MOOC USSV101x | Hard Reading, Good Writing | Three Approaches to Reading
ColumbiaLearn・4 minutes read
Three key approaches to reading difficult texts are skimming, critical reading, and close reading, each with its strengths and weaknesses. Skimming gives a quick overview, critical reading strikes a balance, and close reading delves deep into details, helping readers understand texts efficiently and effectively.
Insights
- Skimming, critical reading, and close reading are three distinct approaches to reading difficult texts, varying in the level of detail and focus. Skimming provides a quick overview at the paragraph level, critical reading delves into sentences word by word, and close reading focuses on individual words or phrases for intricate analysis.
- The metaphor of holding a pen at different distances illustrates these reading approaches, with skimming akin to a distant view for a general understanding, critical reading resembling a closer view for clarity, and close reading mirroring an up-close inspection for meticulous examination. Each method has its strengths and is suited for different types of texts, offering a spectrum of depth and detail in comprehension.
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Recent questions
What are the three key approaches to reading difficult texts?
Skimming, critical reading, close reading
How is skimming compared to reading with a pen at arm's length?
Color and some writing visible but not in detail
What is the metaphor used to explain critical reading?
Holding the pen a foot or two away
Which approach to reading is best for picking up details in a text?
Close reading
When is critical reading considered ideal for reading texts?
Textbooks or scholarly texts
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Summary
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Approaches to Reading: Skimming, Critical, Close
- Three key approaches to reading difficult texts are skimming, critical reading, and close reading. Skimming involves reading at the paragraph level to quickly grasp the general gist of the text. Critical reading is done at the sentence level, reading word for word without skipping anything, akin to reading a newspaper or a book for fun. Close reading, on the other hand, involves reading at the word level, focusing on details by rereading individual sentences or key phrases.
- The metaphor of distance and a pen is used to explain these approaches to reading. Skimming is likened to holding the pen at arm's length, where you can see the color and some writing but not in detail. Critical reading is compared to holding the pen a foot or two away, allowing you to read everything clearly. Close reading is akin to holding the pen just a few inches from your face, enabling you to see every detail, even tiny imperfections.
- Each approach to reading has its strengths and weaknesses. Skimming is fast but lacks detail, suitable for a quick overview. Critical reading is a middle ground, ideal for textbooks or scholarly texts. Close reading is slow but great for picking up details, best reserved for scholarly or literary texts when focusing on finer points for writing papers or exams. By using these approaches appropriately, one can efficiently and effectively understand the important parts of a text.
