Skipping over text or documents quickly to get the main points is known as skimming. It’s a reading strategy that involves glancing over the text to identify the main points and ideas, rather than reading every word carefully.

Here are some of the key characteristics of skimming:

Speed: Skimming is done much faster than reading attentively. The goal is to get a general idea of the content in a short amount of time.

Scanning: Instead of reading word-for-word, skimming involves quickly scanning the text, often by jumping between headings, subheadings, or bullet points.

Focus: The focus during skimming is mainly on the main points and key ideas. Non-essential details or supporting information are usually not read in detail.

Purpose: Skimming is often used when you have limited time to read a text thoroughly. It’s also helpful when you need to quickly find specific information within a document.

Examples:

• Skimming a news article to get the gist of the story.
• Skipping over a textbook chapter to find a specific concept.
• Quickly reviewing a document to find the main points.

Benefits:

• Saves time and effort.
• Allows you to get a general understanding of the text faster.
• Can be helpful when you need to find specific information quickly.

Challenges:

• Can be difficult to skim effectively if the text is complex or dense.
• Can be challenging to identify the main points if the text is not well-structured.
• Can be difficult to understand the context of the text if you don’t read carefully.

Overall, skimming is a reading strategy that allows you to quickly get the main points of a text without reading every word. It’s a valuable technique that can save you time and help you understand a text more efficiently.