How to Skim For Main Ideas

Skimming is a speed reading strategy used as either a pre-reading technique to familiarize yourself with expository reading text before you read in depth or as an end in itself to quickly comprehend the essentials of a reading passage.

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As a pre-reading technique, skimming helps to connect the text with any prior knowledge of the reader. Skimming also helps the reader to access the story schema so as to provide a referential context for the reading. In other words, skimming helps the reader to learn in advance what the gist of the reading passage is, while reminding the reader of any background information and knowledge of how the writing is organized that will assist the reader in understanding the text. Used as a pre-reading technique, skimming helps prepare the reader for further in-depth reading.

As an end in itself, skimming is a very practical and useful skill. As a speed reading technique, it saves time and allows the reader to get the flavor of a reading passage without all of the details. Skimming also permits broader reading, if time is a factor. For example, a reader can certainly skim many articles in the daily newspaper in the time that it might take to fully read a few. Many books can be skimmed for enjoyment or information now and then read later at a more leisurely rate

To skim, readers should first make use of the expository text clues and signposts for key ideas by previewing the reading passage. Textbooks usually provide important study helps that can build comprehension while skimming. The unit and chapter titles give information as to the overall focus of the reading passage. Many times, key chapter ideas are listed in bulleted form or as key questions. In social studies texts, timelines are often helpful. First paragraphs frequently provide an introduction of the chapter main ideas. Subtitles and bold print of key terms act as newspaper headlines to tell the "Who," "What," "Where," "When," and "Why" of the reading. Graphics, such as pictures, photographs, charts and drawings are particularly important to examine. Indeed, "a picture can be worth a thousand words." Sometimes a concluding paragraph(s) or summary will emphasize the key concepts. Use these expository text clues or signposts for effective skimming. This speed reading technique is well worth practicing to perfection.

How to Skim For Main Ideas

Thanks To : Totally Textbooks

Seton Homeschool Curriculum

Are you looking for a Catholic home school program? Consider Seton homeschool curriculum.

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With so many homeschooling options available nowadays, it can be challenging to decide what will best meet your child's needs. Seton is an affordable, easy to use program for Catholic homeschoolers. It provides all of the materials and support a family needs to establish a solid foundation for its children by combining modern and traditional teaching techniques.

The school is named after Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, the founder of the American Catholic Schools. Seton's primary concern is the education of Catholic children.  Its foremost goal is helping children become and remain practicing Catholics. It abides by the statements found in The Christian Education of Youth, which influenced the school's mission and purpose, as stated in the school's guidelines.

Seton homeschool curriculum is all-inclusive. One low tuition fee covers everything, including textbooks, and grading essays and book reports. While some curriculum companies require you to purchase teacher and student materials separately, and may even charge an extra fee for grading and transcript services, Seton's one price and affordable tuition fee includes everything that your homeschooling child needs. It also includes standardized testing to effectively measure the student's progress. This service is essential for students who wish to attend college or eventually return to school.

Another great feature of Seton is that it includes counseling services for general home school questions and specific problems such as discipline issues, organizational challenges and academic concerns. Also, the school provides college guidance counseling for all Seton homeschool students who want to prepare for the SAT, ACT, and other college entrance exams.

Believing that education is man's preparation for what he must do for eternity, the Christian education offered by Seton homeschool places supreme importance on the individual's purpose in his family and in society.

As St. John Chrysostom have said, "what greater work is there than training the mind and forming the habits of the young?" The flexible learning programs offered by Seton homeschool curriculum are just one of the church's ways of living up to its duty to watch over the education of her children. 

Seton Homeschool Curriculum

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Inexpensive Textbooks - Here's How to Find Dirt Cheap Textbooks

Inexpensive textbooks might seem hard to find, but that's only if you don't know where to look. Text books can be extremely expensive, with some people spending over a thousand dollars per semester just trying to get their required texts for their courses. For many students, that's more money they don't have and don't want to spend--so what's the solution to this increasingly common problem?

Textbooks

One of your best options is to use a book search engine. These are great for a number of reasons and they can really help save you time and money like you wouldn't believe. A text book search engine will mainly help by taking your ISBN number, author name, title name or keyword and it will return results from the top online book vendors. Places like Amazon or Half.com--sites known for having great text book deals. A book search engine works better than just visiting each site separately since you can get the cheapest results from each site, and then purchase the book through the website that has the lowest price. This saves you time and money--big time.

Many students don't have the time or patience to go to each site online trying to find the best deal, that's why a text book search engine is definitely the best route to go for finding inexpensive textbooks. You can search multiple sites simultaneously and only go with the websites that have the lowest prices for you. This means you're guaranteed inexpensive textbooks and won't pay a cent more than you have to.

Inexpensive Textbooks - Here's How to Find Dirt Cheap Textbooks

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Guaranteed Used Textbook Buy Back - A Better Way

Guaranteed textbook buy back programs have sprung up all over, online and off. You just have to keep an eye open for the right books. You know what textbook buy back is - wait in line, offer the university cashier your used textbook and hope they give you something other than loose change for it. But now you can get guaranteed textbook buy back.

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The store will tell you what they will pay you for your book when you buy it, and you avoid the problems of keeping a book you don't need after the class is finished.

Does This Work for Used Textbooks?

Even used textbooks can also be guaranteed. The department and the professors at your school have to using the book for a few years, then the store will offer a guarantee on that book. Online stores use a slightly different method, but the result is the same - if they see significant and continuing usage of the book, they can offer a guarantee for a used book, too.

The Numbers

This breakdown won't be perfect, but you will get an idea of how these programs work. When a college or an online bookstore offers a guaranteed textbook buy back on a new book, they will often promise you 50 percent of the book price you paid at the beginning of the class. Then, they will add half of that when they resell it used, a total of about 75 percent of your price.

Used textbooks will work similarly but with slightly different numbers. You may get a higher percentage for your used book, say two thirds of what you paid. If you have access to a guaranteed textbook buy back, you get a pretty good deal. You know which textbooks you can sell for something, you probably know how much, and you save time. Cool. You get cheap textbooks and cash back.

Online and On Campus Differences

Textbook buy back will be a bit different online and on campus. You will have to ship for an online bookstore, but not on campus. And you will have to wait for the online bookstore to acknowledge your books. On the other hand, an online store may have a wider variety of books with a guarantee. You may also be able to return the books earlier than at the bookstore. Also, I have seen online bookstores provide the postage for you, so you just drop it in the mail.

On the other hand, your on campus bookstore will be close by, no waiting for a check. They will give you cash, and hopefully the line will be short.

Both will decide if the books have been damaged before they pay - severe damage invalidates the guarantee. Don't drop it in a lake, or clip out the pages you like. Some wear is normal, some writing, some highlighting. You have to have all the pieces - all the pages, and any disks or student workbooks if included when you bought the book.

Go For It
You can't expect to get all your textbooks cheap. I managed to do it in several classes, and even made money on one book. But over a full term of classes or a year, you have to expect to spend some money. In those cases, the guaranteed textbook buy back fills the bill, and helps reduce your expenses.

Maybe you'll even have money for a First Run movie ticket - with popcorn!

Guaranteed Used Textbook Buy Back - A Better Way

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