Reading a scholarly article is different from reading a textbook, a news story, or a novel. It's okay if it feels overwhelming at first, many experienced students and even professors don't read every article word-for-word. Scholarly articles are written for experts, but with some strategies, you can learn to pull out what you need.
Key Differences:
- Structure: Most articles follow a predictable format: Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, and References. Once you know this structure, you can jump to the sections most useful for your assignment.
- Language: Articles use technical or specialized vocabulary. Don't worry if you don't understand every word, just focus on looking for the main ideas. You can always Google terms you don't know.
- Length and Detail: Authors include a lot of background, data, and citations. You rarely need ALL of it; focus on the parts that answer your research question.
Strategies for Success:
- Start with the Abstract and Conclusion: These will give you the "big picture" of what the article is about and what the authors found.
- Skim before you read deeply: Scan headings, figures, and topic sentences to decide if the article is relevant to you.
- Read in sections, not straight through: You might only need the Introduction for context, or the Methods if you're comparing research designs.
- Take notes in your own words: Write down the main argument, the key evidence, and how it connects to your project.
- Give yourself permission to not understand everything: Even experts reread, highlight, and look up terms. Struggling a little is part of the process.
Why it Matters
Learning to read scholarly articles isn't just about finishing an assignment. It helps you join the conversation in your field, see how knowledge is built, and develop critical thinking skills that go far beyond college.
Some handy resources for getting started:
