Study tips - Scanning and skimming

Scanning and skimming

Scanning and skimming are defined in various ways in study skills books and websites. Regardless of what you call them, the important thing to remember is that there are two ways to approach a document.

Scanning is useful before you do more in depth reading and it encourages you to take a systematic approach to reading critically.

Skimming is useful when you’re look for particular things within a text, or when you’re trying to find out whether a text will be useful.

Scanning

Skimming

Getting an overview of the text by finding out: what it's called who produced it when it was produced who it was produced for why you think it was produced.	Reading quickly and looking for specific information prior to more in-depth reading. Run your eyes down he page to: locate new concepts or terminology so that you can check the meaning before you start reading find information on a specific topic look for key words to decide whether the text will be useful for your purpose.
	Read the first and last paragraphs for get the main points.
	Look at the first sentence of each paragraph to get a 'feel' for the content.
	Note the key points in the summaries.

More advice

Go to the BBC's advice on reading, written by the OU's Andy Northedge.
For registered students only - Taking notes and reading to learn Toolkit (also available in hard copy from Regional Centres).