Reading a Scholarly Article

Stephanie Ojeda Ponce

 

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How to Fearlessly Approach Reading A Scholarly Article 

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1. Set up

Figure out what context best supports your reading. Do you read best in a loud coffee shop or do you require absolute silence? Do you like to read in bed? At a desk? In a favourite comfy chair? Have you discovered some binaural soundscapes or classical music that helps you concentrate? Is there a ritual that helps you get started, like making a pot of tea and wrapping yourself in a specific blanket? Do you prefer to annotate and highlight digitally or print out the paper and use your new rainbow highlighter set? Experiment with what works for you and set yourself up for success.

 

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2. Survey

What information can you get from the title of the article? Is it published in a credible source? When was it written? Is it relevant to your research question?

 

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3. Read the Abstract

An Abstract is a summary of the paper. It’s short! It also contains the main conclusions and findings of the paper. Highlight key words/phrases and circle words you don’t understand (then look them up!). Write down any questions or thoughts that come to you as you read in the margin or on a separate piece of paper or document.

 

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4. Skim the Introduction section

Highlight the Knowledge Gap, the purpose and main argument/hypothesis.

 

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5. Skip to the End

Check out the Discussion/Conclusion section. These will be short, concise and help you understand the main contributions of the article. This section also usually includes directions for future research and limitations of the study. Write down any questions or comments that come to you as you read.

 

Questions to Ask as You Read

  • What are the authors trying to understand?
  • Did the authors accomplish what they set out to in their purpose?
  • What questions are you left with?
  • What are the limitations of the study?
  • What connection can you make to other things you’ve read, listened to, encountered in the world?

Adaptations

How to Fearlessly Approach Reading A Scholarly Article excerpted from Engaged Reading, Why Do It? from Writing Place by Lindsay Cuff is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

Scholarly Peer Reviewed Sources. Write Here, Right Now: An Interactive Introduction to Academic Writing and Research Copyright © 2018 by Ryerson University is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

License

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Reading a Scholarly Article Copyright © 2023 by Stephanie Ojeda Ponce is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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