| It is useful to know the characteristics of speed | | | | every word separately. He will read large groups |
| reading before embarking on any speed reading | | | | of words or paragraphs simultaneously. This is |
| course. | | | | done by increasing our natural peripheral visual |
| We always like to know what we are getting | | | | ability when reading. When you look at a picture, |
| ourselves into, especially if it is something we | | | | you don't focus on only a tiny section, you see |
| know little about. There are basic characteristics | | | | the whole image. Speed readers have learned to |
| of speed reading that need to be practiced to be | | | | apply this tactic to their reading. |
| able to speed read. How these are learned may | | | | The elimination of back-skipping and |
| vary, as courses can be taken through a personal | | | | sub-vocalization habits are also important |
| instructor or bought as computer software. Some | | | | characteristics of speed reading. Back-skipping is |
| individuals have even mastered the techniques on | | | | the bad habit of many readers, without them |
| their own. Others can speed read without even | | | | realizing it, of re-reading the same word or |
| having a clue as to how they do it! | | | | sentence once, twice or even more times. This |
| Scanning, skimming and glancing are methods | | | | drastically slows down the speed of reading. |
| used by many speed readers. Skimming and | | | | Sub-vocalization is also a habit done by the |
| glancing helps us to preview the chapter before | | | | majority of us without us even realizing that |
| reading it to determine, in general, what the | | | | there is anything wrong with it. Perhaps not |
| writing is about, what the main idea is and how | | | | wrong, but definitely not helpful in speed reading. |
| the ideas are written. This initial preview usually | | | | Sub-vocalization is the reading of words out loud |
| takes about 30 - 60 seconds depending on the | | | | in our heads. The problem with this is that it |
| length of the section of work you wish to study. | | | | allows us to read only as fast as what we can |
| Quickly skim over the work, taking note of the | | | | think, and not as fast as our brains can process |
| chapter's title, headings, subheadings and bold or | | | | information. Which is faster than you ever |
| italic print. Take note of any illustrations, graphs or | | | | imagined. |
| charts. To understand a little more of the | | | | Efficient speed readers adjust their rate according |
| information in the paragraphs, quickly glance at | | | | to the difficulty of the text. Higher speeds can be |
| the first and last paragraphs as well as the first | | | | maintained for easier reads, while slower speeds |
| sentence of each paragraph. | | | | will be necessary for difficult or more technical |
| Scanning will be the characteristic of speed | | | | writings. Of course, high speeds are not very |
| reading where you will very quickly read each | | | | applicable to fictional reading or poetry, but |
| paragraph. Taking note of the important key | | | | practicing with the characteristics of speed reading |
| words in the sentences. What is a keyword? If | | | | whenever you can is important. |
| one were to take out the key words the | | | | All the characteristics of speed reading have |
| sentence would make no sense. Therefore, the | | | | excellent benefits for the reader. Even if only one |
| other words that make up the sentence are | | | | of these tactics were achieved, your reading |
| unimportant - only 'filler' words. | | | | speed would improve significantly. |
| Most importantly, an efficient reader will not read | | | | |