| In spite of gaining popularity amongst people from | | | | Before you begin reading any material, read the |
| different walks of life, speed reading is being | | | | table of contents or abstract. This will help you |
| looked at with a doubtful eye. The advantages of | | | | getting an overview of what the material has to |
| speed reading are doubted mainly because of the | | | | offer. Often reading takes time because you do |
| common belief that it is dependent on superficial | | | | not know what information you are looking for. |
| skimming. This is however only a myth. Speed | | | | One of the techniques to improve reading speed |
| reading does involve skimming but it is also a | | | | is to acquire the prior knowledge of what |
| combination of various other techniques that allow | | | | information you want from the reading matter. |
| you to read faster. There is no compromise on | | | | Once you know that your mind automatically |
| reading comprehension. On the contrary, reading | | | | searches for the particular information discarding |
| comprehension improves over a period of time; | | | | others. |
| so does memory retention. | | | | In order to focus on what you are reading you |
| There are some strategies for beginners to | | | | can annotate or underline the text that you feel |
| speed reading which will help them enjoy the | | | | has conveyed the message. This method not only |
| benefits immediately. As we discussed, skimming | | | | helps you in focusing but also at the end of the |
| of information is one of the speed reading | | | | reading session shows you how much of the |
| techniques. The basic idea is that you do not need | | | | reading material was really important. A key |
| to read all texts to understand the entire meaning. | | | | component of speed reading techniques is focus |
| Certain keywords will provide the general | | | | while reading and this method helps you achieve it. |
| overview that is required to understand the | | | | If you are in the habit of reading by hearing, |
| information contained in the reading material. | | | | break it. Reading speed is considerably slowed |
| Learning to skim requires some amount of skill. | | | | down because you need to hear what you read |
| The skill is acquired through dedication and | | | | to comprehend. Reading speed gets limited by the |
| practice. As you start the process, you can | | | | speed of speech delivery. This habit has to be |
| continue reading in your old style but be watchful | | | | completely eliminated and you have to acquire the |
| for words that convey more than the rest. As | | | | habit of reading by seeing. When your speed |
| you start spotting these words, you will also start | | | | starts comparing to the speed at which you see, |
| to look for them in the next material that you | | | | you can experience the joy of speed reading. If |
| read. Over a period of time this becomes a habit | | | | you are conscious of the way you read, you will |
| and your reading speed improves considerably | | | | find it easier to eliminate this habit. There are also |
| without having to compromise on reading | | | | many other helps available like software and |
| comprehension. | | | | manuals to help you get rid of this habit. |