READING COMPREHENSION SKILL

SKIMMING AND SCANNING

Skimming and scanning are very rapid reading methods in which you glance at a

passage to find specific information. These reading methods make it easier for you to

grasp large amounts of material, especially when you're previewing. They are also

useful when you don't need to know every word. Skimming and scanning are especially

valuable when there is only one item of information that you need to find from a

particular passage

SKIMMING

Skimming refers to the process of reading only main ideas within a passage to

get an overall impression of the content of a reading selection. An example of

this is when we read the title of a newspaper to know what happens everyday.

There are many strategies that can be used when skimming. Some people read the first

and last paragraphs using headings, summarizes and other organizers as they move

down the page or screen. You might read the title, subtitles, subheading, and

illustrations. Consider reading the first sentence of each paragraph. This technique is

useful when you're seeking specific information rather than reading for comprehension.

Skimming works well to find dates, names, and places. It might be used to review

graphs, tables, and charts.

 

How to Skim:

* Read the title.

* Read the introduction or the first paragraph.

* Read the first sentence of every other paragraph.

* Read any headings and sub-headings.

* Notice any pictures, charts, or graphs.

* Notice any italicized or boldface words or phrases.

* Read the summary or last paragraph.

SCANNING

Scanning is a reading technique to be used when you want to find specific information

quickly. In scanning you have a question in your mind and you read a passage only to

find the answer, ignoring unrelated information

When scanning, 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 the author will put key ideas in the margin.

How to Scan:

* State the specific information you are looking for.

* Try to anticipate how the answer will appear and what clues you might use to help you

locate the answer. For example, if you were looking for a certain date, you would quickly

read the paragraph looking only for numbers.

* Use headings and any other aids that will help you identify which sections might

contain the information you are looking for.

* Selectively read and skip through sections of the passage.

NOTES

When you skim and scan, you need to cover everything, even titles, subtitles, side

features, and visuals. That bit of information you need may not be tidily packaged in a

paragraph, so you need to check the entire page--not just the main body of the text,

there are also many visual clues that help you to find information. Heads and subheads

break up the text and identify the content of each part. Where key terms are introduced

and defined, they appear in boldface type. Graphs and charts have titles and/or

captions that tell you what they are about. These clues will help you to find information.

MAIN IDEAS

Main Idea:

A paragraph is a group of sentences related to a particular topic, or central

theme. Every paragraph has a key concept or main idea. The main idea is the most

important piece of information the author wants you to know about the concept of that

paragraph.

The topic sentence announces the general theme ( or portion of the theme) to be

dealt with in the paragraph. Although the topic sentence may appear anywhere in the

paragraph, it is usually first - and for a very good reason. This sentence provides the

focus for the writer while writing and for the reader while reading. When you find the

topic sentence, be sure to underline it so that it will stand out not only now, but also later

when you review.

The first thing you must be able to do to get at the main idea of a paragraph is to

identify the topic - the subject of the paragraph. Think of the paragraph as a wheel with

the topic being the hub - the central core around which the whole wheel (or paragraph)

spins. Your strategy for topic identification is simply to ask yourself the question, "What

is this about?" Keep asking yourself that question as you read a paragraph, until the

answer to your question becomes clear. Sometimes you can spot the topic by looking

for a word or two that repeat. Usually you can state the topic in a few words.

LOCATE THE MAIN IDEA

Locate the Topic--person, place, object, idea

Locate the Most General Sentence--the topic sentence

– Topic Sentence First (usually)

– Topic Sentence Last (second in frequency)

– Topic Sentence in the Middle

– Topic Sentence First and Last (last = emphasis)

Study the Details—all the sentences in a paragraph must relate/support/explain

the main idea.

SUPPORTING IDEAS

Supporting details are sentences that support the main idea. These sentences

have information that helps explain and prove the author’s point. For example, a

paragraph about how animals hide might have supporting details about camouflage.

Strong paragraphs have clear and organized details that relate to the main idea.

Transitions, descriptive adjectives, and active verbs are other elements of good writing.

The supporting details are the things that describe the main idea. These

supporting details make the main idea stronger

TYPE OF SUPPORTING DETAILS

Examples, Illustrations

Facts and Statistics

Reasons

Incident

Descriptive Details

Steps or Procedures

Comparison or Contrast

REFERENCES

SPEED READING

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skimming_%28reading%29#Skimming

Surf on 16 September 2010

Skimming and scanning

http://42explore.com/skim.htm

Surf on 16 September 2010

Skimming and scanning

http://www.aacc.edu/tutoring/file/skimming.pdf

Surf on 16 September 2010

Acid rain

http://geography.about.com/od/globalproblemsandissues/a/acidrain.htm

Surf on 3 September 2010

IDEAS

http://ezinearticles.com/?You-and-Your-Writing---Supporting-the-Main-Idea-of-a-

Paragraph&id=2420268

Surf on 16 September 2010

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Thanks to god and for all people that help me because I finally manage to

complete my English Language Proficiency before the deadline. I am really grateful to

first and foremost, my parents for their guidance and encouragement along the time I

complete this assignment.

Acknowledgement is also to my lecturer Mr. Mohan A/L Palaniandy for the

valuable inputs, guidance, and cooperation that he give during the time I complete this

assignment.

I am also immensely in debt to my dear friends for the guidance and strategic

support which they give to me by cooperate in helping me collect the information and

method to do the assignment. May god bless you all.

Last but not least, I hope that this coursework that I researched on can bring

benefit to all that read it.

REFLECTION

Firstly, when I receive this coursework, I am very curious and dumbfounded

because I don’t know a single thing about the topic. But after many explanations, I am

very happy with the task because I can gain a lot of knowledge. The topic is very

important to me as a student which really need more time to do some revision and

preparation for the exam.

At first, I do not know how I can do this assignment. This is because I do not

have enough time to do this assignment in addition of lack of informations about this

topic, but in time of need, my friends came help. We searched for the informations in

internet, book and many more. And finally, this task is done all thanks to their support.

To speak the truth, sometimes I felt the task was really a burden. But, my parents

always support me and giving motivations to me until I finally done this task. So, I would

like to thanks them very much.

Now after I finally done this task, I know the truth about reading comprehension

skills. I also finally know about skimming, scanning, how to difference the supporting

and main idea which I don’t know before. This task really gives me much information

that very useful in my life.

Acid Rain

The Causes, History, and Effects of Acid Rain

Causes and History of Acid Rain

Acid deposition can occur via natural sources like volcanoes but it is mainly caused by

the release of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide during fossil fuel combustion.

When these gases are discharged into the atmosphere they react with the water,

oxygen, and other gases already present there to form sulfuric acid, ammonium nitrate,

and nitric acid. These acids then disperse over large areas because of wind patterns

and fall back to the ground as acid rain or other forms of precipitation.

The gases responsible for acid deposition are normally a byproduct of electric

power generation and the burning of coal. As such, it began entering the

atmosphere in large amounts during the Industrial Revolution and was first discovered

by a Scottish chemist, Robert Angus Smith, in 1852. In that year, he discovered the

relationship between acid rain and atmospheric pollution in Manchester, England.

Although it was discovered in the 1800s, acid deposition did not gain significant public

attention until the 1960s and the term acid rain was coined in 1972. Public attention

further increased in the 1970s when the New York Times published reports about

problems occurring in the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest in New Hampshire.

Effects of Acid Rain

After studying the Hubbard Brook Forest and other areas today, there are several

important impacts of acid deposition on both natural and man-made environments.

Aquatic settings are the most clearly impacted by acid deposition though

because acidic precipitation falls directly into them. Both dry and wet deposition

also runs off of forests, fields, and roads and flows into lakes, rivers, and streams.

As this acidic liquid flows into larger bodies of water, it is diluted but over time, acids can

accrue and lower the overall pH of the body. Acid deposition also causes clay soils

to release aluminum and magnesium further lowering the pH in some areas. If the

pH of a lake drops below 4.8, its plants and animals risk death and it is estimated that

around 50,000 lakes in the United States and Canada have a pH below normal (about

5.3 for water). Several hundred of these have a pH too low to support any aquatic life.

Aside from aquatic bodies, acid deposition can significantly impact forests. As acid

rain falls on trees, it can make them lose their leaves, damage their bark, and stunt their

growth. By damaging these parts of the tree, it makes them vulnerable to disease,

extreme weather, and insects. Acid falling on a forest’s soil is also harmful because it

disrupts soil nutrients, kills microorganisms in the soil, and can sometimes cause

a calcium deficiency. Trees at high altitudes are also susceptible to problems

induced by acidic cloud cover as the moisture in the clouds blankets them.

Damage to forests by acid rain is seen all over the world, but the most advanced cases

are in Eastern Europe. It’s estimated that in Germany and Poland, half of the forests are

damaged, while 30% in Switzerland have been affected.

Finally, acid deposition also has an impact on architecture and art because of its

ability to corrode certain materials. As acid lands on buildings (especially those

constructed with limestone) it reacts with minerals in the stones sometimes causing it to

disintegrate and wash away. Acid deposition can also corrode modern buildings, cars,

railroad tracks, airplanes, steel bridges, and pipes above and below ground.

SKIMMING

HOW TO SKIMMING

SCANNING

HOW TO SCANNING

MAIN IDEA

MAIN IDEAS

• Acid rain not only occurs via natural sources but mainly from the release of

sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide during fossil fuel combustion.

• The gases responsible for acid deposition are normally a byproduct of

electric power generation and burning of coal

• Aquatic settings are the most clearly impacted by acid deposition because

acidic precipitation falls directly into them.

• Acid deposition also causes clay soils to release aluminium and

magnesium futher lowering the pH in some areas.

• Acid deposition can significantly impact forest.

SUPPORTING IDEAS

• Acid falling on forest’s soil is also harmful because it disrupts soil nutrient,

kills microorganism in soil and cause calcium deficiency.

• Trees at high altitudes also susceptible to problems induced by acidic

cloud cover as the moisture in the clouds blankets them.

• Acid deposition also has impact on architecture and art because of it ability

to corrode certain materials.

SUPPORTING IDEAS

• When sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide discharge into atmosphere, they

react with water, oxigen and other gases forming sulfuric acid, ammonium

nitrate and nitric acid

• These acids then disperse over large areas because of wind pattern

• Acid deposition begin entering the atmosphere during Industrial

Revolution and was first discovered by a Scottish chemist, Robert Angus

Smith in 1852.

• Although it was discovered in the 1800s, acid deposition did not gain

significant public attention until the 1960s and the term acid rain was

coined in 1972.

• Both dry and wet deposition run off of forests, fields, and roads and flows

into lakes, rivers and streams.

• As this acidic liquid flows into larger bodies of water, it is diluted but over

time, acid can accrue and lower the overall pH of the body.

• If the pH of a lake drops below 4.8, its plants and animal risk death and it is

estimated that around 50,000 lakes in United States and Canada have a pH

below normal.

• When acid rain falls on trees, it can make them lose their leaves, damaged

their bark and stunt their growth.

• It make them vulnerable to disease, extreme weather, and insect.

• As acid lands on buildings, it reacts with minerals in the stones causing it

to disintegrate and wash away.

INSTITUT PERGURUAN TUN HUSSEIN ONN,

BATU PAHAT, JOHOR.

SHORT COURSEWORK ASSIGNMENTENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY

STUDENT’S NAME : MOHAMAD FADHIL BIN JASMI

I/C NUMBER :921003-01-6419

OPTION/ UNIT :PENGAJIAN AGAMA 1

COURSE :PPISMP JUNE 2010 INTAKE

LECTURER’S NAME :MR. MOHAN A/L PALANIANDY