SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

UNIT CODE: UCU 100

UNIT NAME: COMMUNICATION SKILLS

DATE OF SUBMISSION: 5TH NOVEMBER

NAME: MICHAEL ODIT OTIENO

REG NO: D33S/10793/2012

Reading Techniques
Reading is a skill which enables us to get a message; recognizing the written words; getting
understanding the meaning; used to teach pronunciation; grasping information from texts. It is a
complex activity that involves both perception and thought. Reading consists of two related
processes: word recognition and comprehension. Word recognition refers to the process of
perceiving how written symbols correspond to ones spoken language. Comprehension is the
process of making sense of words, sentences and connected text.
There are 6 techniques of reading, these include the following:
1. Skimming
Skimming reading is reading to confirm expectations; reading for communicative tasks. General
reading or scanning is reading to extract specific information; reading for general understanding.
It is applied when one wants familiarize with the material to be read as quickly as possible.
2. Close reading
Close reading is the most important skill you need for any form of literary studies. It means
paying especially close attention to what is printed on the page. Close reading means not only
reading and understanding the meanings of the individual printed words, but also involves
making yourself sensitive to all the nuances and connotations of language as it is used by skilled
writers.
3. Scanning
Scanning is a skill that requires that you read quickly while looking for specific information. To
scan a reading text, you should start at the top of the page and then move your eyes quickly
toward the bottom. Generally, scanning is a technique that is helpful when you are looking for
the answer to a known question.
4. Extensive Reading
Extensive reading is done to achieve the general understanding of a text, a context where this
type of reading is applied is when students read large amount of high interest materials, usually
out of class. The aim of this technique is to build reader confidence and enjoyment.
5. Intensive reading
In this reading technique, the reader pays attention to the grammatical forms and discourse
makers for the purpose of understanding literal meaning.it focuses on linguistic and semantic
details
Intensive reading is applied when you, when a person wants to achieve full understanding
of:

Rhetorical pattern of text

Logical argument
Emotional, or social attitudes and purpose of the author.

6. In-depth Reading
This type of reading requires a lot of concentration, it is applied when one wants to understand
concepts and arguments, besides it is used to gain deeper meaning and comprehension.