Page 142 - DENG401_Advance Communication Skills

Unit 7: Reading Skills

7.2.3 Reading to Perform a Task Notes

1. It involves reading documents such as bus or train schedules, directions for games,
classroom and laboratory procedures, tax or insurance forms, recipes, voter registration
materials, maps, referenda, consumer warranties and office memos.
2. It requires understanding of the purposes and structure of documents, which guide the
selection, understanding and application of information.
3. It requires applying, not simply understanding the information.

7.3 Components of Reading Skills

The key components of reading skills are reading speed, comprehension, efficiency and retention.
Each of these components needs to be understood and mastered to enhance the reading skills.
Reading Speed

It is the speed at which one can read words. It is calculated at the rate of words per minute.
Reading speed is calculated by using the following simple formula:
Word a Minute (W.A.M.) = Total number of words read × 60/Number of seconds actually taken
to read such material.

Example: a paragraph contains 120 words and was read carefully in 90 seconds, the
reading speed will be 80 words per minute (120 × 60/90). Another person who reads the same
paragraph rapidly and completes the reading in 15 seconds has the reading speed of 480 words
per minute (120 × 60/15).
On the basis of reading speed, we may classify various kinds of reading into four categories.
They are as follows:
1. Careful reading: It is the slowest kind of reading. In this kind of reading, the speed varies
between 50 to 350 words per minute. This reading is popularly used for analysis, problem
solving, proofreading and accuracy checking. The material read is retained in the memory
for a longer period.
2. Rapid reading: It is simple kind of reading where the speed will range from 300 to 600
words per minute. When the conceptual burden of the material read on the reader is light
or when the retention of material for a longer period is not required, rapid reading
process is followed.

3. Skimming: In this kind of reading, the eyes of the reader go through all the material but
usually by skipping the details. When this kind of reading is practiced by a reader, he can
read the material at rates as high as 1,500 words per minute. It is done to grasp main ideas
and to review previously read material. Usually, executives skim newspapers, journals
and magazines due to busy schedules and shortage of time.
4. Scanning: It is the fastest kind of reading where the reading speed may reach up to 3,000
words per minute. Scanning the material is being done for a finite and highly specific
purpose. In this, the purpose of reading is basically to search for particular information.
A person proficient in scanning will see little or nothing other than the information,
which he (or she) is seeking.

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