This document discusses reading comprehension skills. It explains that skimming is used to get the overall gist or main ideas of a text quickly, while scanning is used to find specific details or information. The document provides guidance on how to skim and scan effectively, such as by reading titles, headings and bold words. It also discusses how to identify the main idea and supporting details of a paragraph in order to fully understand the key points.
This document discusses reading comprehension skills. It explains that skimming is used to get the overall gist or main ideas of a text quickly, while scanning is used to find specific details or information. The document provides guidance on how to skim and scan effectively, such as by reading titles, headings and bold words. It also discusses how to identify the main idea and supporting details of a paragraph in order to fully understand the key points.
This document discusses reading comprehension skills. It explains that skimming is used to get the overall gist or main ideas of a text quickly, while scanning is used to find specific details or information. The document provides guidance on how to skim and scan effectively, such as by reading titles, headings and bold words. It also discusses how to identify the main idea and supporting details of a paragraph in order to fully understand the key points.
This document discusses reading comprehension skills. It explains that skimming is used to get the overall gist or main ideas of a text quickly, while scanning is used to find specific details or information. The document provides guidance on how to skim and scan effectively, such as by reading titles, headings and bold words. It also discusses how to identify the main idea and supporting details of a paragraph in order to fully understand the key points.
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1 Reading comprehension
skimming for main ideas
scanning for specific information locating main ideas and supporting details Learning Objectives:
Elicit information from a variety of written
text types using appropriate comprehension skills In this lesson we will... Discuss the skills of skimming and scanning, locating main ideas and supporting details based on reading texts . We use different styles of reading for different purposes. Among the reading techniques that we use for high speed reading is skimming and scanning. Skimming and scanning do not require us to read all the material in a text. SKIMMING Skimming technique is used to get the gist or an overview of a text. It helps us to read a text 3 to 4 times faster than normal reading We usually skim when we have limited time to read Skimming helps us to review major ideas after we have studied a topic To skim a text effectively, we must read the title read any heading, subheading or illustrations read only the main ideas – ignore all other details look for topic sentences – usually the first or last sentence in a paragraph/passage In skimming we ask questions beginning with who, what, when, where to find out what the text is mainly about. Example: Skim through the short extract below in five seconds Read only the heading, subheading and the words in bold The Cheetah The cheetah which has its home in the grasslands of Africa is the world’s fastest runner. It can run up to 70 miles per hour. Because of its speed it is able to catch its prey with ease. It can go from a stationary position to a speed of 45 miles per hour within two seconds. By reading the heading, subheading and the words in bold we can say that the text is about the cheetah from Africa is the world’s fastest runner. Other information supports the general idea that it is an animal which moves with great speed Refer to Handout 1 (pp 52 – 58) SCANNING Scanning is a technique used to search for a particular fact or a specific detail to answer a question Scanning is looking for and not reading When scanning we don’t have to read every word We usually scan when we are looking for meaning of words in a dictionary, the names and telephone numbers or looking for schedules, tables, charts or classified ads. To scan effectively we must; Know exactly what we are looking for Search for key words or ideas by moving your eyes quickly down the page until you find what you need – do not read any further Use headings and subheadings to help us to identify the sections we need to locate quickly for the information needed Refer to Handout 2 (pp 41 – 46) 1. Topic of a text: The topic of a text is what you are reading about or the general idea 2. Topic Sentence: A topic sentence is a complete sentence that states the essential point of the paragraph. It contains controlling ideas 3. Main Idea: The main idea is the summary of essential points of the paragraph The main idea can often be substituted with a topic sentence with controlling ideas The main idea can either be clearly stated or can sometimes be implied 4. Supporting details are other sentences that come after the topic sentence. Usually there will be sentences that help to explain, support, illustrate or describe the main idea in a paragraph Usually comes after the topic sentence – developed from the controlling words found in the topic sentence It can be reasons or details, particular facts and ideas that prove, explain, support or give examples of controlling ideas To find supporting details developed from the controlling ideas of the topic, you may ask question words like; What, who, whose, when, where, why, how… Finding main idea and supporting details is helpful because it; Is the key to understanding a paragraph or a passage helps you to identify the general point the author is making Helps you to perceive the relationship between the main idea and what is said about the idea Refer to Handout 3 (pp 65 – 66) Source for passages and present the main ideas, specific information and supporting details in them.