Scanning
Scanning
is another useful tool for speeding up your reading. Unlike skimming, when scanning, you look only for a
specific fact or piece of information without reading everything. You scan when
you look for your favorite show listed in the cable guide, for your friend’s
phone number in a telephone book, and for the sports scores in the newspaper.
For scanning to be successful, you need to understand how your material is
structured as well as comprehend what you read so you can locate the specific
information you need. Scanning also allows you to find details and other
information in a hurry.
How
to scan. Because you already scan many different types of material in
your daily life, learning more details about scanning will be easy.
Establishing your purpose, locating the appropriate material, and knowing how
the information is structured before you start scanning is essential.
The
material you scan is typically arranged in the following ways: alphabetically,
chronologically, non-alphabetically, by category, or textually. Alphabetical information is arranged
in order from A to Z, while chronological
information is arranged in time or numerical order.
Information
can be also be arranged in non-
alphabetical order, such as a television listing, or by category, listings of like items such
as an auto parts catalog. Sometimes information is located within the written
paragraphs of text, also known as a textual
sense, as in an encyclopedia entry.
Learning
to use your hands while scanning is very helpful in locating specific
information. Do you do anything with your hands to locate a word in a dictionary?
To find a meeting time on your calendar? To read a train or bus schedule? Using
your hand or finger is extremely helpful in focusing your attention and keeping
your place while scanning a column of material.
Your peripheral vision can also help
you scan effectively. When your hand moves down a list of names, you see not
only the name your finger is pointing to, but also the names above and below.
Let your eyes work for you when searching for information.
Keep the concept of key words in mind
while scanning. Your purpose will determine the key words. Suppose you are
looking for the time a train leaves from New York City for Washington, D.C.The
key words to keep in mind are “from New York City” and “to Washington,D.C.” If
you are looking for the cost of a computer printer with the code number PX-710,
the key word to locate in a list of many printers is “PX-710.”
When
to scan.?You scan when your aim is to find specific pieces of information. If
you were doing the research for an oral presentation, you could scan the index
of books, web sites, and reference materials. You would discover whether they
contain any information you want and the pages where the information can be
found.
In
the past, you probably scanned without knowing you were doing it. Now with the
information provided in this section, you can use scanning more intentionally
and frequently. The more you practice, the more effective scanning will become.
Finally, the most important benefit of scanning is its ability to help you
become a more flexible reader. Scanning adds another high gear to your reading.
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