Reading for Different Goals

Web Work 1

From Silberstein, S, Dobson, B. K. & Clarke, M. A. (2002). Reader's Choice (4th edition). Ann Arbor, MI: The University of Michigan Press.

Four Basic Types of Reading Behaviors

Skimming

Scanning

Reading for thorough comprehension

Critical reading

Skimming

Skimming is quick reading for general ideas. When you skim, you move your eyes quickly to acquire a basic understanding of the text. You do not read everything, and you do not read carefullyYou read, quickly, such things as

The titleSubtitlesTopic sentences

You look at the following items for clues to what the text is about

Pictures, charts, graphs, icons, etc.

Scanning

Scanning is also quick reading, but when you scan, you are looking for information about a question you want to answer.

You are usually looking for a number or a word or the name of something.

Steps for Scanning

1. Decide exactly what information you are looking for and what form it is likely to take.

2. Next, decide where you need to look to find the information.

3. Move your eyes quickly down the page until you find what you want.

4. When you find what you need, you usually stop reading.

Reading for Thorough Understanding

When you read for thorough comprehension, you try to understand the full meaning of the reading. You want to know the details as well as the general meaning of the selection.

What you have done when you have thoroughly comprehended a text

1. You have understood the main ideas and the author's point of view.

2. You have understood the relationships of ideas in the text, including how they relate to the author's purpose.

3. You have understood most of the concepts in the passages a well as the vocabulary.

4. You have begun to note that some of the ideas and points of view that were not mentioned were, however, implied by the author.

Critical Reading

When you read critically, you draw conclusions and make judgments about he reading. you ask questions such as, "What inference can be drawn from this? Do I agree with this point of view?"You often need to read critically especially when authors give opinions about important issues or when you are trying to make a decision.

Practice

Now try this Web site for practice

http://archives.cnn.com/2001/TECH/computing/01/23/inflight.internet/index.html

Skimming practice

Scanning practice

Thorough reading practice

Critical reading practice

Skimming practice

1. Have you ever visited this Web site before? What kind of information would you expect to find here?

2. Would you use this page to shop online?

3. How is the page organized? For example, what kind of information do you find in the columns on the sides of the page? What else is on the page?

4. Are there topics here that interest you? Where would you click to learn more?

Scanning practice

1. If you wanted to return to the main CNN site, where would you click?

2. If you were preparing for a trip to Montreal and you wanted to know what the weather would be, where could you click?

3. If you wanted to read news in Spanish, what would you do?

4. If you wanted to read about sports after finishing this story, where would you click?

Thorough reading practice

1. What is this story about?

2. T/F Air Canada flight 413 was en route from Montreal to Cathay.

3. T/F Air Canada has remodeled its first class compartment into office space for travelers.

4. T/F Air Canada is the only airline that is developing online Internet access.

Critical reading practice(T = true, F = false, N = not enough info)

1. Who would be likely to use this Web site? Would you bookmark this site on your own computer?

2. Would you come to this site if you were interested in buying or selling a used car?

3. T/F/N This Web site contains only news stories.

4. Near the bottom of the left column you can subscribe to CNN email lists. Would you do this? What would be he benefits? What would be reasons not to subscribe?

Critical reading practice(T = true, F = false, N = not enough info)

Look again at “Airline Travelers to GO Online While en Route” to answer the following questions.

1. T/F/N If you want to surf the Internet while in flight, you must provide your own computer.

2. T/F/N At the time this story was written, sir travelers were generally not able to use the Internet during flights.

3. T/F/N Marsha Walton was impressed by the demonstration.

4. T/F/N This story is an advertisement for Tenzing.5. T/F/N Access to the Internet is available only in first clas

s.6. Note the QUICKVOTE insert in the story. How would y

ou vote? Hwy? How do you think the rest of the would voted? How would you find out?