How to read a journalarticle

Margaret WilsonTe Puna Ako Learning Centre

Objectives:

• Describe some features of academic journals

• Be able to identify your purpose for reading

• Describe how to read strategically

• Describe how to read actively

Academic journals

• What are they?• Peer-reviewed publications written by

qualified academics• Recently published articles are considered to

have the most up-to-date info (about one year from writing to publication)

• Often written with complex language and challenging to read

• Usually found through library databases and reference lists

Choosing an article

Some questions to consider:

•Is it up-to-date?•Who is the author?•How does it relate to the question you are trying to answer? •Is the article peer-reviewed?

Essay question example

• Establishing partnerships with whanau and community is fundamental to early childhood education. Discuss. Include specific examples.

Identify your purpose for reading•Are you reading to answer a specific question?

•Or do you have a more general question?

Using the structure to guide your reading

•Title•Abstract•Headings• Introduction and conclusion•First and last sentences of paragraphs

Think about the title

It’s in the bag:

Parental involvement in a numeracy at-home program

•What questions do you have about the article after reading the title?•Posing questions before you read will help you to read in a more focussed way.

Read the abstract

• This is a detailed summary of the article.

• After reading the abstract, you may decide not to read the article

• But don’t be too quick to judge

Get an overview of the article

• Skim through the article looking at headings and subheadings

• Look at diagrams, pictures, tables

• Read the introduction and the conclusion carefully

What is the structure of the article?• Recognising the structure can help you to

understand the article• What is the structure of this article?

• Background• Literature Review• Methodology• Results and discussion• Conclusions and implications

• Is this a typical structure?

Read critically

• Be aware of opinions that aren’t supported with evidence. Phrases like surely/we have to remember/ it is perfectly clear/it is obvious that, etc. are sometimes used without evidence.

• Look at the author’s evidence. Are there flaws or gaps in the argument?

• What are the author’s assumptions? Are they fair assumptions?

Read actively

• Keep your purpose in mind

• Make predictions about what you expect to find

• Link what you are reading to what you already know about the subject

• Have a conversation with the text

Notetaking

• Experiment with different ways of notetaking:-mindmapping-using three different coloured highlighters-writing in the margins

• Keep your purpose in mind: your notes should address the question you want answered.

Mindmap (using SimpleMind +)

Apps to make notes online: Claro PDF

If you get stuck…• Try finding something easier to read: another article,

wikipedia, a textbook

• Talk to someone else about what you have read as this can clarify your thinking

• Try reading particularly difficult passages out loud

• Book an appointment with one of us at the Learning Centre

Kia kaha!

All the best for your academic reading