1.  Title + Subhead (2–5% of value)

The thesis, scope, and promise are almost always encoded right here.

Look for:

• The main problem the article claims to solve
• The implied audience
• The angle or unique claim

This is the most compressed value in the entire piece.

2.  The First Two Paragraphs (10–12% of value)

Professional writers front-load value.

You will typically find:

• The central claim
• The context
• The stakes
• Sometimes, the entire argument in summary form

If the intro doesn’t summarize the value, that’s already diagnostic—quality is lower.

3.  Subheads + Topic Sentences (10% of value)

This is one of the wealthiest veins of information.

Topic sentences = condensed arguments.
Subheads = structural logic-understanding this helps you feel more in control, making your reading faster and less stressful.

When you read:

• Subhead
• First sentence under it

…you’re usually getting:

• The argument
• The takeaway
• The transition to the next idea

This alone often provides 70–80% of the understanding.

4.  Data, Examples, and Named Sources (2–5% of value)

This is where credibility and insight live.

Look for signals:

• Numbers
• Quotes
• Case studies
• Named experts or institutions

These are rare, dense, and loaded with meaning.

They tell you:

• How strong the argument is
• Whether the writer did real research
• What’s actually true vs. rhetorical

5.  The Final Paragraph (2–3% of value)

Professional writers land the plane cleanly.

Here you’ll usually find:

• The biggest takeaway
• The “so what?”
• The call to action, lesson, or implication

This is disproportionately valuable compared to the middle.

THE 80%: What You Can Safely Skim or Skip

1.  Long Anecdotes

These are usually narrative padding to:

• Hook emotion
• Build context
• Slow the reader down

Maybe interesting—not essential.

2.  Transitional Paragraphs

Any paragraph that:

• Connects one idea to the next
• Recaps something you already know
• Reframes rather than advances

…is part of the 80%.

Look for words like:

• However
• On the other hand
• Another example
• Before we continue…

These are structural glue, not core values.

3.  Over-Explanation

If a paragraph:

• Restates an idea in multiple ways
• Uses metaphors to clarify something simple
• Shows multiple examples for one principle

…it’s repetition, not value.

4.  “Scene Setting” and Descriptive Flourish

Magazine features often include:

• Environmental description
• Character sketches
• Historical color
• Emotional framing

These enrich the experience—not the insight.

5.  Low-Density Paragraphs

These usually:

• Are long
• Contain no numbers, no names, no argument
• Are vague or abstract
• Rely on generalities

Train your eye to see density per square inch.

A 10-Second Shortcut: Value Density Scan

Run your eyes down the page looking for:

High‑Value Indicators (read these thoroughly):

• Bold text
• Subheads
• Numbers
• Bullet points
• Named sources
• Short paragraphs
• Verbs of action (shows, reveals, explains, proves)

Low‑Value Indicators (skim or skip these):

• Long blocks of text
• Sentences without specifics
• Redundant phrasing
• Introductory or transitional filler

The Fastest Formula: 20% Reading Sequence (Guaranteed)

Read in this order:

·       Title + Subhead

·         First 2 paragraphs

·         Subheads only

·         First sentence of each section

·         All numbers and names

·         Conclusion

You’ve hit the value-dense 20%.

Then—if needed—you dip back into the 80% that supports the significant insights.