Scanning Skills in Reading

Scanning might seem like a reading approach that yields less information, but scanning is an important first step in reading comprehension. Scanning prior to reading can help you understand the main points of the article. An example of scanning as beneficial to students is during standardized tests, who can scan both the article itself and the standardized test questions before reading in earnest.

Scanning is a form of pre-reading. The popular SQ3R method includes survey, question, read, recite and review as scanning tools. Many reading methods like SQ3R advocate scanning a piece before reading the text closely. When you scan the text, you're looking at headings, scanning the body of the piece for any frequently used words or concept while reviewing the thesis of the piece and attempting to gain a general idea of the piece's argument or focus.

To scan a piece, read the first paragraph to locate the thesis. Then by quickly skim reading the piece while taking note of any words that are frequently repeated. Review the headings and subheadings of the piece and take note of any unfamiliar terms through your skimming and scanning. Read the last paragraph in its entirety and when you read the piece more closely, note whether the arguments and evidence in the article contradict or support the first and last paragraphs.

Scanning an article helps you understand the article's main points before you dive into the meat of the article. This can make it easier to critically read the piece and to develop questions. It can also help you decide if there are any unfamiliar concepts or terms that you need to study up on before you read the piece. Because it can sometimes take several pages for an author to get to the meat of her argument, scanning also enables you to understand what the author is building up to when you sit down to read the piece in its entirety.

Scanning reading is not a substitute for reading and students who choose to only scan can end up with major comprehension issues. Missing even a single qualifier can dramatically change the meaning of a passage. Scanning can also sometimes establish some preconceived notions that may be incorrect. For example, you might assume an article is about the writer's opposition to a law but it could turn out that the article addresses the law's pros and cons. The things you learn scanning a piece are not set in stone and you'll need to adjust your perceptions based upon a subsequent thorough reading.