Establish the purpose of the text. Determine and note in the margins what the text is about. Do not limit yourself to the title, as the specifics of the book or article lie within the body of the text.
For example, an article titled "How to Lose Weight Fast" may emphasize a particular diet. As such, the first paragraph may say, "Exercise is key, but following this diet will ensure you lose weight quickly." The article is not simply about losing weight fast, but losing weight fast using a particular diet. This is the information you need to remember.
Understanding the purpose of the article--rather than the general topic based on the title--will help you identify the relevant information quickly. Discard irrelevant information in the process.
Underline transition words. Underline words like "however," "alternately," "but," "although" or other words that signify a transition in thought. These words represent pertinent information that the author wants to convey to the reader.
For example, an article about losing weight may say, "Eating fruits is essential to a healthy diet. However, balancing your diet with whole grains will give you the energy you need throughout the day." In this example, the word "however" emphasizes the importance of including whole grains in your diet in addition to eating fruits. This is the information you need to remember.
Note that transition words identify key information quickly and help you retain the information as well. You can read quickly and slow down as see these words to focus on the material.
Highlight words that express the author's opinion. Underline sentences that include opinion words and phrases to distinguish this important information.
For example, an author may write, "Bread is the most important component of your diet." Not only does the author convey that bread should be included in a diet but also that it is "the most important" food to eat. This is the information you want to remember.
Use these sentences as guides through the rest of the paragraph, as the author is likely to explain why he believes his opinion to be true. Anticipating the direction an author is going in will help you to read texts quicker as well as help you remember the author's key opinions.