Before You Read: Why Previewing a Text Matters
Previewing a text is a pre-reading strategy. It involves looking at the title, headings, and subheadings, as well as examining any pictures or visuals that accompany the text. This helps you form an initial idea about the topic and prepare your mind for effective reading.
Difference between Previewing a text and Reading for Details
The difference between previewing a text and reading for details is simple.
Think of previewing as watching a movie trailer . You get a quick overview of the main idea, characters, and tone without seeing everything.
In contrast, reading for details is like watching the entire movie . You pay attention to every scene, dialogue, and event to understand the full story.
Pre-Reading Activities
Preview a Text
Use these steps to quickly understand the topic, structure, and goals before detailed reading.
The Three Essential Pre-Reading Steps
Before diving into reading, preview the text to activate background knowledge and set expectations.
📌 Title
Analyze the title to predict topic and theme
📑 Headings & Subheadings
Skim structure to understand organization
🖼️ Pictures & Visuals
Observe visuals to activate prior knowledge
Understand the Title
The title is your first clue about the content. Use it to prepare your mind for what’s ahead.
📋 Title Analysis Checklist
- Predict the topic and theme of the text
- Connect the title to your prior knowledge
- Generate questions you expect the text to answer
- Consider the text type (narrative, expository, persuasive)
- Make predictions about the author’s purpose
Example Title Analysis:
- Title: “The Impact of Social Media on Modern Communication”
- Prediction: How social media has changed the way people communicate
- Prior knowledge: Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
- Questions: Positives and negatives? How has face-to-face communication changed?
Analyze Headings and Subheadings
Headings and subheadings are signposts—they guide you and reveal the organizational structure.
📋 Heading Analysis Strategies
- Skim all headings/subheadings for an overview
- Identify organization: chronological, cause–effect, compare–contrast, problem–solution
- Notice how ideas are grouped and sequenced
- Use headings to create a mental outline
- Predict each section’s main idea
⏰ Chronological
Events in time order
- Early Years
- Growth
- Modern Era
🔄 Cause–Effect
Actions and results
- Causes
- Effects
- Solutions
⚖️ Compare–Contrast
Similarities and differences
- Option A
- Option B
- Key Differences
💡 Problem–Solution
Issues and answers
- Challenge
- Current Approaches
- Recommendations
Observe Pictures and Visuals
Visual elements provide context, clarify ideas, and prepare you for key points.
📋 Visual Analysis Questions
- What do the visuals suggest about the content?
- How do they connect to the title or headings?
- What information do charts/graphs provide?
- Do images show important people, places, or events?
- How do captions add meaning?
Activate Prior Knowledge
Link new information to what you already know to improve comprehension and retention.
Activation Questions:
- “Have I read something similar before?”
- “What do I know about this subject?”
- “Have I experienced anything related to this topic?”
- “What related vocabulary am I familiar with?”
- “What questions do I have about this topic?”
Set Clear Objectives
Decide what you want to learn or achieve by reading. Clear goals focus your attention.
Example Reading Objectives:
- “Understand the author’s main argument.”
- “Identify three causes of the problem discussed.”
- “Follow the story’s plot for enjoyment.”
- “Learn new vocabulary related to this topic.”
- “Find specific information to answer my questions.”
💡 Pro Tip: The 3-Minute Preview
Analyze the title, scan headings, look at visuals, and set one clear goal. This quick preview boosts focus and comprehension.
