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 yourself Set the time length that you will read for Collect all your materials Find a comfortable place to read Relax and focus on what you need to accomplish 2. Overview Look at titles, subtitles, and headings to find what information is there Look at charts and pictures and relate them to subtitles Ask what you are going to get from the reading 3. Read During Daylight Hours Studies show people are most efficient readers during the day time A person will read a passage in half the time if they read in the daylight Read during breaks in you day to allot for relaxation during the night when you need rest 4. Avoid Distractions Keep 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 Break Studies 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 Often Reading often helps build your reading skills Reading at the same time everyday turns reading into a habit You paid for your textbooks so you might as well read them Submitted By: