Here’s an example that demonstrates the principle of active reading by skimming a passage:

Passage:

“The Industrial Revolution was a period of major changes in the way goods were produced. It began in Britain in the late 18th century and quickly spread to other parts of Europe and North America. Prior to the Industrial Revolution, most goods were produced by hand in small workshops or at home. With the advent of new machines and factories, however, production shifted to large-scale manufacturing. This led to significant increases in productivity and economic growth, but also brought about new social and environmental challenges.”

When skimming this passage, you might notice and underline the following important phrases:

  • “period of major changes”
  • “began in Britain in the late 18th century”
  • “spread to other parts of Europe and North America”
  • “most goods were produced by hand in small workshops or at home”
  • “new machines and factories”
  • “large-scale manufacturing”
  • “significant increases in productivity and economic growth”
  • “new social and environmental challenges”

These phrases stand out because they provide key information about the topic of the passage and the main ideas being presented. They help you get a general idea of what the passage is about and the main points the author is making.

On the other hand, some things in the passage might be safe to overlook, such as specific dates or names that are not crucial to understanding the main ideas. For example, the exact year that the Industrial Revolution began might not be as important as the fact that it started in Britain and brought about major changes in the way goods were produced.

One pitfall to avoid when skimming a passage is to not focus too much on details or get bogged down in unfamiliar vocabulary. The goal of skimming is to get a general sense of the passage and identify the main ideas, rather than to understand every single word or concept.

In summary, skimming a passage before reading it in detail can help improve your reading comprehension skills by giving you a general idea of the content and structure of the text. By underlining important phrases and focusing on key ideas, you can better engage with the text and make connections to your prior knowledge, ultimately leading to a better understanding of the passage and a higher score on the English section of the ACT.

Main idea: The passage discusses the Industrial Revolution, a period of significant changes in manufacturing that began in Britain in the late 18th century and quickly spread to other parts of Europe and North America. It resulted in large-scale manufacturing, significant increases in productivity and economic growth, as well as new social and environmental challenges.

Supporting details: The passage provides several details that support the main idea, such as the fact that prior to the Industrial Revolution, most goods were produced by hand in small workshops or at home, but with the advent of new machines and factories, production shifted to large-scale manufacturing. The passage also notes that the Industrial Revolution brought about significant increases in productivity and economic growth, but it also created new social and environmental challenges.

Author’s purpose: The author’s purpose is to inform the reader about the Industrial Revolution, its impact on manufacturing, and the resulting benefits and challenges.

Tone: The tone of the passage is informative and objective, presenting facts and details in a straightforward manner without expressing a personal opinion.

Style: The style of the passage is academic, using formal language and presenting information in a logical and organized manner.

Organization: The passage is organized chronologically, starting with the beginning of the Industrial Revolution in Britain and then discussing its spread to other parts of Europe and North America, as well as its impact on manufacturing and society.

Notes:

  • Industrial Revolution: major changes in manufacturing
  • Began in Britain in late 18th century
  • Spread to Europe and North America
  • Prior to IR: goods produced by hand
  • New machines and factories led to large-scale manufacturing
  • Significant increases in productivity and economic growth
  • New social and environmental challenges