tidak harus membuka buku itu dari bagian A sampai Z. orang tersebut cukup membuka halaman yang memeuat nama-nama dengan awalan B, lalu segera mencari nama Budi. Dalam tes, scanning digunakan untuk soal yang menanyakan persamaan kata tertentu dalam teks dengan salah satu kata yang tersedia dalam opsi jawaban, maka anda tidak harus membaca teks tersebut dari awal sampai akhir.

1.3 Skimming
Skimming dapat didefinisikan sebagai skill mencari informasi tertentu secara cepat yang terdapat dalam sebuah bacaan. Skimming harus didasari oleh kemampuan membaca yang cepat yang dibatasi konteks bacaan.

Sumber: http://www.ikmenglishcourse.blogspot.com/2008/12/academic-reading-skimming-and-scanning.html