Speed Reading Articles
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Course
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Skimming
– will it improve your reading speed?
~ by
Melvin Ng
A cornerstone of the ability to speed
read is the ability to skim. However, many argue
that skimming is in fact cheating – i.e. you’re not
really reading at all! The following is a brief outline
argument in favor of why skimming will improve your
reading speed (and ability).
Basically, skimming is the most
rudimentary form of reading. The object of skim reading
is not to necessarily comprehend all that is being
read, but rather to familiarize yourself, as quickly as
possible, with the text being read. In this regard,
skimming materials, by reading the index, subject headings
and sub-headings, allows you to prepare yourself so that when
the time comes, you can race ahead and speed read at pace – as
you are already familiar with the text. Consequently, your
overall reading speed will be vastly improved.
In addition, skimming allows your
subconscious the chance to absorb the main ideas of a text.
These are later cemented by your speed reading of the
contents. The combination of these two methods allows you
greater comprehension of what you are reading.
Conversely, if you are reading from cold,
there is more chance you’ll miss certain points or issues. If
you want, think of it as if you are watching a movie for the
second time: don’t you always see parts of the movie the
second time that you didn’t see the first, which makes the
second viewing all the more relaxing and pleasurable?
How to Skim Read
Having ascertained that skimming
will increase our reading speed, we now need to know
how to skim read. Whilst there are many different methods
adopted to skim reading, the following are the
essential elements:
* read the index of a text – note that it
is essential that you do this so that you get the general
ideal of what the text is about;
* read the introduction paragraph of the
text;
* read each heading in the text;
* read each subheading in the text;
* read the first paragraph under each
heading and subheading of the text;
* (if you have time) read the first and
last line of the first and last paragraph of each page;
* (if you have time) read the first and
last line of each independent paragraph;
* read the last paragraph of the text –
again, this is very important as it is usually in this section
that you’ll find all of the main concepts of the text being
summarized and concluded.
Moreover, when skimming, try using
your peripheral eye vision to identify the main idea of the
text, the main dates in the text (especially if the text
relates to historical issues), and any
illustrations/diagrams/graphs.
Finally, when you are skimming,
start at the beginning and read straight through to the end.
Do not go back over what you have already read before you have
completed the whole text as this will defeat the purpose of
your skim reading: in any event, you are going to speed
read the text once more after you have completed your skim
read!
Remember, skim reading is not
intended to replace any reading of the material. Its
intention is to familiarize yourself with the text so that you
can be fully prepared to review it once again at a later
time. In the event that you find yourself with insufficient
time to both speed read and skim read a text, you
should not confine your reading to a mere skim read as
you may find that you miss out on vital pieces of data.
Besides this, enjoy your skim reading in the comfort of
knowing it will enable you to increase your overall reading
speed!
About the author:
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Melvin Ng teaches speed reading
through his
16-Minute Speed Reading Audio Program.
This breakthrough technique
Guarantees to
Double your reading speed in just
16 minutes!
http://www.bestspeedreadingcourse.com
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