INTRODUCTION

Skimming: A quick reading technique. It is used in order to obtain an overview of the content of a text. This type of reading is quick and active, reading more attention must be focused towards the general idea of the text. For use certain strategies are applied such as:

(a) Locate keywords related to the topic of the text to read.

(b) Locate words that are repeated.

(c) Locate words that are similar to Spanish.

(d) Observe typographical aids (letters in bold, highlighted, titles, sub-titles, graphics, etc...), since they break the text and identify the contents of each part. Very often in bold (boldeados) definitions and key terms. Graphs and maps have titles and / or headers that tell of trying. All these tracks will help you find the information you're looking for.

SKIMMING FOR POINT OF VIEW

Skimming is helpful when you want to find out quickly about the writer. You may want to find out what the writer thinks about something. This is the writer's point of view.

When you want to know the writer´s point of view, you do not need to read everything. You need to read only a few important words.

EXAMPLE 

Read this paragraph quickly. Answer the following question by putting a checkmark beside the answer:

Dogs are often a problem at home. Many dogs are noisy and dirty. They may even be dangerous for small children 

                                        For_____         Against    x         

EXERCISE

1. - Candy is not a good for your teeth. It is especially bad for children´s teeth. If children eat a lot of candy, they will have problems later.

                                        For_____         Against             

2. - Large cars can cause problems. They are more difficult to park than small cars. They also use more gas.

                                       For_____         Against             

3. - In San Francisco, the air is always a comfortable temperature. It is never too hot or too cold. It is perfect weather all year

                                      For_____         Against    x        

  

SKIMMING FOR PATTERN OF ORGANIZATION

Sometimes you need to find out quickly how a book or article is organized. You want to know its pattern. You do not need to know the details for this. You do not need to read all the words. You have to read anly the signal words. They will tell you the pattern.

EXAMPLE

What is the pattern of organization for this paragraph? Put a checkmark beside the best answer

       A whale eats a lot of ocean food every day. That is because it is a very large animal

    Listing___          Time order___            Cause/effect     x                  Comparison___

EXERCISE

1. - A parakeet is a small bird that lives in tropical forest. The parrot is similar to a parakeet, but it is a larger. Both birds sometimes can learn how to say words.

 Listing___          Time order___            Cause/effect                       Comparison___

2. - Some kinds of birds cannot fly. The penguin is one of these birds. It lives mostly in the very cold Antarctic climate. Another kind of bird that cannot fly is the ostrich. It lives in Africa.

 Listing___          Time order___            Cause/effect                       Comparison___

3. - Lisa plants to travel in Europe this summer. In June, she will visit Sicily. In July, she will bicycle in northern Italy. In August, she will travel through France. By September, she hopes to be in Paris

 Listing___          Time order___            Cause/effect                       Comparison___

SKIMMING FOR IDEAS

1. - Read the first few sentences at your usual speed. Ask yourself, what is this about?

2. - As soon as you guess the general idea, go to the next paragraph. Remember, you do not need to know the details. You only want to learn something very general about the chapter or article

3. - Read only a few words in each paragraph after that. You should look for the words that tell you more about the general idea. Often they are at the beginning of the paragraph, but they may also be at the end

4. - Always work quickly. Remember that details are not important

EXERCISES

Apply skimming technique to get the general idea of the following texts.

An industrial hygienist is a special kina of safety professional who has many duties. For example, if workers in a steel plant complain that their eyes are burning, an industrial hygienist tries to find the source of the problem by sampling the air. The hygienist may discover that the air contains a toxic gas and then, he may determine the concentration and composition of that gas.

Outline: _________________________________

Formal quality systems are documented in the quality manual. This manual contains company policies and procedures that affect product quality. Quality audits by third parties often begin with the quality manual. Most quality manuals follow a similar format, and they must be updated constantly. Good quality manuals, like the effective system they document, must be customized to the particular needs of the company.

Outline: ________________________

 Electrical energy is supplied by a 14-volt, direct-current system powered by an engine-driven alternator. A 12-volt battery is located on the left-hand forward portion of the firewall. Power is supplied to all electrical circuits through a split bus bar, one side containing electronic systems and the other side having general electrical systems. Both sides of the bus are on at all times except when either an external power source is connected or the ignition/starter switch is turned on; the a power contactor is automatically activated to open the circuit to the electronic bus. Isolating the electronic circuits in this manner prevents harmful transient voltages from damaging the transistors in the electronic equipment.

Outline: __________________________