Quickly identify main ideas of a text Skimming is 3 to 4 times faster regular

reading Used when there is a lot of material and

a short amount of time

Read the first and last paragraph Read headings, subheadings, titles,

subtitles, and illustrations Read the first sentence of every

paragraph Skimming works well with dates, names

and places

Used to search for key terms When you know what you are looking

for you can through texts to find the information

Good to use when determining whether a source will have the answers you are looking for

First look at how the author organizes his information

Look for bold faces, italics, or different sized fonts

The author may also put key information in the margins of pages

1. Prepare yourselfSet the time length that you will read forCollect all your materialsFind a comfortable place to readRelax and focus on what you need to

accomplish

2. OverviewLook at titles, subtitles, and headings to find

what information is thereLook at charts and pictures and relate them

to subtitlesAsk what you are going to get from the

reading

3. Read During Daylight HoursStudies show people are most efficient

readers during the day timeA person will read a passage in half the

time if they read in the daylightRead during breaks in you day to allot for

relaxation during the night when you need rest

4. Avoid DistractionsKeep a notebook near you to write down

things that come to mind (other assignments, people to call, etc) so you can them later

Read in place where there is nothing to distract you

Turn off TV, music, facebook, and anything else that will break your concentration

5. Take a BreakStudies show that reading becomes less

efficient if you do not take a break to refresh your mind

A 5 minute break is recommended for every hour of reading

Do something well defined so it does not drag on and you do not become distracted

6. Read OftenReading often helps build your reading skillsReading at the same time everyday turns

reading into a habitYou paid for your textbooks so you might as

well read them