Henry and Lois are discussing ways to evaluate sources. Henry maintains that one should scan a source before skimming it. Lois argues that scanning is the best first step in evaluating a source. Who is correct?

I don't see any difference in their opinions. Both want to scan a source before skimming it.

Henry and Lois are discussing ways to evaluate sources. Henry maintains that one should scan a source before skimming it. Lois argues that scanning is the best first step in evaluating a source. Who is correct?

A. Henry is correct.
B. Lois is correct.
C. Both are correct.
D. Neither is correct.

both are correct

To determine who is correct, let's first understand the difference between scanning and skimming when it comes to evaluating sources.

Scanning is a quick reading technique where you run your eyes over the text to get an overview of the content. It involves looking for specific information or keywords that indicate the relevance of the source to your research question or topic. Scanning helps you determine if the source is worth exploring further.

Skimming, on the other hand, is a slightly more in-depth reading technique that involves reading the headings, subheadings, and the first and last sentences of each paragraph. It's a quick way to understand the main ideas and structure of a source without reading it in its entirety.

Now, getting back to Henry and Lois, both scanning and skimming have their merits but serve different purposes in evaluating sources. Scanning is useful for quickly assessing the overall relevance of a source by looking for specific information, keywords, or relevant sections. It helps you decide whether the source is worth spending more time on or if you should move on to another one.

On the other hand, skimming allows you to delve slightly deeper into the source by reading certain portions to gain a better understanding of its main ideas and structure. Skimming can be useful when you want to quickly assess the quality or credibility of a source by examining its key points, arguments, or evidence.

Based on this understanding, it appears that both Henry and Lois have valid points, but Lois might have a stronger argument. Scanning a source before skimming it allows you to quickly gauge its relevance, saving you time by eliminating sources that are not applicable to your research. Skimming then helps you gain a better understanding of the source's main ideas and can give you a more comprehensive overview.

To evaluate sources effectively, it is recommended to start by scanning them to determine their relevance and then proceed to skim the relevant sources to gain a deeper understanding. So, while both scanning and skimming are valuable techniques, starting with scanning would be a more efficient first step in evaluating sources.