Welcome to Reading for Inquiry: Skimming, Scanning, and Selecting Information
Have you ever opened a massive non-fiction book or looked at a busy webpage and wondered, "How on earth am I going to find what I need without reading every single word?"
Good news: you do not have to read every single word from start to finish! In our units of inquiry, good readers are like smart detectives. Instead of reading slowly through hundreds of pages, we use two powerful reading superpowers called skimming and scanning. These tools help us decide if a text is useful, find exact facts in seconds, and select information that is both relevant and reliable.
Note: To explore how an author's reason for writing connects to these texts, see our chapter on Author's purpose and audience.
Don't worry if this seems a bit fast-paced at first. With a few simple steps, you will be zooming through texts like an expert researcher!
1. Skimming: The Bird's-Eye View
What is skimming?
Skimming means reading quickly across a text to get the gist—the overall idea or big picture of what the text is about. Think of skimming like an eagle soaring high up in the sky. The eagle does not inspect every tiny pebble on the ground; it looks at the whole landscape below.
When do we skim?
We skim when we want to answer questions such as:
• What is this article or chapter mainly about?
• Is this book going to help me with my inquiry research?
• Should I spend more time reading this, or should I pick a different resource?
How to skim step-by-step:
• Read the title and subheadings: These give you instant clues about the main topics.
• Look at pictures, diagrams, and captions: Visual elements tell you what the author thinks is important.
• Read the very first paragraph: This often introduces the main idea.
• Read the first sentence of each body paragraph: These are usually "topic sentences" that tell you what that paragraph will discuss.
• Glance at the final paragraph: Authors often summarize their main thoughts at the very end.
Key Takeaway for Skimming: Skimming is fast and broad. You read only the signposts and main sentences to understand the general topic and judge whether the text is worth reading in detail.
2. Scanning: The Searchlight
What is scanning?
Scanning means moving your eyes very rapidly over a page or screen to find one specific piece of information, such as a name, a date, a number, or a keyword. If skimming is an eagle soaring high above, scanning is shining a bright flashlight in a dark room to find your missing keys.
When do we scan?
We scan when we already know exactly what question we need to answer, such as:
• In what year did this event take place?
• What is the capital city of this country?
• Does this page mention the word "temperature"?
How to scan step-by-step:
• Fix your keyword in your mind: Decide on the exact word or number you are hunting for before your eyes touch the page. (For example, if your question is "How long do giant tortoises live?", your keywords might be tortoise, live, or years).
• Ignore words you don't need: Do not stop to understand every sentence. Let your eyes glide down the page in a zigzag or wavy pattern.
• Look for visual clues: Numbers stand out because they look different from letters. Names and places stand out because they start with capital letters.
• Stop and read carefully: As soon as your eyes spot your keyword, slam on the brakes! Read the full sentence around the keyword to check if it answers your question.
Key Takeaway for Scanning: Scanning is laser-focused. You do not care about the main idea right now; you are hunting only for a specific clue or fact.
3. Skimming vs. Scanning: Quick Comparison
Here is an easy trick to remember the difference between these two reading strategies:
• Skimming = The Big Picture
Goal: Find the general topic and main idea.
Speed: Fast, but you take in broad sentences.
Question asked: "What is this text talking about?"
• Scanning = The Exact Target
Goal: Find a specific detail or fact.
Speed: Very fast, letting your eyes jump right to keywords.
Question asked: "Where is this exact word or number?"
Did you know? You use scanning in everyday life without even realizing it! When you search for your friend's name in a phone contact list or look for your favourite cereal on a crowded supermarket shelf, you are scanning.
4. Judging Usefulness and Selecting Information
When you are researching during an inquiry, you will discover that there are thousands of books, articles, and websites available. Reading, thinking, and reflecting work hand-in-hand. You need to reflect on what you read to decide what is worth keeping.
To select the best information, ask yourself two big questions: Is it relevant? and Is it reliable?
A. Is it Relevant?
Relevant means that the information directly connects to your inquiry goal or answers your research question.
• Example of relevant: If your inquiry is about how communities clean fresh water, a paragraph explaining water filter systems is highly relevant.
• Example of irrelevant: An article describing the history of pirate ships on the ocean might be exciting, but it does not help you understand fresh water filters. It is irrelevant to your purpose, so you should leave it aside.
B. Is it Reliable?
Reliable means that the information is trustworthy, sensible, and accurate.
When selecting information from reference books or online resources, ask yourself:
• Who created this? Is the writer or publisher knowledgeable about the subject?
• Does it make sense? Does the information match other facts you have discovered, or does it sound impossible?
• Is it fact or made-up? Look for balanced, factual explanations rather than wild guesses.
Key Takeaway for Selecting: Just because information is interesting does not mean it belongs in your inquiry. Select information only if it is relevant (matches your purpose) and reliable (accurate and trustworthy).
5. Using Reference Tools for Inquiry
To help you skim, scan, and select information efficiently, good readers use navigational tools found in reference books and web-based resources:
• Table of Contents: Found at the front of a book. Skim this list of chapter titles to see if the book covers your topic before you even turn to page one.
• Index: Found at the very back of a reference book. An alphabetical list of specific topics and the exact page numbers where they appear. It is the best place to scan for keywords!
• Glossary: A mini-dictionary at the back of an informational book explaining subject-specific words.
• Search Bars and Headings in Web Resources: On a website or digital reference tool, type your scanned keyword directly into the search field or use headings to skip straight to the right section.
6. Common Mistakes to Avoid
• Mistake 1: Trying to read every single word when you only need one fact.
Solution: Decide what you are hunting for first, then scan for your keyword.
• Mistake 2: Scanning without knowing your keyword.
Solution: Pause before you look at the text. Ask yourself: "What word will the author probably use to describe this?"
• Mistake 3: Choosing the very first text you see without skimming first.
Solution: Always skim the title, headings, and opening lines for 30 seconds to judge whether the text is truly useful for your inquiry.
• Mistake 4: Collecting fascinating facts that don't answer your question.
Solution: Keep your inquiry question written down right next to you while you read. If a fact does not help answer that question, it is not relevant right now.
Quick Review: Your Inquiry Reading Toolkit
• Skim when you need the main idea, the gist, or want to judge if a text is worth reading.
• Scan when you know the exact word, name, or number you need to find.
• Select information that is both relevant (directly answers your question) and reliable (accurate and trustworthy).
• Reflect on what you read to set clear reading goals for your inquiry.