INSTITUT PENDIDIKAN GURU MALAYSIA

KAMPUS TUN HUSSEIN ONN

Reading Comprehension Skills

Nama Pelajar: LIM HUAT JUN
No. K/P: 920701-01-6673
Opsyen: BAHASA CINA (2)
Semester: SEM 1 (ambilan JUN 2010)
Mata Pelajaran: English Language Proficiency
Nama Pensyarah:
Tarikh Serah:

Why we need scanning and skimming an article?

They are different styles of reading for different situations.

The technique you choose will depend on the purpose for reading.
For example, you might be reading for enjoyment, information, or to complete a task.
When you are given limited time:
You are asked for exploring or reviewing an article, you might skim the article.
You are asked for searching some information, you might scan for a particular
word.

Scanning

Skimming

Reading
Comprehension skills

Main idea

Supporting
idea

 Skimming is used to quickly identify the main ideas of a text.

Skimming is done at a speed three to four times faster than normal reading.
People often skim when they have lots of material to read in a limited amount
of time.
Use skimming when you want to see if an article may be of interest in your
research.
Skimming works well to find dates, names, and places.
It might be used to review graphs, tables, and charts.

Definition:
SKIMMING

The process of reading only main ideas within a

passage to get an overall impression of the
content of a reading.

Technique:
1. Read the title, subtitles, subheading, and illustrations.
2. Consider reading the first sentence of each paragraph.
3. Read the first and last paragraphs using headings, summarizes and
other organizers.

Some advantages of skimming

Improve other reading rates

Learning to skim rapidly can help you improve
your speed for study reading and average
reading as well.

Speeds supplementary assignments

Skim supplementary material and you may be
pleased and surprised to find how much
information you will comprehend.

Keeps you informed

Use

skimming

to

building

background

knowledge. Skimming will help you keep

informed in political affairs or other areas when
you do not have the time to read very much.

Bring useful material into your attention

People who have the habit of skimming a large
amount of material will invariably come across
certain articles or parts of books that are of
great importance to them. These important
parts can be read more carefully, but if you had
never developed the habit of skimming, you
might never have become aware of this
important information.

Increases your sources of reference

Skim to build up your knowledge of reference

materials. Skim journals or reports in your
major field of study when you don't have the
time to read them thoroughly. Knowing the
article exists, the author, and perhaps its main
idea can be important. Citing the main idea of
the article in class or in discussion with your
professor will make you seem very well
informed. In addition, if you want to use the
article later, you will know where to find it when
you are ready for more detailed perusal.

4. Read any headings

and sub-headings.
3. Read the first sentence
of every other paragraph.

5. Notice any pictures,

charts, or graphs.

How
2. Read the introduction
or the first paragraph.

To
Skim?

6. Notice any italicized or

boldface

words

or

phrases.

7. Read the summary or

1. Read the title.

last paragraph.

 Scanning is a technique you often use when looking up a word in the

telephone book or dictionary.
Scanning involves moving your eyes quickly down the page seeking specific
words and phrases.
Scanning is also used when you first find a resource to determine whether it
will answer your questions.
Scanning is used to find a specific name, date, statistic, fact, without reading
entire article.

Definition: A reading technique that is used

when you want to find specific information
SCANNING

quickly. In scanning, you have a question in

your mind and you read a passage only to find
the answer, ignoring unrelated information.

Technique:
1. Look for the author's use of organizers such as numbers, letters and steps.
2. Look for words that are bold faced, italics, or in a different font size, style,
or color.

2. Try to anticipate how the

3.

Use headings and any

answer will appear and

other aids that will help

what clues you might use

you identify which sections

to help you locate the

might

answer. For example, if

information you are looking

you were looking for a

for.

certain date, you would

quickly read the paragraph
looking only for numbers.

1. State

the

specific

contain

the

Steps in
scanning an
article.

4.

Selectively read and skip

information you are looking

through sections of the

for.

passage.

 It is the author's message about the topic.

It refers to what a paragraph or an article is about.
"Main" means what is important, or key, the heart of the matter.

MAIN IDEA

Finding the main idea

If there is implied main idea in a

In English paragraphs, the Main Idea will

paragraph, it is difficult for us to find it.

most likely be found in one of these five

We can drawn it from facts, reasons, or

places:

examples that give hints or suggestions

concerning the main idea. These hints

in the first sentence

in the last sentence
in the middle of the paragraph
in two sentences of the paragraph
not stated in the paragraph directly
(implied)

will be clues leading you to discover the

main idea in the selected text.

Supporting ideas are the facts and details that explain or prove the topic
sentence or main idea.

SUPPORTING IDEAS

Supporting ideas are not as general as

Supporting ideas

the main idea. They help the reader

explain,
understand more about the main idea.
describe,

prove,

give examples

about the main idea and topic sentence.

My Best Friend
Close friendships are hard to come by these days. In an ever-changing world with
people striving to achieve their interpretation of success, it is hard to know who your
true friends are. Fortunately, I found my best friend, Lawrence early at the tender age of
seven. We were both enrolled at the same school.
Lawrence was a happy-go-lucky boy who always managed to breathe fresh air into
the arid classroom. He always knew what to say and would voice them at the best
possible moments. Both students and teachers alike enjoyed his company and
liveliness. There was hardly to ever a dull moment when he was around.
Lawrence was born with a silver spoon. Her father was a businessman and her
mother owned and run a boutique. Both his parents doted over him as he just like me,
was the only child of the family. Lawrence can get any things he want if asked from his
father and mother. Sometimes, he will share his toys and favorite food with me.
Lawrence was a very nice person to be with. He comes to school each day with a
perpetual smile. We used to go everywhere together and both of us were rarely seen
apart. We used to talk about so many things as we walked, thoroughly enjoying our time
together.
One day, I went to school and forgot to ask my parents for lunch money. At first, I
was not hungry and though I could bear going without a meal. But soon, my stomach
began to growl. Without asking, Lawrence generously paid for my meal and drink during
recess. The incident revealed to me how lucky I was to have such a caring and
compassionate friend.

Currently, Lawrence and I are studying in different schools. It was hard to be apart at
first. However, technologies in the form of instant messaging and e-mail have helped to
bridge the gap in our friendship. I sincerely hope that our friendship will never end.

Paragraph 1

Paragraph 6

Close friendships are hard to

come by these days.

I sincerely hope that

friendship will never end.

Paragraph 2

Main Ideas

Lawrence was a happy-go-lucky

boy.

our

Paragraph 5

From The Text

Lawrence was generous.

Paragraph 3

Paragraph 4

Lawrence was born with a silver

spoon.

Lawrence was a very nice person

to be with.

Supporting Ideas from the text:

Close friendships are

hard to come by
these days.

People striving to achieve their interpretation of

success.
It is hard to know who your true friends are.
I found my best friend at the tender age of seven.
We were both enrolled at the same school.

He always managed to breathe fresh air into the arid

classroom.
He always knew what to say and would voice them at

the best possible moments.

Both students and teachers alike enjoyed his company
and liveliness.
There was hardly to ever a dull moment when he was
around.

Lawrence was a happy-go-lucky

boy.

Lawrence was born with a

silver spoon.

His father was a businessman and his mother owned

and run a boutique.
Both his parents doted over him as he was the only
child of the family.
Lawrence can get any things he want if asked from his
father and mother.
He will share his toys and favorite food with me.

Lawrence was a very

nice person to be

He comes to school each day with a perpetual smile.

We used to go everywhere together.
Both of us were rarely seen apart.
We used to talk about so many things as we walked.

with.

Lawrence was generous.

One day, I forgot to ask my parents for lunch money.

At first, I was not hungry and though I could bear going
without a meal.
But soon, my stomach began to growl.
Without asking, Lawrence was generously paid for my
meal and drink during recess.
The incident revealed to me how lucky I was to have
such a caring and compassionate friend.

Currently, Lawrence and I are studying in different

schools.
It was hard to be apart at first.
friendship will never end. However, technologies have helped to bridge the gap in
our friendship.
I sincerely hope that our

References

1. Skimming and scanning. (n.d.). Retrieved on 8 September 2010 from

http://pioneer.chula.ac.th/~pkanchan/html/skim.htm
2. Scanning and skimming. (n.d.). Retrieved on 8 September 2010 from
http://www.aacc.edu/tutoring/file/skimming.pdf
3. Finding the Main idea. (n.d.). Retrieved on 8 September 2010 from
http://vclass.mtsac.edu/amla-51/Main%20Idea/Mainidea.htm
4. Identifying Supporting Details. (n.d.). Retrieved on 8 September 2010 from
http://elearn.mtsac.edu/amla/readingroom/details.htm
5. Identifying main ideas and supporting details. (n.d.). Retrieved on 8 September
2010 from
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/22070888/Identifying-main-ideas-and-supportingdetails
6. WHERE ARE MAIN IDEAS FOUND? (n.d.). Retrieved on 8 September 2010
from
http://www.ccis.edu/writingcenter/studyskills/mainidea.html
7. Skimming and Scanning. (n.d.). Retrieved on 8 September 2010 from
http://42explore.com/skim.htm
8. Jenny Tan & Ainon Zubiar, (2008), Essential English SPM, Petaling Jaya:
Pearson Malaysia SDN.BHD.

Reflection

First of all, I am glad that my English Language Proficiency (ELP) assignment can
be done successfully. Although this is shortest task among all my assignments, but I still
feel a bit difficult to do it. This is because I seldom using English in reading and writing
after my SPM examination.
I would like to thank Puan Inthera as she has taught me in English Language
Proficiency (ELP). When I have received this assignment from her, I do not know what I
should do for this assignment. However, after listened her explanations, I got the idea to
start this assignment.
Firstly, I start search some information about the reading comprehension skills, such
as skimming and scanning, locating main ideas and supporting ideas from the internet
and library. After that, I also collect all the related notes and start my assignment. Of
course, the reader will blur with my assignment if it is not well organized. Therefore, I
have decided to transfer this information to mind maps.
From this assignment, I learnt about reading comprehension skills. I realized that
there are so many skills can be used when reading. Skimming and scanning are the
skills that can be used when we are given limited time to read a text. Besides that, I
learnt that main idea is the author's message about the topic while the supporting ideas
are the details that explain or prove the topic sentence.
Moreover, I have learnt how to organize the information effectively. If the information
we found are not well organized, the readers will feel difficult to read it. On the other

hand, the information that presented using graphic organizer will help the readers more
understand about the details.
Last but not least, I would like to thank my lecturer again as she gave me this
opportunity to learn these valuable knowledge and experiences. Here, I also would like
to thank some of my friends as sharing the information with me.