Reading Strategies: Scanning

Scanning is a technique we often use when looking up a word in the telephone book or dictionary. We are search for key words or ideas. 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 our questions. Once you've scanned the document, we might go back and skim it.   

When we scanning, we start look for the author's use of organizers such as numbers, letters, steps, or the words, first, second, or next. Look for words that are bold faced, italics, or in a different font size, style, or color. Sometimes we will see the author will put key ideas in the margin.