College and Higher Education<
Sail through the barrage of information out there by using some key reading and skimming skills .
Steps -(7)-
Read different materials at different speeds: skim or speed-read less important items, and save critical or difficult works for when you are most alert and have time .
Pick out the main ideas of a book by reading its cover flaps or scanning the table of contents. Use the index to locate key words quickly .
Survey the layout of your reading material. Look at the title and section headings and place together its logical flow. The framework will guide you in reading the piece more carefully .
If you need to skim, try reading the first sentence of each paragraph (which is usually a topic sentence) to get a general idea of its content .
Practice reading more quickly by moving your index finger down a row of text at a speed slightly faster than your normal reading speed .
Underline sparingly so the truly useful information doesn't get lost .
Jot down quick notes, questions or thoughts that will make it easier to refer to the material later. Taking notes also makes for active reading and better retention of important points (see 6 ''Take Reading Notes'') .
*Tips:
Increasing your vocabulary will help you to improve your reading speed.
Take a speed-reading course - there are plenty of them available .
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