Improving Reading Skills through Skimming and Scanning Techniques at a Public School: Action Research

Abstract

This action research is aimed at improving reading skills by making use of skimming and scanning techniques with high school students from a public school. Data were gathered through participant and non-participant observations and semi-structured interviews, then analyzed by following the content analysis suggested by Powell (2003). After analyzing the data four main categories emerged: scanning and skimming help to change students’ perceptions towards reading, motivation increases the effectiveness of skimming and scanning techniques, positive student perceptions towards skimming and scanning techniques, and students’ improvement in the reading comprehension process.