Reading - Strategies

What is reading? Is it something that one does only in the classroom to pass examinations?

While reading, we are interacting with a written text. This interaction with a text helps not only in decoding information, but also in enjoying the text for its own sake. In order to understand facts, extract information or derive maximum enjoyment, one needs to comprehend or understand the text.

A good reader is one who, apart from comprehending facts, is skilled in the use of strategies like

• Skimming
  
• Scanning
  
• Sequencing
  
• Deducing meanings in a context
  

Skimming

Skimming refers to a quick look at a piece of writing without looking at the details. For example, when we are in a hurry, we skim through the newspaper. In other words, we are aware of the current news, though not completely in-depth. This is a good strategy when one has to go through an immense text. We can skim through the text while scanning for details.

Scanning

While we are scanning through a text, we read carefully, because we are looking for something of particular interest. For example, if one is interested in sports, one skims through the newspaper and scans through the sports section.

Sequencing

For reading a longer text, sequencing is a good strategy to employ. On reading through the text, one looks for a sequence or order.

Deducing Meaning in a Context

Look at the two sentences:

She had her ears pierced yesterday.

The quiet night was pierced by a shrill scream.

The same word 'pierced' is used in the sentences in two different contexts. In the first sentence, pierce means bore, whereas, in the second sentence it means broken.

With regular practice these reading skills can make reading easier and more pleasurable.

Kinds of Reading Texts

A reading text may be:

• Factual
  
  
• Literary
  
  
• Discursive