| If you have been searching for information about | | | | is merely skimming." Again this is false. Skimming |
| speed reading, you probably have been confused | | | | is sample reading portions of text - reading a |
| by both the abundance of information as well as | | | | sentence or two here and there, a paragraph or |
| the contradictions in the statements and "facts" | | | | page here and there. Skimming is a good |
| you read. One of the most common statements | | | | "pre-reading" technique, but is not "dynamic speed |
| someone who is looking for free information | | | | reading" in itself. Again it can be a single tool in the |
| about the topic will see is, "speed reading is | | | | speed reader's toolkit, but is incomplete as a way |
| merely about skimming, scanning, and | | | | to describe speed reading. |
| key-wording." Is this statement true, or false? | | | | Finally we get to the statement of key-wording. |
| As a user and teacher of the skills for over 30 | | | | Sometime this approach is described as "skipping." |
| years, I can emphatically state that the | | | | Key-wording is an old speed reading technique |
| statement is false. Beware when you see this | | | | where the learner was told "don't focus on the |
| type of statement that the person who wrote it | | | | unimportant words," such as, "a," "the," "of." This |
| does not understand the process and is probably | | | | cannot be done. Again, it is a myth. Prove it and |
| not a trained reading professional. This statement | | | | try this yourself: Sit opposite someone who is |
| is one of the most common myths you will | | | | about your height and look at their face. While |
| discover. Let's explore each piece of this myth to | | | | you do this, try to not see their nose. You can't |
| clarify your understanding. | | | | do that! Sight, the mechanical part of reading, is |
| First, let's examine the technique of scanning. | | | | impartial. Or in other words, you cannot not see |
| Scanning, by definition, is to glance from point to | | | | something within your field of vision. Read that |
| point often hastily, casually, or in search of a | | | | last sentence again. Yes, there is a double |
| particular item. When you scan you have | | | | negative, but please consider its meaning. Your |
| something in mind you are looking for. We may | | | | mind may not register or respond to something |
| scan the telephone book for a particular person's | | | | your eyes see, but that is another issue. In fact, |
| number, scan the newspaper ads for a job, but | | | | not mentally registering the words your eyes |
| we do not scan a new book, report, manual, etc. | | | | have seen is the issue of comprehension which |
| if we want to master it. Scanning may be used | | | | any speed reading program should cover in depth. |
| as an after reading technique, but is not speed | | | | So now that we have reviewed and debunked |
| reading. You can not merely scan a document and | | | | one of the great myths about speed reading, I |
| expect to know it. It can be a single tool in the | | | | hope you will decide to get some effective |
| speed reading tactics toolkit. | | | | training in this vital skill. I encourage you to write |
| Next, let's examine the statement, "Speed reading | | | | me with your comments and questions. |