2 21 class slides
- 2. Scholarly articles • Watch this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOCQZ7QnoN0
- 3. Conventions of academic writing • IMRaD—Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion • Characteristics of a peer-reviewed article • Author’s credentials or academic affiliation • Abstract • Research methodology • Research conclusion or results • Footnotes or in-text references • Bibliography
- 4. How to read a scientific paper SKIM • Read the abstract • Read for the big picture • Note any terms or techniques you need to define • Write down questions or places you don’t understand • Look up unfamiliar concepts
- 5. How to read a scientific paper RE-READ • Carefully examine graphs, tables, diagrams • Try to interpret data first before reading captions • Make sure you understand the article fully
- 6. How to read a scientific paper ASK YOURSELF QUESTIONS • What problems does the study address? Why is it important? • Is the method good? • Are the findings supported by evidence? Are they unique and supported by other work in the field? • Is the study repeatable? • What was the sample size? Is this representative of the larger population? • What factors might affect the outcome?
- 7. How to read a scientific paper SUMMARIZE • Write a summary of the article and describe it in your own words, to distill the article down to its scientific essence • Note the key points—purpose of the study/questions asked, major findings and conclusions, questions unanswered and any surprises
- 8. USEFUL HINTS • Draw inferences: not everything in an article is stated explicitly • Distinguish main points in document level (title, abstract, and keywords) and paragraph level (look for words/phrases like “unexpected,” “in contrast to previous work,” “hypothesize that,” “propose,” “introduce,” “data suggests”). • Consider the rhetorical situation (author, audience, topic, purpose) and how those contribute to author’s choices.
- 9. For homework—turn in on Blackboard • Read the article for today • Note the rhetorical context (author, audience, topic, purpose) • Write a brief summary of the text • Write a brief explanation of the strategies you used to read and understand the article