John Adair's 100 Greatest Ideas for Brilliant Communication

Idea 58: Guidelines for effective scanning

Some books are to be read only in parts; others to be read but not curiously; and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention.

Francis Bacon, English philosopher and writer

1. Prepare by previewing the content of the piece that interests you – study the title, subheadings, illustrations and the writer’s aims in writing.

2. Look at the writer’s pattern – the structure plan or method that he or she has adopted – the table of contents, rough lengths of chapters, appendices and notes.

3. Sample one or two paragraphs to test the writing: density of thought, tone, intelligibility, the ‘ring of truth’.

4. Scan – if you’re still interested – the whole or selected parts, looking more closely ...