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Use These Shortcuts To Complete Your College Degree

by MichelleConner

Time is a precious commodity for college students. There are so many things that have to be attended to: papers to write, research material to sift through, and unexpected emergencies to tend to. There never seems to be enough time in the day to thoroughly read every book, article, or textbook required to complete assignments. This is the hectic life of the typical college student. No matter the busy lifestyle, material has to be read. What do you do when time is limited for reading? You could learn how to skim and scan.

Skimming is when you just want an overview or general idea of a text. Media publications like newspapers are generally skimmed over because of limited time for reading. Most people do not read the newspaper word-by-word; they view text in rapid fashion, typically three to four times faster than normal reading. In this instance, skimming a newspaper can be useful to see if an article may be of interest for research purposes. Being aware of the newest information about masters degree online will speed your success.

Scanning is when you need to find specific information. This is exemplified in the process of looking up a word in the dictionary or a telephone number in a phone directory. When scanning, eyes move quickly down the page, seeking specific key words, phrases, or ideas. Because you know what you are looking for, you can concentrate on finding a particular answer.

Skimming is typically used to review articles and mounds of research information. It is effective here because you don't need every spec of information, only specific details of information. Details like dates, names, and places can be found by using this brief method. You can also use it to read charts, tables, and graphs.

Scanning strategies include targeting key words that will lead you to finding the facts you need. If you were looking to answer a question about marine life, scan for related terms such as ocean. Look for typographic aids such as numerals, capitalized words, as well as words in bold or italic type. Other strategies include looking for words diverse in font, size, style, or color; these are often indicators that the information is significant.

Skimming strategies can consist of reading headers, sub-headers, subtitles, and titles. Other practices include reading the first two and last two paragraphs of a text in its entirety. For all other paragraphs, read only the first two sentences and the last two sentences. As you are reading, skim for key words that may lead to important information you are searching for. Make use of all illustrations by viewing quickly but reading the captions fully. Learning about online degree will help your journey.

Skimming and scanning should not be confused with reading because both are search techniques that allow you to quickly find specific information and/or clues for important information. It is unwise to use these methods when reading literary works and writings that require a complete read. For example, reading assignments from an English Composition class should be read in its entirety, as they require comprehension and analytical review. To see if these methods work for, try skimming and scanning an article and textbook just for fun!

About the Author: Frank Cole

Not every word of nonfiction articles needs to be read thoroughly for your assignments for traditional or online colleges. Skimming gives you an overview or the main idea, while scanning helps you locate specific facts. Try skimming a newspaper article and scanning a subject in an encyclopedia and see how effective each technique is. There is always more information from eLearners Online.

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Use These Shortcuts To Complete Your College Degree