How to Read an Academic Article (2:52) University of Guelph McLaughlin Library
Fantastic advice and compiled resources from Dr. Miriam Posner (UCLA)
Reading scholarly books and articles – introduction to digital humanities. (n.d.). Retrieved February 5, 2024, from https://miriamposner.com/classes/dh101f17/tutorials-guides/research-skills/reading-scholarly-books-and-articles/
As I’m sure you know, reading a scholarly book or article isn’t really the same as reading for pleasure. If you’re frustrated, you’re not alone! This kind of reading is actually a skill, and like any skill, it has to be learned and practiced.
When you read for research, you’ll skip around a lot, skim, and hunt for arguments. Sometimes this process of reading for the argument is called “gutting” a book.
Step one: Survey
Look carefully at the front and back covers and the table of contents. Skim the bibliography. Look at subheadings.
Step two: Intro & conclusion
Read the introduction and conclusion. Look for major themes, not details. Find the thesis statement.
Step three: Scan inside
For each chapter, read the first and last few paragraphs. Skim the rest. What is each chapter about?
Step four: Focus
Now that you know what the book’s about, focus on the parts that are relevant to your research question. Read those more carefully.
Presentation Slides: They are mostly a distillation of the very helpful articles that appear below.
Paul Edwards, “How to Read a Book”
A much-loved short guide to reading an academic book or article.
Shannon Mattern, “Reading Effectively”
Some really great advice on getting through difficult texts, even in the face of frustration and confusion.
Not all articles will use these exact subheadings, however these questions can still be used to focus your reading.
| Article Section | Key Questions |
|---|---|
| Abstract |
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| Introduction |
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| Methods |
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| Results |
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| Discussion |
|
|
From: Fine, G.A & Fitzsimmons, S.K. (2011, January 30). Learning to Read, Again. The Chronicle of Higher Education. https://www.chronicle.com/article/learning-to-read-again/ |
Edwards, P. N. (2000). How to read a book. Ann Arbor, 1001, 48109-1107. https://pne.people.si.umich.edu/PDF/howtoread.pdf |
Jump Around
It's okay to skip around in a scholarly article. Start by skimming the abstract, introduction, conclusion, and look at images or data representations. If the article looks to be useful for your purposes, read it from the beginning to end.
Keep It Strategic
While you are reading, reflect on how the article relates to what you want to write about or research.
Mark It Up
Take notes. Interact with the article. How do the ideas or information presented relate to what you want to write about?
Cut through the Jargon
Unfamiliar technical terms? Google or use a specialized dictionary to find definitions.
Replay
If the article is relevant after you've read through it, consider reading it again.
Find the Source
References can be a very useful resource. Be sure to skim the titles in the References section. You could find another scholarly article you want to read.
Adapted from: https://libguides.valdosta.edu/reading-scholarly-articles
Pain, E. (2016) How to (Seriously) read a scientific paper. Science Magazine. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.caredit.a1600047
Many of you have come to us asking for more (and more serious) advice on how to make sense of the scientific literature, so we've asked a dozen scientists at different career stages and in a broad range of fields to tell us how they do it.
Although it is clear that reading scientific papers becomes easier with experience, the stumbling blocks are real, and it is up to each scientist to identify and apply the techniques that work best for them. The responses have been edited for clarity and brevity.
The BEAM model provides a framework for identifying how you might use a source in your own research.
