Fast Effective Reading Course - Follow-up Exercises
Exercises to really speed up your reading
Previewing is a useful way to determine the usefulness of a text, how easy or difficult it will to read, and what reading speed to use to read it well.
Crucially, previewing allows you to fix your aim for reading - the key to good concentration.
Classic previewing means:
• Reading the first paragraph
• Reading the first lines of all other paragraphs except for the last
• Reading all of the last paragraph
When previewing, look at tables, graphs etc as well as headings
Skim to preview:
Skimming gives an outline of the text. It is a highly selective process of looking at reading material quickly. It is known that the brain needs the big picture before tackling the detail. A jigsaw puzzle is easier with the picture alongside you!
Skimming method:
- Read the first paragraph for any background, overview or summary.
- Then read the first lines or sentences of the remaining paragraphs. Notice any key words between the beginning of one paragraph and the next. Alternatively, read the last sentence of each paragraph if the author does not typically use 'lead sentences'.
- Read the whole of the last paragraph for the conclusion, summary or actions relevant to you.
Classic Previewing exercise A Start exercise
Classic Previewing exercise B Start exercise
When the text is not written to enable you to do “classic previewing” (as above),
use one of the peripheral reading systems, such as the “zig-zag little loop”,
the Big S or “ski-reading”. These are illustrated below.
Zig-zag little loop Start example
The Big S Start example
Ski-reading Start example
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Anti-regression exercises