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These tactics are designed purely for efficiency. You use them when you need to process a
large volume of text quickly to extract specific pieces of information, or to determine if a
text is worth a deeper, more time-consuming read.
Skimming: Skimming involves reading rapidly in order to get a general overview or
the "gist" of the material. When you skim, you intentionally skip the bulk of the
words. Instead, you focus your eyes on the title, the introduction, the headings and
subheadings, the first and last sentences of paragraphs, and any bolded terms or
bulleted lists. Skimming is the perfect tactic for previewing a textbook chapter
before a lecture so you know what is coming, or deciding if a lengthy article is
relevant to a research paper you are writing.
Scanning: Scanning is hunting for a specific, isolated fact. You use this tactic when
you already know exactly what you are looking forsuch as a specific date, a
person's name, a statistic, or a vocabulary keyword. When scanning, your eyes move
rapidly over the text, entirely ignoring the broader narrative or meaning. You are
solely looking for the visual shape of the target information. You scan a dictionary for
a word, or a financial report for a specific revenue number.
2. Structured Study Strategies: The SQ3R Method
When you need to deeply understand and remember complex, dense information, simply
reading from start to finish is rarely effective. The SQ3R method is a highly structured, step-
by-step reading strategy designed specifically to maximize comprehension and long-term
retention.
Survey: Before you read a single paragraph of the body text, preview the material.
Look at the title, headings, charts, graphs, and the end-of-chapter summary. This
builds a mental framework and context for the information that is about to come.
Question (or Query): Turn the headings and subheadings into direct questions. For
example, if a textbook heading is "The Causes of the Civil War," ask yourself, "What
were the primary economic and social causes of the Civil War?" This simple act gives
your brain a specific goal and makes you an active investigator rather than a passive
recipient of information.
Read: Now read the text, but read specifically to answer the questions you just
generated in the previous step. This keeps your attention highly focused and
prevents your mind from wandering.
Recall (or Recite): After reading a section, immediately look away from the text and
try to answer your question aloud or in writing. If you cannot explain what you just
read in your own words, you haven't understood it yet, and you need to reread that
section.
Review: Once you have finished the entire chapter or article, go back over your
notes and the main headings to cement the relationship between all the concepts
you just learned.
3. Active Engagement Tactics