Understanding what you read is the key to thinking critically, communicating effectively, and doing well in your classes. Whether you're diving into textbooks, joining class discussions, researching, or prepping for your future career, solid reading skills set you up for success. It's not just a college thing; it's a skill you'll use for life, helping you stay sharp and aware of what's happening in the world.
Most academic journal articles include the following sections:
TIP: To begin selecting articles for your research, read the highlighted sections to determine whether the academic journal article includes information relevant to your research topic.
When sorting through multiple articles discovered in the research process, skimming through these sections of the article will help you determine whether the article will be useful in your research.
If the article fits your information needs, go back and read the article thoroughly. TIP: Create a folder on your computer to save copies of articles you plan to use, and save your references.
Think about how you will evaluate the academic articles you find and how you will determine whether to include them in your research project. Ask yourself the following questions to focus your search in the academic literature:
Before reading the article, ask yourself the following:
As you read the article make note of the following:
Learning Express contains learning resources you can use to build your skills. Check out the tutorial content under College Students-Reading Skills Review and Adult Core Skills-Become a Better Reader.