Skimming (reading)
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Part of a series on Reading
GENERAL INFORMATION
Literacy • Illiteracy Family literacy • Functional illiteracy Braille
TYPES
Close reading • Proofreading Skimming • Slow reading Speed reading • Subvocalized
LEARNING TO READ
Reading readiness Reading acquisition • Comprehension Dyslexia • Reading disability National Reading Panel • Spelling
READING INSTRUCTION
Reading education • Phonics Alphabetic principle Basal reader • Decodable text Whole language • Methodology debate
LISTS
Assessments • Publications Topics • Treatments
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Skimming is a high speed reading process and involves visually searching the sentences of a page for clues to meaning. It is conducted at a higher rate (700 wpm plus) than normal reading for comprehension (around 200-230 wpm), and results in lower comprehension rates, especially with information-rich reading material.

Skimming on its own should not be used when complete comprehension of the text is the objective. Skimming is mainly used when researching and getting an overall idea of the text. (Abela 2004)

Speed reading courses which teach techniques that largely constitute skimming of written text also result in a lower comprehension rate (below 50% comprehension on standardized comprehension tests)(Carver 1992).

See also

• Fixation
• Reading (process)
• Slow reading
• Speed reading

References

Notes

Bibliography

Further reading

External links

• BBC-Improve your skim reading technique