Bringing the World Closer

Please Help!

Cody and I are having a debate about the difference and definition between gist and detail sub-skills.

Is gist looking for general meaning and skimming and detail looking for specific information and scanning? Or is it the other way around?

Thanks!

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Nicole Noran on February 16, 2011 at 12:00am

Yes, you seem to have it right.

Permalink Reply by Elise Piotrowicz on February 16, 2011 at 12:01am

Hey Kirsten,

The way I understand it, gist goes with the sub-skill of skimming...reading a text quickly just to get the general meaning. Scanning is looking for something specific in the text. Intensive or detail reading is for reading for a deeper understanding of a text. That's what I've got in my notes anyway. =)

Elise

Permalink Reply by Kirsten Thomas on February 16, 2011 at 12:03am

Thank you ladies!! I had it right and Cody had it wrong :)

Permalink Reply by Nicole Noran on February 16, 2011 at 12:06am

Like :-)

Permalink Reply by Joan Rankin on February 16, 2011 at 12:13am

haha Emily - good one.

Permalink Reply by Kirsten Thomas on February 16, 2011 at 12:09am

Haha That is a good way to remember Emily! Thank you!

Permalink Reply by Sydneyann Shook on February 16, 2011 at 12:12am

Yes! You skim for gist (general/global meaning) and you scan for more detailed info!

Permalink Reply by Joan Rankin on February 16, 2011 at 12:13am

My understanding is that gist reading or listening is done to get the "gist" or basic idea of the text/recording. Skimming is listening or reading with the intent to get the gist. Scanning is looking for specific information. We scan a phone book for a specific name and number. We skim a newspaper article, sometimes only the first paragraph or two, to get the gist of the article. Then if we want to read in more detail we can. Would like to know if that's what others think too, though.