What is exploratory reading?

Exploratory reading is the half-way point between skimming and close reading, and it's similar to pleasure reading. You want to acquaint yourself with the subject, but you do not need complete understanding and retention. Perhaps you are reading supplementary material which you will not be held accountable for, or perhaps you only need to gain general knowledge from a text which will be available if you need to look up specific references. In exploratory reading, read as quickly as possible. Keep your mind on the material. Upon finishing each section of the material, pause to rest the eyes. See if you can summarize what you have just read. The ability to summarize is another skill which can be developed only by practice.