Scanning

• Definition: Scanning is a reading technique where the reader looks for specific information without reading the entire text. The reader moves their eyes quickly across the page to locate particular words, phrases, or data points.
• When to Use: This is ideal when you're looking for specific details, like a date, a name, or a keyword.

Example 1:

In a textbook, you are looking for the date when the Industrial Revolution began. Instead of reading the entire chapter, you scan through the text to find the year "1760."

Example 2:

You're scanning a list of job postings online to find jobs that match your specific skills. You quickly move through the descriptions, stopping only when you see keywords like "data analysis" or "project management."

Skimming

• Definition: Skimming is a reading method where you glance through a text to get the general idea or the main points without focusing on details. It’s about gaining an overall understanding in a short time.
• When to Use: This is useful when you want to understand the main points of a text without going deep into the details.

Example 1:

You have a 10-page research paper to read, but you only have a few minutes. You skim through the introduction, headings, subheadings, and conclusion to get the gist of the paper.

Example 2:

When you pick up a magazine, you skim through the articles by reading the headlines, the first and last sentences of each paragraph, and looking at any bolded text or images to decide which article you might want to read fully.

Both techniques are helpful for quick reading but serve different purposes based on whether you're looking for specific information (scanning) or an overall understanding (skimming).