Applying Skimming and Scanning Strategies in Reading Comprehension

We often get  difficulties in reading activity. The reasons for that problem are that reading consists of some components which have relation to each other (vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, decoding, and comprehension). Skimming and scanning strategies are as the best solution for solving that problem. This solution is able to be offered to aid us in effective way. Using these strategies make us able to comprehend in short time.

Scanning as Reading strategy

Cross (1992) states that scanning is simply means searching with a purpose. He said that scanning has the same purpose and strategy with the doctor when he treats the patients. He made a parable that using the scanning is like a doctor diagnoses a medical problem toward his/her patients. Therefore, scanning has meaning as an activity to read the text quickly to find the detailed information.

According to Brown (2001:308), scanning strategy is the strategy for quickly finding specific information in a text while ignoring its broader meaning. The readers can get information such as name, date, place, picture clues or some particular contents without reading the entire article . Using scanning is helpful for student  to answer and to get the important content that they looking for.

According to Ana Arundel Community College Reading and Study Skill Lab (1999), scanning is very useful for finding a specific names, date, statistic, or fact without reading the entire article. Scanning can be useful to find statements, definitions, formulas, etc. While Bell (2001) explains scanning system as a technique someone often uses when looking up a word in the telephone book or dictionary. It is usually used for searching key words or ideas. In most cases, the reader knows what he is looking for, so he is concentrating on finding a particular answer. The reader can give attention to find the particular answer related to the given question. The reader also need to look  arrangement of the organizer in text, such as numbers, letters, steps, or the words, first, second, or next. Look for words that are bold faced, italics, or in a different font size, style, or color.

Skimming strategy

Based on Arundel in Reading and Study Skill Lab (1999), skimming is a strategy of rapidly moving the eyes over the text with the purpose of getting only the main ideas and the general overview of the content. Skimming is commonly used in three different part of condition. They are pre-reading, reviewing, and reading.

According to Harmer (2001), skimming is a technique in looking for a text to get a quick idea of the gist of a text. The readers still make an effort to read everything, but they have to intentionally search for certain parts. The readers have to try finding out the main idea of each paragraph that they read.

There are some step which we need to notice when we use skimming:

those are:

1. Read the title.

2. Read the introduction of lead paragraph.

3. Read the first paragraph completely.

4. Read the first sentence of each remaining paragraph.

5. Dip into the text to looking for clue words, proper noun, unusual words, enumeration, qualifying adjective, typographical cues.

6. Read the final paragraph completely.


Source: ejournal.unesa.ac.id/article/4577/58/article.pdf