Four Types of Reading

Different types of reading have different uses.

Previewing (Surveying)

Preview the following:
title, subtitle, introduction, afterword, appendix, index, maps, graphs, charts, illustrations
Skimming
Read quickly and lightly to get an overall picture of the material, become familiar with topics and get the gist of the material by identifying main ideas.
Scanning
Quick search for key words, phrases and particular facts that will answer the questions beginning with "who, what, how, why, when, and where." The reader looks rather than reads for specific information and ignores everything else. This method is mostly used for research.
Digesting
Slowest type of reading:
grasp ideas/thoughts, analytical thinking, interpret hows and whys in addition to answering who, what, where, when....Evaluate, describe, interpret while reading. This is really the same as critical thinking.


Back to Reading in the Textbook Reading Workshop

  Making use of boldfaced and italicized text and examples
Reading novels

Use when have some level of familiarity

Use when having difficulty with material