Because of the nature of our work, you won't be able to read a whole article to add just one source to a paper or project. Thus, learning how to scan them to get all the relevant information is super helpful.
Here are the tips and tricks to give academic articles a quick reading:
1. Read the Abstract First
The abstract is usually on the first page of the piece, always before the introduction. You are likely to find it indented underneath the title.
When reading the abstract, ask yourself these questions:
2. Scan Before You Read
Scanning involves looking through an article to find the important sections to read.
Ask yourself: ‘Do I have to read it all? Which part will give me what I need?’
Maybe you have a journal article and only want to know the findings. It might therefore be worthwhile to scan through the article until you reach the ‘findings’ and ‘conclusion’ sections.
3. Always Read the Literature Review
The literature review section, often under the title ‘Literature Review’, ‘Background’, or ‘Context’, will reference some important sources.
We strongly recommend you read the literature review to ensure you have a clear understanding of the background information on the topic.
When reading the literature review, take the opportunity to use it as a core basis for the ideas of your own essay. Make sure you paraphrase them and cite the article correctly.
4. Jump To The Conclusion
Journal conclusions are just like your own essay conclusion. They summarize the article’s findings, weaknesses, and implications.
When reading an article to gather new information and key ideas for an essay, the findings are what you’re really looking for.
Once you’ve read the abstract and introduction, taken some notes on the article’s main arguments, and mined a few key points from the literature review, skip the next few pages and leap to the conclusion.