A set of eighteen learning standards has been created for science of geography. These eighteen standards are separated into six essential elements:

Physical Systems 1. The physical actions that create patterns of earth's surface 2. The features and spatial distribution of ecosystems on earth's surface

Places and Regions 3. The material and human attributes of places 4. That people form regions to decode earth's complexity 5. How culture and experience influence people's understanding of places and regions

The World in Spatial Terms 6. How to use maps and other geographic tools and techniques to obtain, process, and describe information from a spatial viewpoint 7. How to use mental maps to organize data about people, places, and environments in a spatial context 8. How to study spatial arrangement of people, places, and environments on earth's surface

Human Systems 9. The features, dispersion, and migration of human populations on earth's surface 10. The features, dispersion, and intricacy of earth's cultural mosaics 11. The patterns and networks of economic interdependence on earth's surface 12. The processes, patterns, and functions of human settlement 13. How forces of cooperation and conflict among people influence division and control of earth's surface

The Uses of Geography 14. How to apply geography to interpret past 15. How to apply geography to interpret present and plan for future

Environment and Society 16. How human actions change physical environment 17. How physical systems affect human systems 18. The changes that occur in meaning, use, distribution, and importance of resources

* read introduction paragraph of text;

* read each heading in text;

* read each suading in text;

* read first paragraph under each heading and su
eading of text;

* (if you have time) read first and last line of first and last paragraph of each page;

* (if you have time) read first and last line of each independent paragraph;

* read last paragraph of text - again, this is very important as it is usually in this section that you'll find all of main concepts of text being summarized and concluded.

Moreover, when skimming, try using your peripheral eye vision to identify main idea of text, main dates in text (especially if text relates to historical issues), and any illustrations/diagrams/graphs. Finally, when you are skimming, start at beginning and read straight through to end. Do not go back over what you have already read before you have completed whole text as this will defeat purpose of your skim reading: in any event, you are going to speed read text once more after you have completed your skim read!

Remember, skim reading is not intended to replace any reading of material. Its intention is to familiarize yourself with text so that you can be fully prepared to review it once again at a later time.

In event that you find yourself with insufficient time to both speed read and skim read a text, you should not confine your reading to a mere skim read as you may find that you miss out on vital pieces of data. Besides this, enjoy your skim reading in comfort of knowing it will enable you to increase your overall reading speed!