Unit Four Techniques for Remembering What You Read Lesson 10 Improving Your Concentration One of the keys to successful or efficient reading at an advanced level is the ability to judge the writer’s position in relation to the information he is presenting. This involves distinguishing important points from supporting details. Taking this into account, readers should learn to use two independent yet frequently interdependent strategies: skimming and scanning. Skimming means to look very quickly at the passage for the general idea of the content of a reading passage rather than reading for details. HOW TO SKIM The basic task of skimming is to identify those parts of any reading material that contain the main ideas. The type of material you are reading will, in part, determine how you should adapt your reading techniques. As a general guide, then, read the following items: The Title. The title often announces the subject of the material and provides clues about the author’s approach or attitude toward the subject. The Subtitle or Introductory Byline. Some types of material include a statement underneath the title that further explains the title or is written to catch the reader’s interest. The Introductory Paragraph. The introductory paragraph often provides important background information and introduces the subject. It may also provide a brief overview of the treatment of the subject. The Headings. A heading announces the topic that will be discussed in the paragraphs that follow it. When read successively, the headings form an outline or list of topics covered in the material. The First Sentence of Each Paragraph. The most common position for the main idea is in the first sentence of the paragraph. If you read a first sentence that clearly is not the topic sentence, you might jump to the end of the paragraph and read the last sentence. Key Words. Try to pick out key words that answer who, what, when, whe